| "Rajar's
figures last week showed that listening to
digital radio grew for the fourth quarter
running and that DAB listening has topped
100 million hours. The DRDB also reported
a substantial increase in sales of DAB sets
before Christmas and forecast that household
penetration would grow to 30 per cent in 2008.
"It
is clear to us that Dab has an exciting
future in a fast converging UK media industry.
The BBC and 4 Digital Group are committed
to digital radio long term and both believe
that working together, and with the rest
of the radio industry, is vital if we are
to secure the UK's position in the forefront
of digital radio development.
"We
want to work together to make the very best
of UK radio available to everyone, while
continuing to compete to provide the very
best audio content that will be the primary
means of ensuring the success of digital
radio in the years to come."
In
the first instance, the BBC and 4 Digital
Group are exploring the technological innovations
made possible by DAB, from interactive exchange
between listener and broadcaster and EPG-based
services, including programme storage, to
text and image-based services that offer
programme information, pictures, sports
results and local news and weather.
4
Digital Group is the consortium that won
the licence from Ofcom to run the second
national commercial DAB multiplex in June
last year.
Led
by Channel 4 Radio, it brings together a
formidable multi-media alliance comprising
some of the biggest names in radio, television,
publishing, retail, technical expertise
and data innovation.
The
4 Digital Group Shareholders are Channel
4 Radio, H Bauer (formerly EMAP Digital
Radio Limited), UTV Radio (GB) Limited,
BSkyB, The Carphone Warehouse Group plc
and UBC Media Group plc.
|
