Digital radio switchover ‘needs to be clearer’

The digital radio switchover needs greater clarity, a House of Lords committee has warned.

The committee say that there is ‘public confusion and industry uncertainty’ over radio switchover.

There was also concern that due to the lack of public information people are still buying analogue radios which will be out of date in a few years time. They point out that retailers gave evidence stating that they are not getting adequate information on switchover plans so are unable to offer consumers accurate guidance when making purchases. The report also points out that car manufacturers are still fitting analogue radios in new cars and digital radios will not be fitted as standard in all cars until 2013.

The report added; ‘No-one can be satisfied with the present position.’

Radio stations are set to move to DAB format by the end of 2015 under a timetable outlined in the Government’s Digital Britain White Paper.