Should UK Switch Off FM Radio Broadcasting and Move to DAB?

This report delves into the debate surrounding the UK's potential switch from FM radio broadcasting to Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB). It examines the impact of the digital radio switchover, including the government's criteria and the current state of digital listening. The report analyzes public reactions to the proposed transition, highlighting concerns and objections. It also explores the drawbacks of DAB, such as cost, reception issues, and audio quality concerns. Furthermore, it discusses the commercial failures of DAB and contrasts this with the benefits of DAB radio, including increased station availability and potential cost savings. The report concludes with an argument about the future of radio in the digital field, evaluating whether DAB is the optimal platform for this transition. The report utilizes figures and data on radio listening rates, public responses, and DAB sales, providing a comprehensive overview of the issue.

Running head: MANAGEMENT
Should the United Kingdom switch off FM radio broadcasting and move totally to DAB in the
next 5 years?
Name of the student
Name of the university
Author note

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Table of contents
Introduction......................................................................................................................................2
Impact of digital radio switch over on UK......................................................................................2
Public reaction against switching off the FM stations.....................................................................3
DAB deliveries and its inconvenience.............................................................................................5
DAB commercial failure..................................................................................................................7
Benefits of DAB radio.....................................................................................................................7
Argument based on the future of Radio in Digital field..................................................................8
Conclusion.......................................................................................................................................9
Reference list.................................................................................................................................10

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Introduction
In the current entertainment industry, digital radio has become the significant milestone.
In the areas in which technology is expensive, radio continues to play an important role for
broadcasting the information as well as entertainment for 24 hours in a day (Ala-Fossi and Lax
2016). In the entertainment industry, the digital audio broadcasting has huge contribution. The
purpose of the study is to shed light on the contribution of digital radio stations on the current
UK entertainment industry and develop the argument based on the decision of switch off FM
radio broadcasting and moving to DAB in the next five years.
Impact of digital radio switch over on UK
The government in UK has decided to introduce the Digital Audio Broadcast as the major
broadcast platform for the national radio stations. As its result, none of the users will be able to
receive the FM stations through the old FM radio. In the current scenario, there are three national
digital multiplexes which are ruling the entertainment world. FM is being used for the
community and local stations (Brachmanski and Kin 2018). Digital radio is the blanket term for
including the situation that can help to manage the internet listening process of radio through TV
and DAB radio. The government in UK has declared that before implementing the turn off plan,
the government needs to wait for minimum two year for implementing the plan. It is true that
none of the fixed date has been announced by the government regarding the switch over process
to digital radio. The government has introduced a certain criteria before switching over the
process. As per the government criteria the national DAB coverage will be comparable to FM
stations. the digital listening process must be in volt near about 50% of radio listening process in
which internet TV as well as DAB will be included (Edwards et al. 2017). After the switch of a
process the target figure will also get changed. Before making the strong decision against switch

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of a process the government will also focus on carrying out a review for deciding the progress of
the Planning within next two years. It has been identified that the figures for Digital listening has
reach at the record of 52.4 percent in the previous year (Edwards et al. 2017). Analyzing the
radio listening rate in UK it has been identified that 56.4 zero percent of people access the FM
stations on the other hand the rate of DAB is 43.6 0% (Hallett 2017).
Public reaction against switching off the FM stations
In the current entertainment industry, digital radio has become the significant milestone.
In the areas in which technology is expensive, radio continues to play an important role for
broadcasting the information as well as entertainment for 24 hours in a day. In the entertainment
industry, the digital audio broadcasting has huge contribution. Analyzing the contribution of
radio in UK market, it has been identified that near about 50% of the entire population in UK
access radio. In the year 2017, the number raised from 49.9 to 50.9 (Edwards et al. 2017).
Analyzing the digital radio switchover process it has been identified that large numbers of people
have opposed regarding the turn off process of FM radio stations. In the year 2015, in the report
published by Digital Britain, in which the switch off date of FM stations has been published.
After publishing this concern on the Radio 4 programs, huge numbers of emails as well as phone
calls have been received by the presenter of the program in which people have shared their
objections regarding the plan for switching off the FM stations (Parliament.uk 2019). The major
motive behind switching off the FM radio channels is to provide the benefits to the customers so
that they can be able to get additional choice on DAB. It cannot be denied that in the Ofcom’s
market research, it has been clearly shown that people have additional requirement for additional
DAB offers (Parliament.uk 2019).

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Figure: Public Responds regarding the switch off planning
(Source: Parliament.uk 2019)
Examining the differences between managing Digital Radio and Digital TV is its lack of
additional choices. In that case, lack of availability of choices, negative demand rate has
impacted on the sales rate of DAB. However, the research conducted by Ofcom in the year 2009,
in which it has been identified that near about 91% of the total respondents have mentioned that
the benefits which are being provided has satisfied their nee Parliament.uk 2019ds (). However,
3% of the total respondents have said that they are not satisfied with the services which are being
provided. On the other hand, it has also been identified that due to decreasing demand for DAB,
the sales rate is decreasing.
It is true that radio switch over should take place if the users are ready to adopt the
changes. Being a national radio station DAB should focus on improving itself so that none of the
users will be left over for or receiving the national radio channel. Before implementing the
switch over process it is very important for DAB to enhance is reception as well as coverage
areas so that it can be able to address large number of areas. not only the enhancement of its

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coverage as well as before replacing the FM radios it is very important to understand if the cost
is impacting on the customers or not (Parliament.uk 2019). The digital radio switch off my
process can be successful if the manufacturers will focus on providing the clear benefits in the
digital radio above FM channels so that customers can be able to get the chance if they don't
want to switch over. In the government switch over criteria the customer based target figure
which has been introduced can digital radio services. However it is also true that this is very
important for ensuring that no one will be left without radio in the event of switch over.
DAB deliveries and its inconvenience
Analyzing the drawbacks of DAB radio it has been identified that the DAB radius are
more expensive compared to the analogue radios due to its expensive components which are
being used during the production process. Researching on the current market rate of the DAB
radio it has been identified that it starts at around $40 (Theregister.co.uk 2019). On the other
hand it cannot be denied that the DAB reception has become patchy across the country. The
reception of DAB radio station is very poor and due to its improper servicing sound issue has
become common for this kind of radio stations. It is bit hazy compared to the others FM stations
which are available in UK. Therefore it can be said that in case of DAB radio stations the
customers get unpleasant services. Analyzing the uses of DAB radios in cars it has been
identified that near about 87% new cars which are being launched in UK market are filled with
DAB radios (Theregister.co.uk 2019). DAB radio adaptors help the cars with the facility for
picking up digital transmission with analogue radio channels (Theregister.co.uk 2019). In order
to increase the DAB coverage for the major Road networks last year near about 45% of DAB
users have been increased in the UK market (Theregister.co.uk 2019).

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Figure: Audio Quality problem
(source: Parliament.uk 2019)
Quality is being considered as one of the important concerns for DAB radio stations. it
has been identified that near about 98% of stadia stations broadcast lower what your quality
compared to the FM channels (Parliament.uk 2019). by continuing this it can also be saved that
as BBC stations account it has large proportion of all radio listening process in that case
improving the audio quality of the previous stations become challenging. In the above table it has
been mentioned that the radio one has much lower audio quality then FM reduced to has similar
impact on the listening process. it has been identified that BBC is national DAB multiplex is
completely full and due to this reason BBC is not being able to improve the audio quality of its
stations in that case the only way for BBC is to provide its stations at the similar quality to the
FM if the stations will be switching to DAB channels. in such cases it will be unacceptable for
BBC for switching off its FM stations and replace them with the DAB versions with the lower
quality of audio (Parliament.uk 2019).

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DAB commercial failure
Over the last few decades DAB can be considered as the biggest Technology failure in in
UK entertainment industry. Total numbers of 23 TV advertising campaigns have been launched
by BBC on DAB when it was launched in the year 2002. After the reasonable start the sales rate
has got flat lined for the last 3 years (Which.co.uk 2019). Analyzing the DAB Sales figures it has
been identified that the four annual sales growth is creating negative impact on its growth. The
DRDB forecast has shared the barometer on acceptance of new technology in the Marketplace.
Analyzing the report over last few years it has been identified that near about 0% of growth has
been shown in the particular sector. The BBC's director of radio has some of the situation and
said last year the ‘DAB sales level would not lead to reduce which of work in our life time’.
Benefits of DAB radio
Analyzing the benefits of DAB radio it has been identified that providing the most
stations it will enhance the accessibility of the users. It cannot be denied that if m spectrum can
be considered as the crowded platform. Through the digital platforms it will be easier for
providing more space stations for satisfying the customers’ needs by providing them a greater
choice of stations. Another benefit of DAB radio it doesn't have any dual transmission cost. in
the current scenario the broadcasts are playing an important role by collecting dual transmission
fees to broadcast the same station on DAB and FM(Which.co.uk 2019). in this case by moving
one platform to another platform the cost will get reduced which can indirectly bring the impact
on profitability rate in the entertainment industry. It cannot be denied that by offering more
features as well as possibilities digital radio is being manufactured for developing the strong
radio content so that better information and entertainment it can be provided compared to the
analogue radio stations. By providing the greater interactivity as well as information broadcast. It

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functions for scrolling text information regarding the music and show that a particular person is
listening. In the DAB and DAB radios the users will get the opportunity to record rewind and
pause the life Radio too (Which.co.uk 2019).
Argument based on the future of Radio in Digital field
In the above analysis it can be said that the future of radio may perform well in the digital
platforms but it is also true that it won't be able to survive on DAB. According to KUMAR and
DUBEY (2018), it is neither the best technology nor it has the most adaptable ability. In the year
1995, the digital radio has got ensemble bye BBC for covering the London area. After the year
2010 BBC reported back regarding the protected labor through the digital platforms. The concept
has got introduced 5 years earlier and original research on the particular topic was done five
years back. It is true that after the decision of switching of process the market it was not even
ready for accepting the changes. ‘Two years later, the first receivers was not available
commercially, which has higher the price of audio box as well as expensive car sets’. It is true
that the early states were very costly and the audio quality was found for the CD quality which
makes people disappointed (Jauert et al. 2017). By continuing this it can also be said that due to
some rules and regulations BBC has not provided the services future not universally available so
that it can be launched through the digital stations only. In the year 2001 five new services such
as one extra five, live sports, extra 6 Music, Asian Network and BBC 7 have been launched by
BBC (Nyre 2015). Not only these services, but also with the strong commitment with analogue
stations, BBC has introduced automatic license extension process has been introduced for the
eight years. In the year 2003 enhancing the customer experience the local stations has got the
commercial opportunity for reaching the listeners on DAB. As its result near about 97% of the
total population are connected with DAB services (Lax 2017).

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Ofcom’s commons data which has been published based on the market research has
shown the remarkable static number from 2010 to 2016 with the total numbers of 1.9 million
DAB sets In the first three years. However it is also true that in each year of 2015 and 16 the
cells rate falls down from 1.8 then 1.7 and finally 1.6 million. By arguing this Nyre (2015) stated
that the consistent criticism of DAB in the UK market regarding its sound quality as well as for
coverage especially in the indoor areas has aroused the warning for DAB users. DAB has
introduced MPEG audio Technology for improving the sound quality. However the FM channels
are using same Technology for decades which drop the accommodation process of the DAB
stations. On the other hand the radio 3 e does not have great quality of sound and it runs at 192
kbps (Theregister.co.uk 2019). However most of the music stations of BBC are at 128 kbps. It
seems pretty bonkers in the current business scenario.
Conclusion
Due to lack of upgrade plans as well as technological innovation the digital switchover
can create problems for the entertainment industry for solving the issues faced by the users. In
that case it can be said that without introducing any improvement opportunity if the switch over
policy will get implemented it can bring huge loss for the entertainment industry. In the above
analysis it can be said that the future of radio may perform well in the digital platforms but it is
also true that it won't be able to survive on DAB. It is neither the best technology nor it has the
most adaptable ability. Quality is being considered as the important part in digital radio. In that
case DAB will not be able to sustain in the entertainment industry for the long time period.

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Reference list
Ala-Fossi, M. and Lax, S., 2016. The short future of public broadcasting: Replacing digital
terrestrial television with internet protocol?. International Communication Gazette, 78(4),
pp.365-382.
Brachmanski, S. and Kin, M., 2018, May. Quality evaluation of sound broadcasted via DAB+
system based on a single frequency network. In Audio Engineering Society Convention 144.
Audio Engineering Society.
Edwards, C.A., Beck, R.B., Edwards, K.O., Dunn, C.E. and Hollingsworth, G.M., Nu Lightwave
Logic LLC, 2017. System and method for the broadcast transmission of digital video over
terrestrial frequency modulated wireless medium. U.S. Patent Application 15/329,765.
Hallett, L., 2017. Apples and Oranges—Duplicating Existing FM Coverage with DAB. Journal
of Radio & Audio Media, 24(1), pp.45-60.
Jauert, P., Ala-Fossi, M., Föllmer, G., Lax, S. and Murphy, K., 2017. The Future of Radio
Revisited: Expert Perspectives and Future Scenarios for Radio Media in 2025. Journal of Radio
& Audio Media, 24(1), pp.7-27.
KUMAR, N. and DUBEY, R., 2018. PERFORMANCE ANALYSIS OF EUREKA-147 DAB
SYSTEM. International Journal of Engineering, Management & Medical Research
(IJEMMR), 4(8).
Lax, S., 2017. Different Standards: Engineers’ Expectations and Listener Adoption of Digital
and FM Radio Broadcasting. Journal of Radio & Audio Media, 24(1), pp.28-44.

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Nyre, L., 2015. Designing the Amplifon. A locative sound medium to supplement DAB
radio. The Journal of Media Innovations, 2(2), pp.58-73.
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https://www.parliament.uk/documents/documents/upload/stevegreen.pdf [Accessed on 12th Aug,
2019]
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https://www.theregister.co.uk/2018/05/22/digital_future_is_not_dab/[Accessed on 12th Aug,
2019]
Which.co.uk 2019. retrieved from: https://www.which.co.uk/reviews/radios/article/digital-radio-
switchover-explained [Accessed on 12th Aug, 2019]