THE ADOPTION OF DIGITAL RADIO is being pushed to customers as governments, public radio stations, broadcasters, and private companies look to reverse international trends of decreasing radio listenership and declining advertising revenue. And according to a new study by ABI Research, their efforts are about to pay off.
By the end of 2010, the report Digital Radio says that about four million digital radios using iBiquity’s proprietary HD Radio technology will have shipped in the US, while in Europe, (led by Britain), consumers will have purchased nearly 13.5 million radio receivers using the DAB standard. By 2015, the worldwide installed base of digital radio receivers, excluding handsets, is expected to reach nearly 200 million units.
Digital radio has gone nowhere here in Canada.
“The U.S. adoption of HD Radio began in the automotive sector, but finally extended into portable and home devices in 2010”, said senior analyst Sam Rosen. “The adoption of DAB radios in Europe has been led primarily by tabletop radio sales in the UK. In addition to the US and the UK, Switzerland, Denmark, and Norway all have significant broadcast infrastructure in place, with Australia, Germany and France to complete the majority of their infrastructure in 2011. “
The report also says that smart phones are expected to include digital radio receivers starting in mid-2011, driven by carriers’ desire to offer users premium audio content while limiting the use of scarce radio spectrum.
