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SMMT Seminar on Digital Radio Implementation

Earlier this year, the UK government published a report outlining plans that require all new vehicles to be fitted with digital radios from 2013 and every vehicle currently on the road to be digitally enabled from as early as 2015. At a recent seminar held by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), leaders from the digital radio, political and automotive worlds gave their insight to the plans of broadcasters and traffic information providers.

They also spoke on plans for the introduction of the Digital Economy Bill and the implications on the motor industry of a move to digital radio. Below are a few comments on the subject made by some of the leaders that attended the seminar.

“There are certainly exciting opportunities ahead for in-car listening as radio goes digital, but all industries involved in radio have to work together to deliver ‘Digital Britain’. Broadcast digital radio is an efficient medium for mass broadcast as it is energy efficient and offers good signals for users on the move. To ensure all motorists can access digital services it is essential that there are strong signals on all major travel routes,” Mark Friend, Controller, Multiplatform and Interactive, BBC Audio and Music, told the attendees.

“The Digital Britain Report sets an ambitious and accelerated timetable for all involved in the switchover to digital radio. There are already a number of digitally-enabled products available to motorists as options, but today’s seminar underlined the importance of a long-term collaborative approach between broadcasters and industry that sees investment in content and coverage to create consumer demand,” SMMT chief executive, Paul Everitt added.

“Looking to the future, the importance of in-car listening is clearly recognized by the Digital Britain Report which sets one of its criteria for switchover as when the digital signal reaches all major roads. Digital radio is already providing a platform for new types of service such as Traffic Radio to broadcast a continuous service from our National Traffic Control Centre. It means road users can get updates whenever they need to and we think it is an important and unique part of the digital offer,” said Alison Holliday from the Highways Agency.
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