Digital radio transition to begin in 2017

A government-commissioned report indicates radio listeners in the United Kingdom may have only nine years left before a full switch from analog to digital radio takes place.

The Digital Radio Working Group (DRWG) said, however, the government needs to ease current regulatory burdens before digital radio can be widely adopted.  By 2015, less than 50 percent of all radio listeners in the UK will be using FM and AM radios that use traditional analog to broadcast.

Representatives from BBC, commercial radio, consumers, manufacturers and the government make up the DRWG, as the group looks for new members interested in discussing digital radio, and the transition radio will make over the next few years.

The transition should really begin to take off in 2017, and will be finished by 2020.  The DRWG didn’t publicly issue an official "shut-off" date for analog radio, though it’s likely the group has a specific date in mind.

"In the short term we believe the government should consider options for funding to support the reduction of carriage costs," according to the report.

Communications Minister Stephen Carter is already working to help relax legislative and regulatory issues, although the current economic crisis could delay plans further.

To help spur DAB radio adoption in households and cars, the government should think about offering duty exemptions to help lower the price of digital radios.  Overall, £100 million over the next few years to help begin the digital transition, but it’s unknown if the money will be available.