News

Jon Holmes has starred in another video about digital radio, getting its first screening at the Radio Festival. Jon travels around the UK looking at digital radio and the minimuxes currently operating in a number of towns and cities around the UK, showcasing the growth of digital radio stations.

Ofcom has been testing small-scale DAB since June 2015, with 70 local stations broadcasting on trial licences around the UK. Now they have published a report for the Department of Culture, Media and Sport, who made funding available for the project, that confirms the trials have been a success.

RTV Slovenija will operate the first digital multiplex, called R1, and will broadcast from seven transmitters around the country: Nanos, Crimea, Krvavec, Plešivcu, Pohorje, Tinjanu and Trdinov top. The network will initially reach 73 percent of Slovenian households and cover 89 percent of motorways and expressways.

The minister of state for digital and culture, Matt Hancock, has revealed that he will submit proposals for deregulation of radio before the end of the year. Hancock also said that he was looking at introducing legislation for the regulation of small-scale DAB multiplex services, following the successful outcome of Ofcom’s Local DAB trial.

UK regulator Ofcom said a trial of small-scale DAB radio stations and has proven successful. Local and community stations can transition from AM and F< to digital radio by using freely-available software and equipment costing from GBP 9,000. Ofcom has been testing small-scale DAB since June 2015, with 70 local stations broadcasting on trial licences around the UK.

Hundreds of local digital radio stations could start broadcasting across the UK in future, after Ofcom completed successful trials of a ground-breaking technology. The new technique, known as ‘small-scale DAB’, allows local and community stations to hit the airwaves using freely-available software and equipment costing from £9,000.

Local radio stations could begin broadcasting nationwide after Ofcom completed “highly successful” trials of a low-cost DAB system. The regulator’s director of broadcast licensing Neil Stock said: “This technology could open up a new, local dimension in digital radio. We’re confident that a UK wide roll-out of these stations would be technically possible and commercially viable.

The new Minister of state for Digital and Culture, Matt Hancock, has told delegates at the Radio Festival that proposals for deregulation of radio will be put forward before the end of the year. Mr Hancock said: “There are multiple opportunities for deregulation, balanced with the continued need for provision of news and locally-focussed content. It’s essential listeners can get these services on these new platforms.”

At the IBC in Amsterdam a few weeks ago, something was announced that could change all that - which rejoices in the acronym OMRI. OMRI - the Open Mobile Radio Interface - is intended to be a standard way for app developers to be able to communicate with an FM, or DAB+, chip inside the phone. It’s a standard API, and it opens up the possibility of radio apps being much smarter.

This is a great, simple, radio with unfussy and easy controls. It looks great and feels well-built. It's probably the best budget radio that Pure have ever built in terms of simplicity and ease of use. The colour screen offers much potential. For its current Argos price of £49, it's unbeatable value.