The humble DAB radio has been a fixture in middle-class households across the UK for several years now. However, it's growth appears to be slowing. Although more than half a million sets were sold in December, that's down nearly 10% on the previous year, and down 20% on the Digital Radio Development Bureau's forecast for the year. At the same time, there's no date been set for analogue radio switchoff and the growth of internet radio and compatible devices directly threatens DAB's position as the future of radio, in the same way that Blu-ray is being threatened by digital delivery of video content. DAB either needs a strong injection of support, or to be cut free to sink or swim on its own. Its current middle-ground situation isn't really helping anyone. Much will depend on what happens in 2009, I suspect. Do you use DAB? Could you live without it? Tell us your story in the comments. (via the Guardian) Related posts: Arcam shows off the FMJ T32 Hi-Fi DAB tuner | Pure launches its EVOKE Mio DAB & FM radio, a coloured-in update of the EVOKE-1S