UK tunes into five million DAB radios

Over five million DAB digital radio receivers had been installed in UK households by early 2007, according to new research from Research and Markets.

The research house anticipates that by the end of the decade, the switchover from analogue to digital television will be nearing completion and over half of households will have access to digital radio (digital audio broadcasting or DAB), offering far more stations, interactivity and much clearer reception than analogue broadcasting.

But Research and Markets said that although broadcasting is being transformed technologically, the status quo has largely been preserved in terms of major broadcasters. The BBC's charter has been renewed until 2016, including its funding by the Licence Fee. Sky remains dominant in satellite, while ITV is the leading commercial television company on the ground. Deregulation has also allowed radio companies to merge, producing giants such as GCap Media and Emap, although the BBC maintains radio leadership.

“One major industry change in 2006 was that cable, which has had a lower uptake than satellite for Freeview, passed to a new, combined force under the Virgin Media name,” the researcher said.

“The significance of Virgin Media is that it offers consumers three digital communication options: cable television, broadband internet and telephony (mobile or landline).”

Research and Markets believes that downloading, podcasting and other “narrowcasting” technologies will challenge traditional broadcasting in future, but the status quo has also been preserved in terms of popular programming, ignoring the technology. Mass-audience event broadcasts are as popular as ever, such as reality shows like Big Brother, soaps like Coronation Street, blockbuster movies being shown on television for the first time and charity events, such as Red Nose Day.

“Culture lags behind the technology so that even BBC staples, such as The Archers and Match of the Day are not threatened by the brave new world of digital media,” said the research house.