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Digital radio describes radio technologies which carry information as a digital signal. The launch of AM radio during the 1920s became the first generation and was followed in the 1970s by FM. Commercial Radio Australia describes digital radio as the third generation of radio. Digital radio in Australia is in its infancy and the government still lacks a policy framework for a national roll out. The federal government has been criticised for abnegating leadership on the issue to industry group Commercial Radio Australia (CRA) (The Australian 23/9/04). The Commercial Radio group has been accused of ‘going slow to protect its members, who have invested hundreds of millions in analogue licences’ (The Australian 23/9/04). CRA state they have been cautious in commiting to one broadcast system until it could be determined which was best. The UK have been using Eureka 147 to digitally broadcast for the past 15 years using and in September 2004, the CRA committed to begin trials in Sydney and Melbourne.
DRM has the advantage of being used on upgraded AM transmitters and their digital signal processing is simple compared to other digital radio coding. The BBC and Deutsche Telecom have started DRM trials in Europe.
Each Eureka DAB transmitter can deliver five CD quality audio channels or a larger number of lower quality channels. Under the Digital Radio Advisory Committee's findings Eureka 147 is currently being trialed in Sydney and Melbourne, Australia.
WorldAudio Group and Broadcast Australia are conducting a digital radio broadcast trial in Melbourne. This trial will be conducted in parallel with another digital radio trial to be conducted by CRA in Sydney.
In 1995, the Digital Radio Advisory Committee investigated the policy and technological issues of introducing digital radio in Australia. The committee's final report recommended Eureka 147 be adopted for Australia, operating in the L Band frequency with the option of using the VHF spectrum for regional areas Digital Radio Advisory Committee Final Report. On March 24 1998, the Digital Radio Planning and Steering Committee was formed to develop plan the introduction of digital radio services.
On 6 May 2003 the Digital Radio Study Group (DRSG) was formed to report on the digital radio technologies currently available. The DRSG investigated the implementation of alternative digital radio technologies, including Eureka 147, IBOC, Digital Radio Mondiale and digital satellite and hybrid satellite/ terrestrial services [2].
2UE talkback presenter John Laws said in July 2004 “Radio has changed enormously over the 50 years I’ve been broadcasting and digital technology is arguably the biggest change but also the most critical to ensuring that the industry is able to remain innovative over the next 50 years,� 15-Jul-04 New Bug set to revolutionise Radio Listening The technology is starting to take off worldwide, with more than 300 million people now receiving up to 600 digital services. 15-Jul-04 New Bug set to revolutionise Radio Listening
Joan Warner, chief executive officer of CRA said "Digital radio is being hailed as the biggest change for radio since the introduction of FM broadcasting" (http://www.commercialradio.com.au/news.cfm#100183 2004 CRA media release). Digital Radio overcame a major milestone in September 2004 when 11 stations, representing all commercial radio networks in Sydney plus the ABC and SBS, begin broadcasting in digital as part of an 18-month long industry-wide pilot program 18-Dec-03 Digital Radio Comes to Sydney.
Digital Radio is more interactive than analogue broadcasts. This new technology allows radio stations to give their audience more control over what they listen to.
Joan Warner, chief executive officer of CRA said “The new technology has the potential to make radio more compelling for listeners because it combines new features such as crystal clear sound, a screen for pictures and text information on-demand, and multi-layering of programs, with radio’s existing strengths of portability and immediacy." 15-Jul-04 New Bug set to revolutionise Radio Listening
The Bug, designed by Pure Digital is the first digital radio which lets users pause, rewind and record live radio. If you miss comething on the radio with the Bug it can be paused, rewound a few minutes, recorded then converted into MP3. Digital radios sales have grown by over 200 per cent in the UK over the past year, and new models being developed for release in the next six months will be able to broadcast pictures and logos, such as images of artists or traffic maps 15-Jul-04 New Bug set to revolutionise Radio Listening.
Digital Radio has five main improvements over analogue broadcasts. Digital radio offers increased listener interactivity and colour LCD screens for the broadcast of scrolling text and images such as pictures and traffic maps.
Digital Radio Development Bureau
Blaupunkt
BBC Digital Radio
Eureka Project
ibiquity
DAB Ensembles World
World DAB
Ossian 14:14, 12 Oct 2004 (EST)
Biblio
Has radio a digital future? http://www.aba.gov.au/abanews/speeches/digital_tech/pdfrtf/gTanner0302.pdf Sydney, 25 March 2002 Giles Tanner
Digital Radio Trials Policy for dealing with applications for trials using VHF Band III spectrum http://www.aba.gov.au/radio/digital/industry/digital_radio_trial_policy.pdf
http://www.radioandtelly.co.uk/dab.html
http://www.dcita.gov.au/Article/0,,0_1-2_15-4_114189,00.html
