DIGITAL RADIO UK: PRESS RELEASE
DIGITAL RADIO TOPS WHAT CAR? POLL
UNDER EMBARGO UNTIL 00.01 HRS THURSDAY 10 MAY
2012
Digital radio is the must-have
item for motorists in their next car, according to a new poll conducted by
leading motoring publication What Car?
The digital radio option won
against a number of other car accessories and options, including a reversing
camera and mobile internet.
Digital radios are in fewer
than 5% of cars today, but with increases in national DAB digital radio
coverage and the launch of new digital-only radio stations such as BBC Radio 5
Live Olympics Extra, BBC Radio 4 Extra, Absolute 60s and Smooth 70s, they are becoming
increasingly popular. In March 2012, 23% of new cars were fitted with digital
radio as standard, compared with just 10% a year ago (CAP/SMMT). This includes
the new Volkswagen Beetle which has just launched with digital radio as
standard.
The automotive industry has
been asked by Government to prepare for a transition to digital radio, and the Society
of Motor Manufacturers and Traders has said it expects its members to include
digital radio as standard in most vehicles by the end of 2013.
New digital radio adapters
that enable you to convert your analogue car radio to receive digital radio are
now widely available and DAB car audio sales increased by 40% in the three
months Jan 2012-Mar 2012, compared with the same period the previous year,
according to GfK.
Research released today
conducted on behalf of the VW Group of 1,000 VW and Audi owners with digital
radio has revealed high satisfaction levels (75%), with four fifths (82%)
saying DAB digital radio reception is good or very good. The research reflects
the improving coverage of national digital radio stations and shows that less
than 5% of motorists had issues with reception or coverage (this has reduced by
two thirds since similar in-car digital radio research conducted one year ago).
The BBC announced today the
completion of their most recent phase of transmitter launches which has seen 117
transmitters built and increased national DAB digital radio coverage from 85%
to 93%. The most recent transmitter provides coverage for a section of the M6
in Cumbria for the first time, and starts the job of linking the M6 coverage in
England to the coverage in south-west Scotland. The BBC has committed to
building out national DAB digital radio coverage to 97% and is currently
planning the next phase of transmitter launches, with a particular focus on
providing coverage for the road networks.
In April there was a major
boost for London DAB digital radio coverage, and similar boosts are being
planned for other major cities later this year.
Quotes:
Ford Ennals, CEO of Digital
Radio UK, says: “The What Car? poll
result and VW research confirms the increasing popularity of digital radio
in-car. A digital radio in your car transforms your listening experience and
with 40% of homes having a digital radio and the launch of new unmissable
content on digital radio this summer, including BBC Radio 5 Live Olympics
Extra, we can expect the fitting of digital radios in cars to accelerate.”
Tim Davie, Director of Audio and Music at
the BBC, says: “Our intent is to build
national distribution to over 97% of the population which will benefit all
areas including Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. We forecast that this will ensure that the
UK motorway network has complete continuous coverage and primary road coverage
is approaching FM.”
Emma Butcher, Editor of What
Car? says: “The What Car? poll shows that
digital radio is the most desirable garget for our readers’ next car.”
Paul Everitt, CEO of the Society of
Motor Manufacturers, says: “New cars are increasingly being fitted with digital radios and we
expect this trend to accelerate over the coming years with the majority of new
cars being digitally enabled by the end of 2013.”
IMAGE: NEW VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE WITH DIGITAL RADIO AS STANDARD
EDITORS’
NOTES:
In the What Car? research conducted among 3,000 site
visitors, 44% of voters wanted a digital radio in their next car, 38% a
reversing camera, 10% a mobile internet hotspot and 8% a lane departure warning
system. (source: whatcar.com, March 2012)
In the research with VW and Audi customers:
·
75% are satisfied with their
digital radio (vs 70% last year)
·
Almost three quarters (72%) would be disappointed if their in-car
digital radio was no longer available (vs 68% last year)
·
Half (50%) would not buy a car
without a digital radio in future (vs 41% last year)
·
94% found it easy to get going with
their digital radio
·
Four fifths (82% ) say the DAB
digital radio reception is good or very good (vs 70% last year)
·
5% say the DAB digital radio
reception is poor or very poor (vs 13% last year)
·
Sound quality (70%) and station
choice (63%) are what people most like about the digital radio in their car.
(source:
Digital Radio UK and Oliver Rowe Research, March 2012)
KEY DIGITAL RADIO FACTS (Sources: RAJAR Q4 2011, GfK, CAP/SMMT)
· 29.1% of all Radio listening is to digital platforms, up 16.4% year on
year
· 49.4% of all radio listeners listen via a digital platform each week
· Of all listening: 19.8% is to DAB (up 21% year
on year), 4.5% to DTV (up 5% year on
year), 3.4% internet (up 10% year on
year)
· Of digital listening, 71% is to DAB
· 40.3% of adults have a digital radio in the home
·
Digital radio sales have now reached 14.6 million in total.
·
Recent figures show some growth in digital radio sales inc.
internet radios (Up 5% in volume in the last four months Dec 11-Mar 12 vs a
year ago).
·
23% of new car registrations in March 2012 had digital radio
fitted as standard, up from 11% in March 2011
(CAP/SMMT).
·
Car DAB audio sales have grown by 40% for the
three months Jan-Mar 2012 compared with the same period in the previous year
(GfK).
About Digital Radio UK
Digital
Radio UK works with Government, broadcasters, manufacturers, retailers, and a
wide range of stakeholders to accelerate digital listening, to enable the
expansion of the digital radio platform, and to ensure that industry meets the
consumer-led criteria to be achieved for a proposed radio switchover. Digital
Radio UK’s Board comprises representatives from the BBC, RadioCentre, Arqiva,
Global Radio, Bauer Media, GMG Radio and Absolute Radio, together with
Intellect and the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders.
