What’s being proposed?

Existing national and local radio services on FM and AM to be removed, and moved to digital. By 2015 at the earliest.

The background:

In June 2009, the Government announced ambitious plans to move Uk radio listening from FM and AM, to digital. National services such as BBC Radio 1, Radio 2 and Radio 4 would vanish from FM, and be available only on digital platforms. Thetarget date of 2015 was set, but many think this is unlikely, given the challenges faced in getting a sizable chunk of the UK to switch over.

Digital Radio?

Digital Radio is available in a number of different formats:

  • DAB (the new wave of Digital Audio Broadcasting receivers), available on the High Street for upwards of £25
  • Internet radio (this could be a dedicated wi-fi radio, radio streamed onto a PC, radio on a mobile phone using a 3G connection)
  • TV services –  Many national stations syndicate on the Sky, Freeview, Freesat and Virgin’ Media TV services

Read more about the proposals:

Ed Vaizey, the Minister for Culture, Communications and Creative Industries, launched the Digital Radio Action Plan on the 8th of July 2010. Here’s a summary of the Plan: http://www.culture.gov.uk/news/hot_topics/7231.aspx

What can we do?

See our Save FM Radio section