FM will be soon assigned to the technology scrap heap forcing radio listeners to purchase digital radios or listen online despite complaints that FM is more reliable than DAB. The rumour is that the UK Culture Minister is about to confirm that the Government will go ahead with the digital switchover.
A target set by Labour set for 2015 is going to stay making 100 million existing analogue radios and their FM signals obsolete plus around 30 million car radios to be converted or replaced in five years time.
DAB hasn't proved as popular as expected with reception in many areas is very poor and problems receiving digital radio on portable devices. There are currently still gadgets hitting the market with FM radio capability such as the HTC Desire smartphone and iPhone/iPod apps.
There are even talks of better quality DABplus but this would make both FM and DAB obsolete forcing those who have shelled out on digital radio to shell out again for digital plus.
However, in Canada and the US a new alternative to radio is proving to be extremely popular. Sirius Satellite radio (a subscription service) provides more than 130 channels of music, sport, news and entertainment channels uncensored and commercial free. The system is high quality and can be listened to on iPhones and Blackberrys through apps as well as on traditional radios and in-car systems.
Sirius have no plans to launch in the UK at the moment but hopefully we will see something similar before the digital switchover starts to take hold.
5 thoughts on “FM Radio to Vanish by 2015: You Ready for the Digital Switchover?”
The 2015 target has absolutely no chance of being hit.
Oh, and just to add something: Ed Vaizey the minister in charge of broadcasting said that no date has been set, and a switchover date would only be set once the vast majority of people are already listening via DAB. It’s taken 9 years to replace less than 10% of all FM radios, so switchover won’t happen until at least 2020.
And it is us the consumers who lose out.
Looks like I’m going to have to wait another 5 years before upgrading my car stereo.
I doubt this will happen. When you think about how many cars have FM radios, it’s totally ludicrous to think that people will be forced to upgrade their car audio equipment. Silly idea in my opinion.