Tag: analogue

DAB growth slowing across the UK

pure-evoke-1.jpg

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

Duncan Geere DAB

Consumers and retailers STILL confused about digital switchover

digital_al_how_thick_are_you.jpg

British retailers may have committed to phasing out analogue TV equipment but it doesn’t seem to be happening very quickly.

A recent parliamentary report echoes other surveys which suggest that nearly half of all TVs sold in the first half of last year were analogue. While the situation may have improved since then, the £200m “digital switchover” campaign appears not to have worked on all consumers…

Andy Merrett TVs

DAB should replace FM radio by 2020, despite current lack of interest

roberts_stream_202_silver_dab_wi-fi_radio_2.jpg

As if there wasn’t enough to deal with in switching over TV from analogue to digital, there’s a new recommendation in town: that DAB radio is the format of choice for radio and should replace FM broadcasts by 2020.

That’s according to an interim report by The Digital Radio Working Group, which suggests that DAB should be the primary way of delivering digital radio because the UK has a well-developed DAB market, and it can be freely received once appropriate equipment is purchased…

Andy Merrett DAB

Digital Divide? Over 50% of new TVs sold in UK last year analogue

tv.pngAccording to the latest figures from GfK, over half of the 7.5 million TVs sold in the past year were analogue (4.4m).

Though the number of digital TVs sold in the year ending May 2007 had increased almost threefold over the previous year, at just over 3m compared to just over 1m, still more analogue TVs were sold, though the figure had dropped from around 5.6m in 2006 to 4.4m in 2007.

Nick Simon at GfK expressed some concern over the figures. “Unfortunately there were still more than 4 million analogue TVs sold in the last 52 weeks, suggesting that there is still a lot of work required to convert all 25 million plus UK households. This is especially an issue when GfK ConsumerScope research reveals an average of two and a half sets per household.”

Andy Merrett TVs

Digital TV switchover will create a mountain of electronic junk

tv.pngA recent survey for YouGov suggests that the confusion surrounding the switchover from analogue to digital TV will lead to a mountain of junked TVs – equipment that could have worked perfectly well with the right digital box.

Apparently, there are 25 million analogue TVs still in use, and unless you want to switch over to high definition at the same time, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t continue to use your set until its cathode ray tube finally conks out.

Andy Merrett TVs