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Australia - Current situation - History

21.06.2018

DAB+ launched in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth in late 2009, followed by Canberra and Darwin in 2017.

DAB+ digital radio is continuing to grow in popularity, gaining 168,000 listeners to reach 3.6 million in the five metropolitan capital cities, according to the latest digital radio report by GfK.

The total number of DAB+ digital radios in Australia has now reached 3.4 million, including over 800,000 in-car units, as well as portable digital radios and home receivers sold through retailers.

PwC projects that close to 4 million new vehicles fitted with DAB+ will be sold by the end of 2021, up from 862,426 at the end of 2016.

In 2017, LG brought the world’s first smartphone with in-built DAB+ broadcast digital radio to Australia.  

Further information: 

 

 

30.05.2018

Projections by PwC for DAB+ digital radio show that nearly 60% of new vehicles sold in Australia in 2021 will be fitted with a digital radio, forecasting nearly double the number of current new vehicles fitted with the technology.  PwC projects that close to 4 million new vehicles fitted with DAB+ will be sold by the end of 2021, up from 862,426 at the end of 2016.

Digital radio was launched in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth in 2009.  DAB+ digital radio is continuing to grow in popularity, gaining 168,000 listeners to reach 3.6 million in the five metropolitan capital cities, according to the latest digital radio report by GfK. Commercial Radio Australia said the numbers were helped by solid growth in in-car listening, with another 106,000 new vehicles sold with DAB+ installed in the fourth quarter of 2016.

Latest infographic showing statistics as of Q4 2016

The number of new cars on the road fitted with DAB+ broadcast digital radio has tripled in the past year, helping to lift digital radio uptake to 27% of the population in the metropolitan capital cities.

The total number of DAB+ digital radios in Australia has now reached 3.4 million, including over 800,000 in-car units, as well as portable digital radios and home receivers sold through retailers.

The top five highest-rating commercial DAB+ only stations in Q4 2016 were: Coles Radio, The 80s iHeartRadio (formerly Pure Gold 80s), Buddha, Easy Radio and The 90s iHeartRadio.

The latest report is based on average results recorded across GfK’s three most recent radio ratings surveys – Surveys 1-4, 2016. The DAB+ Digital Radio Report 4 can be found here.

Free to air digital radio launched in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth in late 2009, and trial services are on air in Canberra and Darwin.  

In April LG brought the world’s first smartphone with in-built DAB+ broadcast digital radio to Australia.  

Regional Rollout

The Australian Government  released in July 2015 a report, prepared by the Department of Communications, on digital radio services in Australia. The Digital Radio Report recommended the establishment of a Digital Radio Planning Committee for Regional Australia, to be chaired by the Australian Communications and Media Authority, to focus on the rollout of digital radio to regional areas.

The Government expects that the Planning Committee would give priority to the licensing of permanent digital radio services in Canberra and Darwin, where trials have been underway since 2010, before planning the rollout in new areas of Australia.

The report also recommended that the Government should provide a simpler, more flexible process for planning and licensing of digital radio in regional Australia. The Planning Committee may provide an appropriate forum to develop proposals to simplify the regulatory framework.

Commercial Radio Australia is pleased to note the signal of support for regional DAB+ rollout in the report.  

Since the launch of DAB+ digital radio in metropolitan Australia in late 2009, DAB+ digital radio listening continues to outperform expectations, with 3.2 million people or nearly 25% now listening  to radio each week using a DAB+ digital radio in the five metropolitan capitals*.  Twenty seven vehicle manufacturers in Australia now include DAB+ digital radio and nearly 277,000 vehicles with the technology have been sold. 

The report is available at: https://communications.gov.au/publications/digital-radio-report

Australian broadcasters continue to work with phone companies and receiver manufacturers to include screen based DAB+ receivers in their devices and to promote additional functionality to encourage support for hybrid capabilities in infrastructure and receiver devices.

Twelve of the planned repeaters are on air in the five mainland capital cities, infilling the single high powered transmission. More repeaters are planned for Melbourne.

Infinite Dial study shows radio continues to be the key driver of audio consumption in Australia

Radio is the leading audio platform consumed by Australians with 85% of people having listened to an AM/FM or DAB+ station in an average week, compared to Spotify 21%, Podcasting 10%, Pandora 8%, Apple Music 6%, Google Play All Access 2%.

Click here for the 2016 Digital Radio Industry Report or downloaded from the CRA website and www.digitalradioplus.com.au. 

 

 

08.01.2018

Projections by PwC for DAB+ digital radio show that nearly 60% of new vehicles sold in Australia in 2021 will be fitted with a digital radio, forecasting nearly double the number of current new vehicles fitted with the technology.  PwC projects that close to 4 million new vehicles fitted with DAB+ will be sold by the end of 2021, up from 862,426 at the end of 2016.

Digital radio was launched in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth in 2009.  DAB+ digital radio is continuing to grow in popularity, gaining 168,000 listeners to reach 3.6 million in the five metropolitan capital cities, according to the latest digital radio report by GfK. Commercial Radio Australia said the numbers were helped by solid growth in in-car listening, with another 106,000 new vehicles sold with DAB+ installed in the fourth quarter of 2016.

Latest infographic showing statistics as of Q4 2016

The number of new cars on the road fitted with DAB+ broadcast digital radio has tripled in the past year, helping to lift digital radio uptake to 27% of the population in the metropolitan capital cities.

The total number of DAB+ digital radios in Australia has now reached 3.4 million, including over 800,000 in-car units, as well as portable digital radios and home receivers sold through retailers.

The top five highest-rating commercial DAB+ only stations in Q4 2016 were: Coles Radio, The 80s iHeartRadio (formerly Pure Gold 80s), Buddha, Easy Radio and The 90s iHeartRadio.

The latest report is based on average results recorded across GfK’s three most recent radio ratings surveys – Surveys 1-4, 2016. The DAB+ Digital Radio Report 4 can be found here.

Free to air digital radio launched in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth in late 2009, and trial services are on air in Canberra and Darwin.  

In April LG brought the world’s first smartphone with in-built DAB+ broadcast digital radio to Australia.  

Regional Rollout

The Australian Government  released in July 2015 a report, prepared by the Department of Communications, on digital radio services in Australia. The Digital Radio Report recommended the establishment of a Digital Radio Planning Committee for Regional Australia, to be chaired by the Australian Communications and Media Authority, to focus on the rollout of digital radio to regional areas.

The Government expects that the Planning Committee would give priority to the licensing of permanent digital radio services in Canberra and Darwin, where trials have been underway since 2010, before planning the rollout in new areas of Australia.

The report also recommended that the Government should provide a simpler, more flexible process for planning and licensing of digital radio in regional Australia. The Planning Committee may provide an appropriate forum to develop proposals to simplify the regulatory framework.

Commercial Radio Australia is pleased to note the signal of support for regional DAB+ rollout in the report.  

Since the launch of DAB+ digital radio in metropolitan Australia in late 2009, DAB+ digital radio listening continues to outperform expectations, with 3.2 million people or nearly 25% now listening  to radio each week using a DAB+ digital radio in the five metropolitan capitals*.  Twenty seven vehicle manufacturers in Australia now include DAB+ digital radio and nearly 277,000 vehicles with the technology have been sold. 

The report is available at: https://communications.gov.au/publications/digital-radio-report

Australian broadcasters continue to work with phone companies and receiver manufacturers to include screen based DAB+ receivers in their devices and to promote additional functionality to encourage support for hybrid capabilities in infrastructure and receiver devices.

Twelve of the planned repeaters are on air in the five mainland capital cities, infilling the single high powered transmission. More repeaters are planned for Melbourne.

Infinite Dial study shows radio continues to be the key driver of audio consumption in Australia

Radio is the leading audio platform consumed by Australians with 85% of people having listened to an AM/FM or DAB+ station in an average week, compared to Spotify 21%, Podcasting 10%, Pandora 8%, Apple Music 6%, Google Play All Access 2%.

Click here for the 2016 Digital Radio Industry Report or downloaded from the CRA website and www.digitalradioplus.com.au.