The failure of a ‘success story’: digital radio policy in the UK

In 2015 digital radio broadcasting will have been on air for 20 years in a number of European countries. Some observers will call for celebration, others for commemoration. Progress in rolling out digital radio in those countries, with the long term intention of switching from FM completely, has proved variable. Some countries, such as the UK and Denmark, are considered success stories, while in others such as Germany and France (the originators of the DAB digital radio system) it has been all but abandoned. Elsewhere, such as in Asia and Australia, different versions of the original digital radio standard have been adopted; meanwhile the US has taken a completely different approach. This article reviews these developments and examines policy decisions that have influenced the take up of digital radio. With numerous alternative audio platforms now available to listeners, it considers the place of digital radio broadcasting in this mix, and questions whether policy making can any longer have a meaningful role in directing the future take up of digital radio.