Digital Radio Increases Coverage
If you're a radio listener, despite increasing pressure from internet radio, digital radio or 'DAB+' is here to stay. With now more than 1.6 million aussie listeners tuning in, Commercial Radio Australia's recent announcement of increased coverage will be a welcome tune to many.
For now however, regional areas are still no better off. Free to air digital radio reception is set to improve with 12 new commercial radio industry-funded DAB+ On Channel Repeaters (OCR) in metropolitan radio licence areas.
After successful recent trials in the Melbourne CBD, the localised transmitters, which are scheduled to be switched on over the coming months, will boost digital radio coverage in dense urban areas, as well as extending coverage in geographically challenging environments and at the boundaries of the licence areas in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth.
Repeaters in Bacchus Marsh and Fishermen’s Bend will further service the Victorian capital. While in Sydney, sites include Collaroy, Newport, Winmalee, Mt Badgelly, Redfern and in the Sydney CBD. Mt Mee will host a transmitter to service Brisbane’s northwest, while Perth’s DAB+ coverage will be boosted by repeaters in the Perth CBD and Minderie. Apparently, there is no current need for repeaters in Adelaide as the existing digital radio transmitter is located at Mt Lofty and provides very good coverage.
“Australia has the most powerful DAB+ digital radio signal in the world and the repeaters will ensure more radio listeners across Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth can experience the benefits of digital radio." said Joan Warner, Commercial Radio Australia (CRA) CEO.
According to CRA, "Time Spent Listening (TSL) to radio on a DAB+ digital radio device is more than double that of TSL to radio online." That may be true, but with the increasing popularity as well as the inclusion of services such as Pandora and Spotify in new consumer electronics products, we wonder how long until the trend shifts.
Either way, increased coverage can only be a good thing, but while regional coverage is still being overlooked we can't help but wonder how much of the potential market is being overlooked.
For more information, visit www.commercialradio.com.au
Marc Rushton
StereoNET’s Founder and Publisher was born in England and raised on British Hi-Fi before moving to Australia. He developed an early love of music and playing bass guitar before discovering the studio and the other side of the mixing desk. After writing for print magazines, Marc saw the future in digital publishing and founded the first version of StereoNET in 1999.
Posted in: Industry
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