Media UK

Radio platforms

With the advent of digital satellite, digital terrestrial television, cable, the internet, DAB Digital Radio, and the continuing FM and AM transmissions, getting a great choice of radio is easier than ever before. But which is best for you?

Table of contents

1 Digital Satellite Radio 2 Digital Terrestrial Television 3 DAB Digital Radio 4 Cable 5 Internet Radio 6 DRM 7 WorldSpace 8 AM and FM 9 HD Radio (IBOC) 10 XM and Sirius 11 DMB 12 DVB-H

Digital Satellite Radio

In the days of analogue satellite television, all television channels came with around nine mono audio channels, primarily meant for transmitting different language versions of the same television programme. While some channels used this, notably Eurosport, many channels sublet their audio carriers to radio stations: Virgin Radio was the first to use this facility in 1993 (on the audio subcarriers of Sky News). Tuning in to radio in this way was difficult, and confusing – since the picture of the hosting channel remained on the screen – and consequently few people knew of the facility, let alone tried it. With the advent of digital satellite transmissions in late 1999, radio stations were given their own channel numbers and displays, so publicly-accessible digital satellite radio became a reality.

Sky Digital is the only satellite system aimed specifically at the UK, and there are currently over sixty radio stations available on the system. Radio stations are accompanied by a ’soft’ dark-blue display, including information related to the current programme.

Note that 'satellite radio' like the US companies XM or Sirius has yet to appear in Europe; WorldSpace is the nearest competitor.

A portable unit called Sky Gnome has been released to enable satellite-delivered audio to be available around the house. This enables consumption of radio (and audio of TV channels) in the kitchen, bathroom, and other areas without Sky boxes.

• Benefit: Satellite can deliver high quality audio over a large coverage area. Large choice.
• Drawbacks: Few local radio stations use the system. No dynamic ‘now playing’ information. Fixed antenna required, so no mobile reception possible until a suitable antenna is developed.
• Potential listeners: 5,000,000 households have Sky Digital equipment.
• Current listeners: Unrecorded (separately) by RAJAR.

• Sound quality: Digital, between 96 and 192k, MP2 encoded.
• Transmission cost: Approx £30,000 for transponder space, and £24,000 for appearance in the Electronic Programme Guide (and therefore allocation of a channel). A link to an uplink centre is also required.
• Reception cost: A DigiBox is free with commencement of a Sky Digital subscription (around £250 a year) or can be bought new for around £60. No subscription is required to receive the majority of stations.
• Potential listeners: 7.4 million households currently have Sky Digital systems (Ofcom: Q3 05)
• Coverage: UK-wide - in practice, all of Europe - Finland to North Africa with a suitable fixed dish antenna.
• Pay-radio capable: Yes
• Now playing capability: No
• Schedule capability: Yes, but only for current programme
• Display: limited to text in a standard format

Best for: people who don’t need local information, but a wide choice of music, including the ethnic and the unusual. High amount of speech-based programming.

Digital Terrestrial Television

The Freeview service, which covers most of the mainland UK, is the phoenix rising out of the ashes of the service launched in 1999 as On Digital (and rebranded ITV Digital in 2001).

Freeview, launched on 30th October 2002, is a bouquet of entirely free channels, including radio channels. Just like SkyDigital, viewers can select a channel – starting at channel 700 – to listen to a choice of 24 channels comprising the main BBC channels plus a bouquet of channels from Emap (mostly unique to digital), oneword, Smooth FM, Premier Christian Radio and talkSPORT. The BBC National regional services, such as BBC Radio Cymru are also available in the regions.

• Benefit: High quality audio.
• Drawbacks: Only twenty-four stations. A significant lack of choice for commercial radio stations. No ethnic programming except that provided by the BBC.
• Potential listeners: 5,700,000 households have set-top boxes to receive this service. (Ofcom: Q3 05)
• Current listeners: Unrecorded (separately) by RAJAR.

• Sound quality: Digital. Bitrate generally similar to satellite, and higher than DAB.
• Transmission cost: Rumoured to be in the region of £120,000 per year for a channel.
• Reception cost: DTV set-top boxes available from one-off £30.
• Coverage: Around 85% of UK population, dependent on transmitter multiplex. *Currently only available on a fixed television antenna, though the technology allows mobile reception.
• Pay-radio capable: No
• Now playing capability: No (the BBC and EMAP utilise an interactive MHEG layer to emulate this functionality)
• Schedule capability: Yes - for up to eight days in advance
• Display: text and a station graphic

Best for: people who want a few extra stations for free with their television - including the BBC’s digital bouquet.

DAB Digital Radio

The oldest of all digital transmission facilities, DAB digital radio started in 1990, with a London-wide transmitter network by 1994. DAB Digital Radio uses a network of local transmitters covering particular areas of the country – transmitters which are designed to work together, unlike current AM, FM and TV transmissions. At any one time, your radio may be receiving signals from two, three or even four different DAB Digital Radio transmitters, all broadcasting exactly the same stream of information – making it ideal for mobile reception.

In some quarters, there are debates about the sound quality from DAB Digital Radio.

• Benefit: Existing stations mostly available on DAB Digital Radio, and extra choice. Great audio difference between AM and DAB; higher signal-to-noise ratio than FM. “Now playing” information is totally dynamic.
• Drawbacks: Audio quality can be subjectively worse than FM. High cost and poor availability of receivers. Not all stations produce “now playing” information.
• Potential listeners: The DRDB report over 2.1 million DAB Digital Radios have been sold. (Q3 2005). DAB sets are currently out-selling analogue radios - in terms of monetary value - though it shouldn't be forgotten that DAB sets cost considerably more than analogue radio sets.
• Current listeners: Unrecorded (separately) by RAJAR.

• Sound quality: Digital. Music stations from 128k to 192k (most at 128k) MP2 stereo. Some mono stations from 48k upwards.
• Transmission cost: Asking price of around £75,000 for carriage on a local multiplex at 128 kbps.
• Reception cost: receivers available from £39 in 2005 and the price is progressively falling.
• Coverage: BBC stations only available to 80% of population. Commercial national stations available to 85%. Local stations differ on location – some areas are not covered by any local transmitters. Only digital format available when mobile, though personal mobile coverage is not perfect, especially in built-up areas.
• Pay-radio capable: No (currently)
• Now playing capability: Yes
• Schedule capability: On supporting sets and networks - currently no standalone sets support the EPG.
• Display: constantly-updating 128 character display.

Best for: people who want to listen to their current stations, as well as gain more choice and higher quality than AM transmissions. Best choice for high quality mobile reception subject to local reception conditions.

Cable

Cable television is currently undergoing a switch to digital transmission, instead of analogue. Digital radio on digital cable carries a smaller choice than digital satellite, and is normally sourced direct from digital satellite (therefore audio quality is at least similar, if not inferior, to digital satellite).

Some local channels broadcast exclusively on cable, but most stations available on digital cable are national services.

• Benefit: Some extra choice. Better audio quality than analogue radio.
• Drawbacks: Fixed reception, and limited choice. No dynamic information.
• Potential listeners: 3.3 million households (Ofcom: Q3 05)
• Current listeners: Unrecorded by RAJAR.

• Sound quality: Digital. Similar to digital satellite, but may be subject to extra encoding/decoding generation.
• Transmission cost: Rumoured to be around £15,000 for carriage per cable network.
• Reception cost: Cable boxes normally free with subscription.
• Coverage: Cable unavailable in many areas.
• Pay-radio capable: Yes
• Now playing capability: No
• Schedule capability: Some providers do have full EPG, but sources for schedules may not be direct from the radio station so can be out of date.
• Display: Limited to programme information.

Best for: people who appreciate some extra choice, but who already have cable.

Internet Radio

Five million people in 2005 have access to broadband internet, so their computers can continually access a high speed connection. This makes it possible for internet "radio" to be consumed in much the same way as other forms of radio – and may be more convenient, since one computer can act as a multifunction entertainment unit.

However, broadcasting on the internet is expensive, and networks have yet to put “multicasting” in place – an internet protocol that enables many more listeners to use fewer connections to receive their internet radio through a process of 'relaying' the connections, often done by the listener's own ISP. As a result, most stations limit the audio quality of their transmissions.

• Benefit: Huge extra choice, including everything from international stations to one-man-band stations. Much larger amounts of interactivity, like webcams and direct chat to the presenters.
• Drawbacks: Poor audio quality, sometimes as bad as AM. Unreliability. A plethora of different formats can cause listener confusion, and listeners must be in front of a PC to listen, unless they have access to an 'internet radio' which currently cost around £100+ and require a wi-fi network for wireless usage.
• Potential listeners: Hundreds of millions worldwide.
• Current listeners: Unrecorded (separately) by RAJAR.

• Sound quality: While not as ‘bad’ as AM transmissions, some stations available at very low bitrate.
• Transmission cost: Dependent on listener base, but from £50 a month to hundreds of thousands.
• Reception cost: Compatible computers can start from £300. Broadband internet is £15 a month; limited listening is possible with a modem connection from £10 a month.
• Coverage: Worldwide.
• Pay-radio capable: Yes
• Now playing capability: Yes
• Schedule capability: Full EPGs from websites – though a lack of co-ordinated information.
• Display: Video and text is virtually unlimited

Best for: people who listen to a wide variety of eclectic styles, want to hear speech programming worldwide, or listen to their local broadcast station outside of their area - normally at lower bitrates.

DRM

"Digital Radio on AM" is one way of describing DRM (Digital Radio Mondiale), although in fact, DRM offers digital sound quality on all AM broadcasts, not just the AM band - i.e. short wave, long wave and medium wave. Sound quality is worse on SW frequencies, but a vast step forward from the current quality.

• Benefits: FM-like audio quality on MW, LW, and SW. Support for single frequency network allows more efficient frequency use, and potential for more choice. Transparent frequency switching, like RDS on FM, may mean less transmitters are needed. Existing transmitter masts can be re-used, at comparatively low expense.
• Drawbacks: Tuning in to a DRM signal on an analogue radio results in a digital hiss; the two systems cannot co-exist.
• Potential listeners: Transmitter power equal, or exceeding, that of current AM transmitters.
• Current listeners: No radios available at sensible price points (in 2005); few broadcasters (notable, Radio Luxembourg); so virtually no current audience.

• Sound quality: Surprising quality from existing AM frequencies. MW frequencies sound best.
• Transmission cost: the same as current AM figures, after purchase of DRM kit.
• Reception cost: currently €200.
• Coverage: Potential for continent-wide with SW.

• Pay-radio capable: No (for now)
• Now playing capability: DLS, similar to DAB
• Schedule capability: None
• Display: Station name and some further information, subject to tuner

Best for: the enthusiast, right now; but has potential to become mainstream very quickly.

WorldSpace

The precursor to the XM and Sirius networks in the USA, WorldSpace has plans for three satellites, covering much of the globe (excepting North America).

AfriStar covers Europe, Africa, and the Middle East. AsiaStar covers much of Asia, while AmeriStar is slated to cover South America (although it's rumoured that this satellite is to end up over Europe to produce a service similar to XM/Sirius.

WorldSpace reception is available through a fixed receiver or, where sight to the satellite is possible, in a mobile receiver. (This works better in Africa than Europe).

• Benefit: Continent-wide radio, through one receiver.
• Drawbacks: Limited choice, particularly in English-language. Many stations are pay-radio.
• Potential listeners: Most of the world
• Current listeners: WorldSpace posted initial subscriber figures in late 2005 of 100,000.

• Sound quality: Near FM quality.
• Transmission costs: Unknown
• Reception cost: Radios are around £100. Subscription is around $10 per month.
• Coverage: three continents with AfriStar

• Pay-radio capable: yes
• Now-playing capability: No
• Schedule capability: No
• Display: Station name, limited to eight characters

Best for: expats and frequent business travellers, wishing to stay in touch with home.

AM and FM

The original way of broadcasting radio – Amplitude Modulation on Long Wave and Medium Wave – was supplanted by a higher quality transmission method in the late 1950s, called Frequency Modulation. Unlike AM, FM transmissions can include a stereo effect, as well as, because of their higher transmission frequencies (87,5 to 108,0 MHz VHF) and different modulation format, a greater resistance to interference.

• Benefit: Everyone’s got a radio.
• Drawbacks: AM can sound awful for music, particularly at night. FM can be subject to interference from pirate radio stations and occasionally atmospheric effects; as well as poor signal strength. Finite frequency resorce can mean a lack of choice.
• Potential listeners: Local stations can reach 30 or 40 miles. Every household has on average 4.5 radios.
• Current listeners: Recorded by RAJAR – over 85% of the population listens to radio every week.

• Sound quality: AM is highly variable and mono. A good FM signal can sound excellent.
• Transmission cost: Around £7,500 for a single local FM transmitter. National networks are far higher.
• Reception cost: £2.50 upwards!

Coverage: 30-40 miles per transmitter – hundreds with an AM transmitter.

• Pay-radio capable: No
• Now playing capability: None
• Schedule capability: None
• Display: None (station name and limited information via an RDS-equipped FM set).

Best for: most radio listeners who are comfortable with the current sound quality of their current station, who don’t want or need extra choice.

HD Radio (IBOC)

US-only.

'In Band On Channel' allows broadcasters to add a digital-quality component to their standard broadcasts. Listeners in analogue still get their programmes unaffected; listeners using an HD Radio will get either better quality (in the case of AM and FM), and possible increased choice (in the case of FM), or digital data.

Listeners who tune into an HD Radio channel get the analogue version for five seconds, while the radio buffers the digital version. Then, seamlessly, the digital version fades in over a second or so. In case of the digital version being too corrupted to receive, the radio fades back in to the analogue version.

Critics point to the lack of extra choice (an FM channel might be able to fit another speech station, or low-quality mono music channel, using the HD Radio system, but that's it), increased interference with other radio stations, a satisfaction with current FM quality, and a concern that the IBOC standard is owned by a company (Ibiquity) and not an open standard.

IBOC on AM cannot operate in Europe, at least currently, since the standard relies on 10kHz channel separation and not Europe's 9kHz. Similarly, the different frequency allocation for FM in Europe may not accommodate the technology without interference to others.

XM and Sirius

US-only.

XM and Sirius, which both operate using different (but similar) technology, allow listeners to pick up the same radio stations across the continental USA. Each company produces the majority of channels on the service, while hiring big names (XM: Opie and Anthony; Sirius: Howard Stern) and sports coverage to draw listeners to their respective company.

Both companies use terrestrial repeaters, allowing your radio to pick up the 150+ channels that they offer even if your receiver is not in sight of the satellites that broadcast the service.

Critics claim that this system is not applicable for Europe, citing linguistic and cultural differences, and hugely increased 'repeater' installation costs.

DMB

Technology that uses DAB Digital Radio to broadcast multimedia video and audio files. Currently in use in Korea; trials are available in central London and will be available in Germany (notably Munich) over the World Cup. Looks a sensible multimedia broadcast, because...

• Devices are backwards-compatible for original DAB audio transmissions
• The transmission network uses existing DAB transmitters and equipment
• Frequencies are available now

DVB-H

Think 'Freeview', but for delivery to handheld devices like a phone. Being heavily promoted by Nokia (and potential rival to DAB). Many European countries are interested in this.

However...

• there are no frequencies available until 2012 in the UK
• this will mean building a whole new transmitter network
• there are currently no units in production to receive DVB-H
• research shows a surprising lack of interest in portable TV, which may cut investment

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