Radio revolution threatened as analogue sets outsell DABs three to one
Add to My Stories Share Digital radio switchover plans are facing a new crisis after it was revealed that three analogue sets are still being sold for every one which has the new technology.
With millions continuing to buy traditional sets the aspirational target of 2015 to move all major stations off FM and AM and on to digital looks even more unlikely.
The true scale of public apathy emerged in a report from communications regulator Ofcom which revealed that only 1.9million digital radios were sold in the year to the end of March 2011. This compares with 6.6million analogue sets. 
In any event, the report revealed that only an estimated 66 per cent of UK households can get local digital radio services. The technology has failed to grip the publics imagination as the ! shift to digital TV did, and there is opposition from FM loyalists who cannot see the point of moving the major stations off the analogue service.
Many of those who were unlikely to buy a digital radio said they felt there was no need. Many were happy with the current service, others blamed the cost or poor reception and some said they could access radio through their digital TV.
The lack of interest comes despite the fact that the average price paid for a DAB radio set has been dropping in recent years. It is now 78. But the report did suggest that more than a third of adults now have DAB sets, which was up 5 percentage points on the previous year.
The Government has said a decision on switchover can only be made once 50 per cent of listening is via digital. The Ofcom report puts it at 26.5 per cent. DAB coverage must also be comparable to FM, and locally reach 90 per cent of the population on all major roads.
The countrys fourth largest radio operator, the UKRD Group, welcomed the report for shining the light on a shambles and urged the Government to drop the 2015 switchover target date before it makes a complete fool of itself.
A Department for Culture, Media and Sport spokesman said: The Government has always been clear that switchover cannot be imposed on an unwilling public.
A spokesman for Digital Radio UK, the organisation overseeing the process, said: In the past year there has been positive growth in household digital radio penetration from 33 per cent to 38.2 per cent. The report shows that digital radio sales are increasing as a proportion of all radio sales.
With millions continuing to buy traditional sets the aspirational target of 2015 to move all major stations off FM and AM and on to digital looks even more unlikely.
The true scale of public apathy emerged in a report from communications regulator Ofcom which revealed that only 1.9million digital radios were sold in the year to the end of March 2011. This compares with 6.6million analogue sets.
Apathy: Sales figures show that the British public isn't overly excited about digital radioDigital now represents just 22 per cent of those radios sold, despite a massive marketing push by ministers, the BBC and commercial radio.Critics yesterday praised the report for shining a light on a shambles and said the sales figures showed that any hope of hitting the 2015 date was now dead in the water.
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In any event, the report revealed that only an estimated 66 per cent of UK households can get local digital radio services. The technology has failed to grip the publics imagination as the ! shift to digital TV did, and there is opposition from FM loyalists who cannot see the point of moving the major stations off the analogue service.
Many of those who were unlikely to buy a digital radio said they felt there was no need. Many were happy with the current service, others blamed the cost or poor reception and some said they could access radio through their digital TV.
The lack of interest comes despite the fact that the average price paid for a DAB radio set has been dropping in recent years. It is now 78. But the report did suggest that more than a third of adults now have DAB sets, which was up 5 percentage points on the previous year.The Government has said a decision on switchover can only be made once 50 per cent of listening is via digital. The Ofcom report puts it at 26.5 per cent. DAB coverage must also be comparable to FM, and locally reach 90 per cent of the population on all major roads.
The countrys fourth largest radio operator, the UKRD Group, welcomed the report for shining the light on a shambles and urged the Government to drop the 2015 switchover target date before it makes a complete fool of itself.
A Department for Culture, Media and Sport spokesman said: The Government has always been clear that switchover cannot be imposed on an unwilling public.
A spokesman for Digital Radio UK, the organisation overseeing the process, said: In the past year there has been positive growth in household digital radio penetration from 33 per cent to 38.2 per cent. The report shows that digital radio sales are increasing as a proportion of all radio sales.
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