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.
Dixons/Curry’s Exclusive DAB Adapter
An innovative, cost-effective ‘plug and play’ device that enables consumers to upgrade their Hi-Fis to DAB digital radio capability is now on sale at Dixons and Currys.
The DAB Audio Adapter helps the UK’s traditional FM/AM listeners tune in to DAB digital at an exceptionally low price. The device is compatible with any audio device with an “AUX” input socket – so customers can upgrade their Hi-Fi system, DVD home theatre kits and even some PCs and CD/cassette players. Users simply plug it in to experience DAB digital radio.
Dixons predicts that the Adapter will be one of this Christmas’ ‘must haves’. The Adapter is launched at a time of rapid growth in the DAB market. Recent figures suggest that the number of digital radio listeners in the UK could reach one million by the end of the year. If consumer take-up continues at its current levels, the DRDB predicts that there will be more than 13 million DAB digital radios in homes by 2008, reaching a third of the UK population.
John Mewett, marketing director of Dixons said: “At just £59.99 it’s a small price to pay to give your analogue HiFi or stereo a new lease of life, especially if you have invested in a top of the range model. Now, if you’re looking to buy a new HiFi this Christmas and want to join the DAB revolution, you’re no longer limited to models with a built in DAB radio function. This exclusive product offers the flexibility to choose the HiFi which best suits your needs, budget and style whilst still getting the benefits of DAB and if you’re buying a HiFi over £129, you’ll get the DAB adapter for just £29.99. This Christmas the only crackle radio listeners will hear will be from their fires!”
Dixons anticipates that digital radio sales will outstrip conventional radio sales this December. It is soaring in popularity because of the benefits it offers that analogue radio cannot provide. Using DAB eliminates the hiss and crackle familiar to analogue radio listeners. Listeners can tune in to the great choice of exclusive stations alongside their old favourites — all in digital quality sound — without static or interference.
Depending on location, listeners can access up to double the number of stations on DAB. There are already more than 100 digital services that are not available on FM or AM.
In addition to audio content, DAB stations transmit text information. Headlines and weather information, the track and artist name of the song, what’s on now and next and contact details for the station are just some of the exciting new features listeners receive.
Ian Dickens, chief executive of the DRDB, said: “"The new digital radio adapter announced by Dixons today is further proof that DAB technology is here to stay. It means consumers have even more control over what they listen to and how they receive it. The DRDB expects the Dixons adapter to play a major role in bringing even more people to the DAB experience this Christmas.”
The DAB Audio Adapter is exclusive to Dixons and its sister chain, Currys, nation-wide. It will be available in stores from early November, just in time for Christmas. The Adapter has its own remote control, a clock and alarm and enables owners to programme 10 of their favourite stations into its memory.
Market Update
* Cumulative penetration of DAB digital radios in the UK is 801,000 to the end of September 2004.
* In August/September, sales of DAB digital radios delivered a market worth £12 million.
* Annual sales to end September 2004 were worth £62 million.
Five Year Forecast
The Digital Radio Development Bureau has published a Five-Year DAB Digital Radio Forecast, looking forward annually to the market up to 2008. The numbers show that listening to a DAB digital radio is set to increase dramatically as consumers discover the benefits of more stations, digital quality sound, and interference free listening.
• 13 million cumulative units by 2008
• Annual market value nearly £500 million by 2008
• Household penetration 29% by 2008
The report, which provides an annualised forecast of market volume and market value, is broken down by product segment. It also forecasts cumulative volume and household penetration for the period 2004 to 2008.
By 2008, the forecast predicts there will be more than 13 million DAB digital radios in UK homes, up from around one million at the end of 2004. This represents an increase of 1200%.
The annual market value in 2008 is expected to be almost £500 million across all product segments. The 2004 market value is anticipated to be around £90 million. This represents an increase of 448%.
The Five Year Forecast has been produced by the DRDB and Digital One, (the national commercial DAB digital radio multiplex operator) and independently audited by strategy advisors Oliver & Ohlbaum Associates. It combines a knowledge and prediction of future manufacturer, retailer and consumer behaviour with historical data from GfK, which measures sales of electrical goods in the UK
The figures within the forecast have the backing of many leading manufacturers, including Sony, Philips, Sharp, JVC and Sanyo who believe them to be a credible set of achievable targets.
The forecast is designed to help manufacturers and retailers plan their product roadmaps and range-plans. It will also allow broadcasters to plan investment and future market strategies, and help government to assess the uptake of DAB digital radio and so look at a potential analogue switch-off schedule.
For a copy of the Forecast, email mandy@drdb.org
Product News
New DAB digital radio products coming to market in October included:
Two from Roberts Radio
Roberts Radio launched the Gemini 9 (pictured below), a clock radio with dual alarms and sleep/snooze, DAB/FM with RDS and five station presets. Priced around £119.
The Gemini 15 is a DAB only radio, mains or battery operated, available for around £69.99.
PURE Elan
PURE Digital’s newest offering is the Elan, a DAB/FM, mains or battery radio with clock and sleep/timer mode. Features include 30 hours of battery life. Price around £79.
A pair from Sony
The eagerly awaited Sony XDR S1 portable DAB radio is now available (pictured below). The radio receives both L Band and Band III broadcasts and includes DAB/FM/AM, alarm clock and memo function. Price around £150.
Sony’s latest hi-fi tuner is the ST-SDB900 with DAB/FM/AM. Price guide £199.99
Home Cinema from Samsung
Samsung presents the HT-DS470, a DAB/FM/AM radio that’s also a DVD player and reads DIVx, MP3, WMA and Jpeg files from recordable CDs. Price guide £250.
TEAC Reference 250
TEAC adds to its DAB family with the Reference 250, a DAB/FM/AM micro system that includes a CD player. Price around £300.
Alba Enters the Market
Alba joins the DAB market with two products, the TRDAB2820 and TRDAB2821. Both are DAB/FM, mains or battery products available at the low price of £49.99.
Morphy Richards Rewind
New from Morphy Richards is the Ordio 27016, a DAB/FM, mains or battery portable radio with pause, record and rewind available for around £129.
JVC UX HB4 Micro
A micro from JVC delivering DAB/FM/AM/CD/MP3 and cassette with 30 watt speakers and 45 station presets, for just £179.99.
Other product news
Onkyo joins the growing list of manufacturers to produce a DAB digital radio with their CR505DAB, a CD system that includes DAB and FM radio, priced around £239.
Exclusive to Comet is the Proline DAB300, a DAB only, mains or battery portable radio for £49.99.
Also look out for the Relisys RDAB100 tabletop radio for £81.99.
Technisat’s new tabletop radio is the Digit Radio DAB2 for £106.
New In-Car Solution
Revo Digital has announced a new solution for in-car listening. The product, which becomes available December 1, can be installed in any type of vehicle, irrespective of whether it has a DIN size aperture in the centre console or not. In essence, the unit sits in a powered mounting cradle and turns your existing FM radio into a DAB receiver.
In addition, you can take the Revo product out of the car and connect it to an audio system such as a home hi-fi or boombox. Or, with an integrated re-chargeable battery pack and high quality headphones, turn it into a personal pocket radio.
For more information and pricing visit www.revo.co.uk
Final Multiplex Launches
The last in the current round of DAB local multiplexes has launched in the UK. South West Digital Radio launched the Plymouth and Cornwall multiplex at the beginning of November bringing a total of seven services to the region in digital quality sound.
This brings to an end the roll-out of commercial DAB multiplexes in the UK, a process that began almost exactly five years ago when Digital One launched the national commercial multiplex in November 1999.
Since then, 46 commercial multiplexes have joined Digital One and the national BBC multiplex bringing more than 400 radio services to listeners around the country.
The UK now awaits the allocation of more DAB spectrum in 2006.
ntl Broadcasts switches on 250th DAB digital radio
ntl Broadcast division has switched on its 250th digital commercial radio transmitter after an intensive roll-out of multiplexing and transmission systems for both national and local stations lasting four years. Caradon Hill, near Liskeard in Cornwall, is the location for the 250th installation.
ENDS
October 19, 2004
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
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Mandy Green
Press and Publicity Manager
DRDB
The Radiocentre
77 Shaftesbury Avenue
London W1D 5DU
020 7306 2636
07973 184995