91Èȱ¬

Tim Davie, 91Èȱ¬ Director of Audio & Music, today announced a range of measures to support digital radio.

Speaking at the Intellect Consumer Electronics Conference, he outlined 91Èȱ¬ activity that will support the Government's Digital Radio Action Plan, including:

• Significantly improving DAB coverage, confirming the addition of 61 new 91Èȱ¬ national DAB transmitters by mid-2011. This will:

– increase the 91Èȱ¬'s in-home coverage to at least 92% of the UK population (from approx 85% currently)

– provide good in-car coverage for around 93% of the UK's motorway network (from 83% today)

– include four new transmitters to achieve FM-equivalent coverage level of around 99% population and road coverage within the M25 (from around 89% today).

• Evaluating ways the 91Èȱ¬ might find funding to fill in all of the major gaps in UK motorway coverage to broadly match current FM stereo coverage
• Creating a plan to improve the impact of the 91Èȱ¬'s digital radio portfolio, using the proposed relaunch of Radio 7 as Radio 4 Extra as an example of how closer links to analogue networks and new editorial ideas could lead to a stronger portfolio
• Offering the expertise of 91Èȱ¬ Research & Development to support the sector as it tackles the biggest technical issues facing the industry, such as aftermarket in-car DAB radios
• Increasing funding in marketing for digital radio platforms – DAB, DTV and online – including:

– committing to running at least two large-scale campaigns supporting digital radio each year, increasing as and when switchover approaches

– ensuring that digital-only services receive a bigger share of total marketing activity

• Confirming the launch later this year of the Radioplayer – a single online console that will offer all UK radio in one place – with more details to be announced over coming weeks.

Tim Davie said: "Today's announcements mean that more licence fee payers will have access to the full range of 91Èȱ¬ services and enjoy the benefits of digital radio."

JA