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http://www.ex-bbc.net/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl >> News and Comment >> BBC to fund DAB rollout. http://www.ex-bbc.net/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl?num=1318959501 Message started by Administrator on Oct 18^th, 2011, 5:39pm

Title: BBC to fund DAB rollout.
Post by Administrator on Oct 18^th, 2011, 5:39pm

Corporation confirms it will pay to increase reach of digital audio broadcasting 'despite tough financial environment'.

The BBC has confirmed it will pay for the rollout of digital audio broadcasting (DAB) radio to 97% of the population, but culture minister Ed Vaizey has warned a "huge amount of work" remains to be done to get to switchover.

Source:-

The Guardian:-

http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2011/oct/18/bbc-rollout-dab-radio

Title: Re: BBC to fund DAB rollout.
Post by Roundabout on Oct 20^th, 2011, 8:45pm

It doesn't matter how much money is thrown at DAB development why should we have to consider chucking away at switchover up to ten radios (in our house) all working perfectly and filling our needs adequately? This is unacceptable for most retired people and as there is apparently no audio equivalent of the 'set top box' for radios we will be lost.

Title: Re: BBC to fund DAB rollout.
Post by JohnW on Oct 20^th, 2011, 10:40pm

To improve the signal strength in the more rural areas, so that it's equivalent to the current FM, they are surely going to have to build many more (small) transmitters, and up the power from the current ones. They don't seem to have considered the additional cost of this 'operating budget', or of the national ability to supply such additional 'current' as will be required. Maybe they'll have windfarms surrounding each transmitter site in future. [Let's just hope the wind keeps blowing!]

Besides, I haven't found anyone yet who thinks that DAB is anywhere near as good as FM (in sonic terms). All I hear is "Never mind the quality - feel the width!" and yet like TV, (to quote Bruce Springsteen) "There's 57 channels and nothing on!"
Are all the "judges" involved in this decision so used to listening to MP3 files that they are unaware of any audio content above 7KHz?

And what of the 3% of the population who won't be served by the final implementation? Aren't they likely to be the same one's that our broadband services won't be reaching either?!?!

Title: Re: BBC to fund DAB rollout.
Post by Russell W. Barnes on Oct 21^st, 2011, 7:56am

Administrator wrote on Oct 18^th, 2011, 5:39pm:

Corporation confirms it will pay to increase reach of digital audio broadcasting 'despite tough financial environment'.

I'm sure the BBC will claw back a bob or two that can be put towards DAB when they no longer have to pay Arqiva to broadcast BBC R4 on long-wave from Droitwich. Unless they choose to invest in a brand-spanking new efficient solid-state DRM capable long-wave transmitter, of course...

Title: Re: BBC to fund DAB rollout.
Post by HMG on Oct 21^st, 2011, 8:42am

Will the BBC be funding the Defence budget or the NHS next? Thompson just seems to jump when anyone claps their hands and gives out the money. (That is anyone but BBC staff or quality programmes) I am just reading David Attenborough's "Life on Air"at the moment . At times I cry when I see the BBC that I was so proud to work for. If you haven't read it ..you must. Most of the BBC people I worked with or knew and they all had this enthuisasm to bring the BBC to the nation ... not to take it away as is happened since Birt crawled onto the scene.