A digital future for small-scale radio · Source: RAJAR, all adults (15+), data relates to Q1...
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A digital future for small-scale radio Peter Davies, Director of Content Policy, Ofcom
Transcript of A digital future for small-scale radio · Source: RAJAR, all adults (15+), data relates to Q1...
A digital future for small-scale radio
Peter Davies, Director of Content Policy, Ofcom
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The UK radio market
• National – 28 stations – 15 more
in 2016
• Local – 350 stations– Pop. 2000
– 10m
• Community– 200 stations
~250 stationsFM & DAB
OrDAB only
~350 stationsFM only
=
=
95% of listening
5% of listening
Source: RAJAR, all adults (15+), data relates to Q1 results as shownNote: ‘Unspecified‘ relates to listening where the radio platform was not confirmed by the listener
Share of listening hours
UK digital take-up
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Source: RAJAR / Ipsos MORI / RSMB Q1 2008-2015
UK digital take-up
Ownership of DAB sets: Q1 2015
% of Households
Existing DAB structure
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LOCAL NATIONAL x 2 (soon 3)
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Small services not suited to existing structure
• Too expensive
• Coverage too large
• Solutions need to be:
– simple
– cheap
– flexible
Traditional DAB transmission chain
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Audio ISO Encoders (One
for each service)
Ensemble Multiplexer
COFDM Modulator
RF Linear Amplifier
Spectrum Mask Filter
E1 Leased Lines
Charge per station = €85,000-200,000 per annum
Low cost approach
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Simple PC (Audio ISO Encoders, Multiplexer, Modulator)
Software Defined Radio
RF Linear amplifier
Simpler filtering?
Equipment cost = €8,500
Identifying frequencies
• Limited room in existing DAB spectrum
• Additional frequencies in sub-band II, currently lightly used by business radio users.
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Frequencies currently used for DAB
Sub-band II frequencies currently used by business radio
Identifying frequencies
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• We have found frequencies for all existing small stations with DAB coverage to match FM
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10 small-scale trials• June 2015 awarded ten trial multiplex
licences around the UK – each with >4 services
• Objectives:– Test technical capability– Test how well stations can work
together– Allow small stations to learn about
DAB transmission
• Ofcom is providing basic equipment to each trial. (Government funded)
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3 types of trial
• Single transmitter
• SFN - Two transmitters, both with distribution feeds
• SFN – two transmitters, one as an on-channel repeater
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Challenges
• Developing a licensing system
– Who controls the multiplex?
– Flexibility for stations to come and go?
– Flexibility for area to grow and shrink?
– Guarantee of carriage for existing stations?
– Charging controls?
