United Kingdom - Current situation - History
04.06.2020
Implementation of the European Electronic Communications Code (EECC)
In June 2020, the UK's Department for Transport published a consultation on their proposal to mandate the fitment of terrestrial digital radio in new cars as part of their implementation of the EU Electronic Communications Code.
The proposal is that from 21 December 2020 all passenger cars sold in the UK with at least 4 wheels (category M vehicles) which are fitted with a radio must have a radio capable of receiving digital radio stations.
The consultation closes on 26 June and if approved would pass into domestic law. This is consistent with the regulation being introduced across EU member states which will help accelerate digital radio take-up across Europe.
More information is available here
Ofcom Digital Radio Reports
Ofcom has published the eighth annual Digital Radio Report on the progress of digital radio in the UK. The report provides an update on availability, take-up, listening patterns, and attitudes to digital radio, as originally requested by Government in 2010 as part of the Digital Radio Action Plan.
In the report, Ofcom highlights that there are now 337 services on DAB in the UK, and released the report on Twitter under the headline ‘digital radio continues to grow in popularity in the UK’. The full report can be read here.
Digital Radio Switchover
The UK radio industry is committed to a digital future for radio and is working towards a Digital Radio Switchover.
Government criteria for setting a date for digital radio switchover are:
- Digital listening share to reach 50% of all listening hours (criteria met Q1 2018)
- When local commercial and national DAB coverage reaches FM equivalence (criteria met)
The DCMS Digital Radio Action Plan has now been completed. Details can be found on the U.K Government website.
Small-scale DAB
In April 2020, the UK Ofcom published a statement setting out how they will licence small-scale DAB, saying they will advertise licences for small-scale DAB in eight batches - or ‘Rounds’ - starting with Round One comprised of 25 local areas across the UK, including five where trials are already underway.
The Ofcom small-scale programme is extensive and will potentially see the launch of up to 200 small-scale multiplexes throughout the UK over an extended period of 10 years
KEY DIGITAL RADIO FACTS AND FIGURES:
- Digital listening share has increased to a new record of 58.6% in Q1 2020, up from 56.4% in Q1 2019 - representing a 4% growth in share percentage
- Digital reach is also at a new record with 36.9 million adults, or 67% of the population, tuning in via a digital platform, up from 36.3m in Q1 2019
KEY DAB FACTS AND FIGURES:
- Listening via DAB now accounts for 40% of all listening and 69% of digital listening, while listening via DTV now accounts for 4% of all listening and 8% of digital listening (Q1 2020)
- Digital listening in car maintained the new record set in the last quarter at 44.5% of all in car listening and growing by 5.5million hours or 5.5% year on year (Q1 2020)
- With 95% of new cars now coming with DAB as standard (Source: Q4 2019, CAP/SMMT), the majority of in car growth was to DAB which increased by 14 million hours or 15.6% (Q4 2019)
15.05.2020
Implementation of the European Electronic Communications Code (EECC)
The UK government has published a consultation which sets out the Government’s proposed approach to implementation of the European Electronic Communications Code Directive and seeks stakeholders’ views - read more here. The consultation document states:
“There are a number of elements in the EECC on which we are not seeking views. As an example, this includes Article 113, which requires Member States to mandate the installation of digital radio connectivity in all new car vehicles. We will implement this requirement as part of the transposition of the EECC. In the longer term, we will consider extending this requirement to commercial vehicles and to mandate for the installation of digital connectivity in all domestic radios” this means they will be considered in the Review".
Ofcom Digital Radio Reports
Ofcom has published the eighth annual Digital Radio Report on the progress of digital radio in the UK. The report provides an update on availability, take-up, listening patterns, and attitudes to digital radio, as originally requested by Government in 2010 as part of the Digital Radio Action Plan.
In the report, Ofcom highlights that there are now 337 services on DAB in the UK, and released the report on Twitter under the headline ‘digital radio continues to grow in popularity in the UK’. The full report can be read here.
Digital Radio Switchover
The UK radio industry is committed to a digital future for radio and is working towards a Digital Radio Switchover.
Government criteria for setting a date for digital radio switchover are:
- Digital listening share to reach 50% of all listening hours (criteria met Q1 2018)
- When local commercial and national DAB coverage reaches FM equivalence (criteria met)
The DCMS Digital Radio Action Plan has now been completed. Details can be found on the U.K Government website.
Small-scale DAB
In April 2020, the UK Ofcom published a statement setting out how they will licence small-scale DAB, saying they will advertise licences for small-scale DAB in eight batches - or ‘Rounds’ - starting with Round One comprised of 25 local areas across the UK, including five where trials are already underway.
The Ofcom small-scale programme is extensive and will potentially see the launch of up to 200 small-scale multiplexes throughout the UK over an extended period of 10 years
KEY DIGITAL RADIO FACTS AND FIGURES:
- Digital listening share has increased to a new record of 58.6% in Q1 2020, up from 56.4% in Q1 2019 - representing a 4% growth in share percentage
- Digital reach is also at a new record with 36.9 million adults, or 67% of the population, tuning in via a digital platform, up from 36.3m in Q1 2019
KEY DAB FACTS AND FIGURES:
- Listening via DAB now accounts for 40% of all listening and 69% of digital listening, while listening via DTV now accounts for 4% of all listening and 8% of digital listening (Q1 2020)
- Digital listening in car maintained the new record set in the last quarter at 44.5% of all in car listening and growing by 5.5million hours or 5.5% year on year (Q1 2020)
- With 95% of new cars now coming with DAB as standard (Source: Q4 2019, CAP/SMMT), the majority of in car growth was to DAB which increased by 14 million hours or 15.6% (Q4 2019)
08.04.2020
Implementation of the European Electronic Communications Code (EECC)
The UK government has published a consultation which sets out the Government’s proposed approach to implementation of the European Electronic Communications Code Directive and seeks stakeholders’ views - read more here. The consultation document states:
“There are a number of elements in the EECC on which we are not seeking views. As an example, this includes Article 113, which requires Member States to mandate the installation of digital radio connectivity in all new car vehicles. We will implement this requirement as part of the transposition of the EECC. In the longer term, we will consider extending this requirement to commercial vehicles and to mandate for the installation of digital connectivity in all domestic radios” this means they will be considered in the Review".
Ofcom Digital Radio Reports
Ofcom has published the eighth annual Digital Radio Report on the progress of digital radio in the UK. The report provides an update on availability, take-up, listening patterns, and attitudes to digital radio, as originally requested by Government in 2010 as part of the Digital Radio Action Plan.
In the report, Ofcom highlights that there are now 337 services on DAB in the UK, and released the report on Twitter under the headline ‘digital radio continues to grow in popularity in the UK’. The full report can be read here.
Digital Radio Switchover
The UK radio industry is committed to a digital future for radio and is working towards a Digital Radio Switchover.
Government criteria for setting a date for digital radio switchover are:
- Digital listening share to reach 50% of all listening hours (criteria met Q1 2018)
- When local commercial and national DAB coverage reaches FM equivalence (criteria met)
The DCMS Digital Radio Action Plan has now been completed. Details can be found on the U.K Government website.
Small-scale DAB
In April 2020, the UK Ofcom published a statement setting out how they will licence small-scale DAB, saying they will advertise licences for small-scale DAB in eight batches - or ‘Rounds’ - starting with Round One comprised of 25 local areas across the UK, including five where trials are already underway.
The Ofcom small-scale programme is extensive and will potentially see the launch of up to 200 small-scale multiplexes throughout the UK over an extended period of 10 years
KEY DIGITAL RADIO FACTS AND FIGURES:
- Digital listening share has increased by 11% to a new record of 58.5%, up from 52.6% inQ4 2018, while overall digital listening grew by 43.4 million hours or 8% year on year
- Digital listening in the UK has increased by 11% to a new record of 58.5%, up from 52.6% in Q4 2018 in the latest figures for Q4 2019
KEY DAB FACTS AND FIGURES:
- Listening via DAB grew by 16.1 million hours (or by 4%) year on year to now account for 41% of all listening and 70% of digital listening (Q4 2019)
- Digital listening in car reached a new record of 44.5%, growing by 15.4 million hours or 16.4% year on year (Q4 2019)
- With 95% of new cars now coming with DAB as standard (Source: Q4 2019, CAP/SMMT), the majority of in car growth was to DAB which increased by 14 million hours or 15.6% (Q4 2019)