Digital vs. internet radio: what does the future hold?

By Phil Dobbie on 22 April 2009

Next month digital radio will be rolled out in most Australian capital cities. With a DAB+ digital radio receiver you will be able to listen to crystal clear radio, with additional program associated data. There will also be a few extra channels.

DMG recently launched dance station NovaNation and chill-out channel Koffee. Earlier in the year Austereo launched its Radar channel, playing new and unsigned artists. All these channels are currently streaming online.

But is digital radio too little too late? Is the real future for radio moving online? Could we soon be driving around listening to internet radio in our cars? Does the internet provide greater opportunity for choice and listener involvement? And what can we learn from the UK experience, where digital radio has been around for a while?

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Read more about digital radio here. Will digital radio take off? Add your views in the Talkback section below.

Topics: digital radio, dab+, internet, radio, channel

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Comments (3)

  • Twalah! commented on 23/04/2009 10:42 Report abuse

    Launching digital radio during the economic climate... Here's the thing... Media buyers have been instructed NOT to pay for ANY content in the form of advertising for all digital stations. They are also squeezing the rates and spot frequency on existing popular stations. Digital radio in it's current form - A GIANT SWAMP DONKEY. There is not programming for money being invested in programming these stations which then leaves the listener without content! And without content - there is no listener and hence no income streams for these stations. Wake up digital radio, get announcers and shows happening quickly. Otherwise - no one will give a sh*t. You need to create the buzz and the need and want for people to go out and invest hard earned dollars in new receivers.

    Good luck!

  • blitz commented on 23/04/2009 03:33 Report abuse

    I think it is already happening, particularly with FM talk in the US. Howard Stern shifted for big $$ to satellite from commercial radio a few years back (this was not a financial success for anyone but Howard Stern). The Los Angeles FM Talk station was closed down by CBS and replaced with top 40 (cost-cutting measure). The morning host Adam Carolla jumped to a podcast format which is currently in the top 5 on iTunes and which he is hoping to monetize in 2010. c.f. http://carollaradio.com/

  • ant_twax commented on 23/04/2009 00:59 Report abuse

    digital radio?????
    I don't know
    don't get me wrong i love the fact that TV and radio are going digital i just spent the money going to digital TV spending big bucks on Plasma 2 years ago i spent $1500 on a car head unit that was a touch screen DVD/TV player i am disappointed that the money in a sence has gone to waste i thought the tec splash would have lasted a bit longer i do understand that it wont be outdated tomorrow but still

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