Digital Radio

[Brianc68]

@NDY

@mubd

I just don’t see the point to DRM. There may be something to it in Europe and Asia where there’s limited spectrum, but here? No chance.

Exactly how I feel, but even in Europe and Asia it would already be redundant, since internet streaming is already well underway. Radio is past the point where it can implement new technologies which would require a complete overhaul of existing receivers and continue having mainstream appeal.

I agree it’s too late to implement a new technology for terrestrial radio. By the time it rolls out and people have a way of listening people will already be on internet radio one way or another.

I think there’s a (very) small window to get adoption of DAB in the larger regional centres and to get a better uptake in metro areas but even that window is narrowing. Commercial operators resisted DAB too long and the ACMA ensured it wouldn’t work by not opening up DAB to new operators. I still think there’s a slight chance for DAB but I think there’s zero chance for another technology like DRM.

All in all it’s a bleak assessment for terrestrial radio. Even if they re-stacked FM and let all commercial AM stations convert to FM it’s not enough choice for listeners anymore. It’s certainly not enough choice for me. For example I wouldn’t listen to Triple M on FM because there’s too much talk, too many ads and the music playlist is too narrow. However I will listen to Triple M Classic Rock and Soft Rock - but neither of these choices would make it onto FM under any scenario. So it’s DAB or Internet for me. I would probably listen to 4BH or 4KQ on FM though but that’s never going to happen, so again it’s DAB or Internet.