tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9078262770562171996.post4007732796433190759..comments2023-07-08T13:44:21.625+01:00Comments on Grant Goddard : radio blog: Digital Economy Act 2010: a smokescreen for backroom radio ‘deal’Grant Goddardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13171054298318119431noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9078262770562171996.post-10717451073047742242010-06-10T14:28:10.675+01:002010-06-10T14:28:10.675+01:00Another point is that an existing analogue TV set ...Another point is that an existing analogue TV set can still be used by attaching a Freeview box - no such option exists for radio receivers. If the switchover were to ever happen, millions of radios around the country would become instantly redundant and have to be thrown away - not very environmentally friendly.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9078262770562171996.post-32373758362610053342010-06-05T11:04:54.559+01:002010-06-05T11:04:54.559+01:00This is a very astute analysis, setting out the ba...This is a very astute analysis, setting out the barriers to take-up. As the article indicates, if this were introduced a decade earlier it might have had an opportunity of success, but its being fast overtaken by newer technologies. <br /><br />We use our iphone with downloaded podcasts to listen to the best bits of R4 and other public broadcasters, giving far more choice that a DAB channel.<br /><br />As it happens I noticed the newest Toyota Prius, a source of leading edge technology, comes with a standard FM/AM radio.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9078262770562171996.post-39668014248029506782010-05-31T12:06:41.059+01:002010-05-31T12:06:41.059+01:00We will not receive DAB radio here until 2012.
Th...We will not receive DAB radio here until 2012.<br /><br />The websites said we COULD receive it so our family gave us a digital portable receiver for Christmas 3/4 years ago. It would only receive Classic FM, faintly, in a corner of one room in this house so we partly exchanged it for an A rated freezer.<br /> <br />Planning ahead, we recently we bought a dual receiver with DAB and FM. No, it would not receive FM in this marginal region. The maker's helpline said that the FM reception was only provided as a back up to DAB! This portable went back to the retailer, too.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9078262770562171996.post-7091201254783560572010-04-20T04:25:44.055+01:002010-04-20T04:25:44.055+01:00Evidently digital radio is the same in Britain as ...Evidently digital radio is the same in Britain as it is here in the USA: a scam being pushed on the public made purely to generate profits.bobyoungnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9078262770562171996.post-47468344209346582862010-04-16T10:44:36.801+01:002010-04-16T10:44:36.801+01:00A couple more points (apolgies if I missed them).
...A couple more points (apolgies if I missed them).<br />DAB is too power hungry to be meaningfully portable.<br /><br />The presence of (better quality) digital radio broadcasts on freeview. Why buy a half decent DAB set when you can run a line from your telly to your Hi Fi?<br /><br />I have wondered for some time if there is any technical reason why "audio only" DVB receivers don't exist. There doesn't seem much point to me in having a freeview infrastructure and a DAB infrastucture.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9078262770562171996.post-71705165258576605762010-04-13T17:34:44.364+01:002010-04-13T17:34:44.364+01:00AM radio in the East Midlands, and other parts of ...AM radio in the East Midlands, and other parts of the country, is terrible, therefore speech radio such as 5 Live and talkSPORT is only available to any strength via DAB or the internet. FM music radio now that there are only a few owners of Independent stations are all the same and offer little choice that a decent DAB service could give.tvstudieshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13559753122802515366noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9078262770562171996.post-52878820444426300432010-04-12T10:12:23.420+01:002010-04-12T10:12:23.420+01:00Yes Grant , I agree.
I think this goes beyond th...Yes Grant , I agree. <br /><br />I think this goes beyond the current Global business, with the lobbying of the DCMS extending back to Gcap and even GWR. All this has happened with the regulator Ofcom, watching motionless from the side lines.<br /><br />It really is a sad day for the consumer and listener with the failing commercial sector glued to a path of more of the same. We have lost the opportunity to reinvigorate non BBC radio and bring it up to date with new players and new ideas. Additionally the Treasury is robbed of the cash bid and annual dues, perhaps as much as £100million during the term of the 3 national services.<br /><br /><br />I am not convinced any extension will bring back real values to analogue properties when profits are hard to find and hours continue to decline but it will make licences tradable again, if only in the usual internal market. The real irony of the DEA is that digital stations will close, since mux reconfiguration is going to happen. Yorkshire Radio, the little unsung hero of the DAB only services is now, not guaranteed a multiplex position within the legislation. Again there will be no net gain for the listeners just less local and more FM networking. <br /><br />It will be interesting to see how Ofcom amend the extended licences but I believe the wording about driving or promoting DAB will be very watery and non-committal, so yes, it isn't going to happen for the reasons you state.<br /><br />I like the idea of blaming the French, the industry so far hasn’t tired this one. It was used for hundreds of years by various Monarchs and state to calm revolts by ignorant peasants. During the 1800’s the nation believed the French to be behind for the failing harvest and excessive winters because they had invented a way of controlling the British weather.<br /><br />Plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9078262770562171996.post-72421421059855817922010-04-10T15:56:31.513+01:002010-04-10T15:56:31.513+01:00Grant,
You have the most excellent blog, and it i...Grant,<br /><br />You have the most excellent blog, and it is very much appreciated. As I was reading through your list, you could have very easily been writing about our HD Radio fiasco. None of the digital radio systems offer anything substantial above excellent analog FM/AM, and are technologically inferior in many ways.<br /><br />GregAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com