The move to launch DAB radio in Australia comes only months before commercial radio stations in Australia starts trialing DAB radio broadcasts. In the UK DAB has got a lukewarm reception with some saying that the technology could end up the technology grave yard along with HD DVD players and movies.
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UK GCap, owners of Classic FM, London's Capital Radio and a major player in the commercial sector, is to close two more DAB-only stations, Planet Rock and theJazz. It says that digital radio, which was once heralded as the future of the medium, is simply not economically viable. There is also talk that consumers who have purchased a DAB radio could end up with a redundant radio.
In justifying its decision, GCap drew attention to official ratings figures that say DAB accounts for only nine per cent of all radio listening; digital-only stations are less than half of that. Listening over the internet - although currently limited - is expected to grow on a massive scale, because everyone with a computer already has everything they need to tune into thousands of stations from around the world.
