The DRDB (Digital Radio Development Bureau) produces a monthly news bulletin designed to keep all those in the DAB digital radio chain informed and updated on the latest developments in the industry.
Digital listening
Data released by RAJAR in July continues to point to increased listening figures for stations broadcasting outside their traditional analogue boundaries.
Although it is not yet possible break down precisely which platforms people are using, it is apparent that DAB, Internet and digital TV (both satellite and terrestrial) are together pulling in significant listeners.
- Smash Hits Radio, a digital only station, records 853,000 listeners, up 12.4% quarter on quarter
- Kiss has a total listenership of 2.57 million, 971,000 of which (40%) are outside its London analogue transmission area and therefore digital listeners
- XFM has a total listenership of 606,000, 170,000 of which are outside its London analogue transmssion area and therefore digital listeners
- Jazz FM has a total listenership of 1.42 million, 306,000 of which are outside its analogue transmission area and therefore digital listeners.
DAB for Christmas
It may be high summer for most of us, but the DRDB is already planning for the Christmas rush.
Research shows that 3.4 million people are prepared to buy a DAB digital radio over the next six months.
With more new product expected in shops by Christmas (see below), and DAB marketing campaigns from the BBC, DRDB and individual manufacturers hitting TV, radio and print, we expect demand to increase over the remainder of the year. The DRDB is encouraging retailers to ensure stocks are sufficient to meet that demand this winter.
Product News
Over the past six weeks, four new DAB products have shipped to market in the UK. They are:
PersTel BlueNote: It’s the first sub-£100 hand-held portable DAB radio. Weighs just 80gm and operates on two AA batteries, the BlueNote comes with stereo headphones and is available exclusively through Dixons and Currys stores.
Pure Evoke-2: The first stereo digital kitchen style radio with FM, the Evoke-2 is mains or battery operated and features two 3 inch integrated speakers, time and date display and a mains adaptor. Price £159.
Goodmans GCE7007DAB: The unified aerial technology in this new in-car radio means that, in most cases, it operates using an existing car aerial. Along with full DAB functionality, the GCE7007DAB incorporates a CD player, FM/MW/LW RDS analogue radio with Traffic Announcement system and 30 station pre-sets. Price £199.
Blaupunkt Woodstock DAB53: AM/FM/DAB in-car receiver with CD, playback of audio CDs/CD ROMs, CD-RW compatible, MMC/SD, MMC card reader, MP3/MP2 player. A package price of £499.99 includes an on-glass aerial and 64mb MMC card.
In other product news, Cambridge Audio will soon launch a new Hi-Fi tuner, the remote controlled DAB500. Retailing exclusively from Richer Sounds at £150, the DAB500 employs the Frontier Silicon FS2020 module.
Acoustic Solutions launches its new SP111 tuner this month. Designed to accept the wide range of digital radio services now available, the SP111 also delivers FM reception and RDS. At £119.99, this will be the most cost effective tuner on the market. The SP111 employs the RS200 module from RadioScape based on Texas Instruments DRE200 baseband chip.
Product Status
There are currently more than 40 different DAB products on the market in the UK, made by 24 different manufacturers.
With another 25 products expected over the next few months, digital radio could end 2003 with nearly 70 products for consumers to choose from, including:
- Hi-Fi tuners
- Kitchen radios
- Hand-held portables
- Clock radios
- In-Car radios
- PC products
- Personal stereos (boomboxes)
- Set top boxes with DAB
- Home cinema/DVD with DAB
Retailer News
Supermarket giants Tesco and Sainsbury’s will stock DAB digital radios.
Over the next few months, Tesco will trial sales of digital radios in 17 of its stores, while Sainsbury’s will roll out in 125 outlets.
Ian Dickens, Chief Executive of the Digital Radio Development Bureau says: “The fact that two of the UK’s key supermarket brands have seen the potential for DAB digital radio is a clear sign that the transition from early adopter to mass market take up, is underway.
“The recent promotional campaign from the BBC and commercial radio stations resulted in a dramatic consumer response, which is expected to be repeated in the golden sales quarter of Christmas. Both Tesco and Sainsbury’s will be ready to capitalize on this valuable new market, as they join the digital revolution.”
With consumer awareness of DAB digital radio in the UK at 30% and rising, there are clear signs that it is entering the mass market. For retailers, the new technology has provided a much needed innovation boost to the audio market.
In the last 12 months, the number of retailers stocking DAB digital radio has grown from 600 to over 3,000 and already the sector is delivering a significant proportion of radio sales against the traditional, but now dated, analogue marketplace.
The combination of new programme choice, improved sound quality and easy tuning, where wavelength numbers are a thing of the past is proving popular with the consumer. And with an increase in the range of sets now available, the radio sector looks likely to repeat the phenomenal success of last Christmas.
Digital radios are also being trialed in other non-traditional outlets, such as W H Smith, adding to the industry’s confidence that DAB is moving into the consumer mainstream.
Technology News
Frontier Silicon, the fabless semiconductor business whose core products include system-on-chip (SoC) devices for digital TV, digital radio and other emerging consumer multimedia products, has announced that it has shipped over a quarter of a million DAB modules based on its Chorus DAB and digital audio processor during its first 12 months of production.
Says Anthony Sethill, CEO, Frontier Silicon: "Sales of DAB technology have more than met our expectations and we are firmly on track to reach our target of shipping over 500,000 DAB processor modules during the next 12 months. Chorus is the basis for the wave of mainstream DAB products which are now taking the market by storm."
Chorus supports all DAB audio and data services, as well as other digital audio formats such as MP3, and recently demonstrated MPEG-4 playback capabilities at Mediacast 2003.
Frontier DAB modules account for over 80% of DAB sales worldwide and its customers include brands such as PURE Digital, Goodmans, Bush, Ministry of Sound, Cambridge Audio, TEAC and Grundig. Frontier’s Chorus DAB processor is based on intellectual property (IP) licensed from Imagination Technologies, a leader in SoC IP.
------------------------------------
The dDAB Consortium - a group comprised of Unique Interactive, Virgin Radio, Nucles Digital and TTPCom - is developing synchronised visual media and interactivity to add value to existing radio broadcasts in a project managed by the IMPACT Research Group at Loughborough University, supported by a grant from the DTI and EPSRC.
dDAB has launched the first live consumer trials for multimedia radio in the UK, taking place in London using NTL’s experimental L-Band multiplex, and in Loughborough using a research multiplex at the University.
Consumers can listen to live audio channels whilst viewing synchronised visual content delivered via DAB digital radio data streams. The aim of the trials is to assess the quality, relevance and effectiveness of the visual data delivered in conjunction with the audio.
Multiplex launches
Two new multiplexes have launched in the UK since our last newsletter.
MXR adds Yorkshire to its regional multiplex lineup with seven new digital radio stations, and two of the region’s existing analogue favourites.
New to the area are Jazz fm, Capital Disney, The Arrow, Urban Choice, Smooth, Digital News Network (DNN)and Heart. Analogue stations simulcast on the multiplex are Real Radio and Galaxy.
MXR, a consortium comprised of the Chrysalis Group, Capital Radio Plc, Guardian Media Group, UBC Digital Ltd, Soul Media Ltd and Ford Motor company, operates five regional multiplexes across the UK reaching a potential 17.3 million listeners.
Score Digital, a wholly owned subsidiary of Scottish Radio Holdings, launched its Inverness multiplex with, initally, five services. Digital country station 3C shares a slot with local AM service MFR 1107, while sister station MFR FM broadcasts 24 hours a day. BBC Scotland and BBC Nan Gaidheal complete the lineup.
Inverness brings Score Digital’s multiplex operations to six covering Scotland and Northern Ireland.
DAB in Australia
Commercial digital radio broadcasts are expected to begin trials in Sydney, Australia, by the end of the year. City council approval for the installation of a DAB transmitter clears the way for ten commercial radio stations to launch their services.
Initially, 100 radio listeners will be selected to participate in consumer trials. As receivers with greater functionality become available, a trial of 500 listeners is planned and more trials are planned around Australia’s metropolitan centres and in regional areas.
WorldDAB at IFA
The WorldDAB Forum delivers a strong message at the world’s largest international consumer electronics show, IFA, held in Berlin August 29 -September 3. Digital radio is here!
In conjunction with Germany’s digital radio marketing group, the IMDR, WorldDAB hosts its biggest and most ambitious display ever at the bi-annual show. A 200 meter stand pays tribute to the DAB products already in the market and those coming soon; to the broadcasters around the world who have embraced DAB; and to the developers of chip and module technology working to bring even more exciting functionality to DAB.
The stand is designed to highlight the sheer number of DAB products currently in the market, and the exciting mix of DAB stations broadcasting around Europe.
- Up to 40 DAB products currently available from 30 different manufacturers. Visitors to stand 202 in Hall 5.2 can experience DAB radio in a hands-on environment. Consumers can try a selection of products for themselves, including in-car radios, hi-fi tuners, pocket portables, computer based products and kitchen style radios.
- Prototypes and modules. Prototypes of new product currently under development will also be on display, as well as examples of modules from international manufacturers.
- Services. Up to five DAB multiplexes will be on air broadcasting live and exclusive to IFA throughout the six day show. Germany will demonstrate its commitment to DAB with broadcasts from some of its top local radio stations, including its six new DAB services for Berlin launching in August. The BBC and Digital One will transmit their digital services on alternate days via a separate multiplex; and another international multiplex will deliver radio services from Swedish, Italian and Belgian broadcasters exclusively to IFA.
- IFA Radio. The IMDR will also broadcast a detailed information service for IFA visitors. The programme will come directly from a Glass Studio on the WorldDAB/IMDR stand so visitors can see digital radio live at work. Consumers can listen via the radios displayed on the stand, and in the press centre visitors can tune in through special hand-held radios. In addition to the various audio services, information will be prepared editorially and broadcast via a data service so visitors can experience this unique DAB functionality.
- Business area for the trade. Representatives from the entire DAB chain will be available throughout the six days of IFA to talk to trade professionals about all aspects of digital radio from broadcasting to marketing, and from chips and modules to multiplex operations.
- WorldDAB’s presence will also be felt at a series of symposiums and press conferences during IFA, including an important joint announcement from DAB and DRM on August 30th.
ENDS
August 22, 2003
The Digital Radio Development Bureau is funded and supported by BBC, Digital One, Emap Digital Radio, CE Digital, MXR, Capital Digital and Now-Digital. The DRDB's task is to ensure digital radio's wide accessibility and swift adoption in the UK with consistent and effective marketing.
Visit the DRDB's consumer web site www.digitalradionow.com, or our Business to Business site, www.drdb.org.
If you have any news you would like included in the next DRDB news bulletin, please email mandy@drdb.org
If you do not wish to receive future copies of this news bulletin please email mandy@drdb.org
Mandy Green
Press and Publicity Manager
DRDB
The Radiocentre
77 Shaftesbury Avenue
London W1D 5DU
020 7306 2636
07973 184995