The Government report, produced by communications minister Lord Carter, tabled a 2015 switch-off date for most analogue radio and assured the national commercial stations they would not have to fight for their licences at auction in 2011 and 2012.
Travis Baxter, managing director radio, Bauer Media, said Bauer Media "got everything it asked for" from Digital Britain and praised Carter for listening to the needs of a relatively "small sector".
Digital Britain indicated that the regulatory regime should include a greater focus of the "output" and "impact" of local stations, as opposed to the format of transmission. Baxter said the regulations on the radio industry had to change because they were "nonsense", but now "it is up to commercial radio to get more share from the BBC".
Andrew Harrison, chief executive of commercial radio industry body RadioCentre, said for radio to flourish it requires a digital strategy and, "on first inspection, we are encouraged that Digital Britain sets out a clear roadmap for the radio industry's future".
Commercial radio also supported the funding provision for digital radio in the report. Harrison said the RadioCentre is delighted the report identifies the Digital Switchover surplus as a further route to securing funding for greater coverage for DAB in addition to transmission cost savings from the Arqiva/NGW merger and the end of dual transmission.
Tony Moretta, chief executive of the Digital Radio Development Bureau, said the suggested deadline for digital radio to be standard in all new cars by 2013 "draws a line under years of uncertainty" for the car industry and manufacturers can "confidently and cost effectively" plan their migration from analogue to digital.
.jpg)
.jpg)