English audio brand Pure has welcomed the news that more Australians are listening to digital radio.
Digital radio listening has increased in the first quarterly survey for 2015 with 3.2 million people now listening to radio each week using a DAB+ digital radio in the five metropolitan capitals, according to GfK figures released by Commercial Radio Australia (CRA).
CRA stated that 24.2 per cent of people tune into DAB+ in the five cities where the service is available and the figures indicate 1.5 million more people listen to radio on a DAB+ device than listen to radio via streaming and on DAB+ they are listening for twice as long.
Pure’s sales director, London-based Andy Graham welcomed the figures. “Pure has been a huge supporter of digital radio in Australia right from the beginning when trials were introduced so this news that digital radio listening is growing is fantastic to hear,” he said.
Currently digital radio is only available in five capital cities Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth, and trials are underway in Darwin and Canberra. This limited range makes it pointless for retailers in regional areas to consider stocking digital radios. However the radio industry, including commercial broadcasters, community broadcasters, ABC and SBS, have requested that the Federal Government establish a Digital Radio Industry Planning Committee to work on policy and timetable for phased rollout of services outside of the five capital cities, possibly starting in 2017.
“It is also extremely encouraging to learn that an industry planning committee will be set up to organise the further rollout to bring the benefits of digital radio to more Australian listeners,” Graham said. “We remain fully committed to do all that we can to support the growth of digital radio in Australia and beyond through our continued development of high quality radios with innovative features and great design.”
As well as portable devices, DAB+ is now supported by 21 vehicle manufacturers and the first DAB+ digital radio for boats was launched in February 2015.
