Digital Radio Boost For Manchester

Digital Radio Boost For Manchester
Manchester gets a big digital boost today with the switching on of a major new digital radio transmitter bringing digital radio to 250,000 more people in Manchester for the first time.
The new digital radio transmitter will be switched on by Mike and Chelsea, Key 103’s breakfast presenters, Gary Stein, Station Director at Key 103, and Ford Ennals, CEO of Digital Radio UK. Key 103 is broadcasting a special pop-up station, Key 103D, to celebrate the day, with split digital/FM transmission and exclusive digital-only content – an industry first.
The new transmitter marks the culmination of four years of investment by broadcasters to deliver digital radio across Greater Manchester.
From 4 July nearly 90% of Manchester households can receive the full line-up of 42 digital stations see chart below including Key 103 and BBC Radio Manchester, as well as many other stations including the BBC’s digital music and sports stations, Heart, Absolute Radio 80s, Kiss, Jazz FM and Planet Rock, to name but a few.

The digital radio boost means that Mancunians do not need to miss a thing of the amazing summer of music and sport, as it will all be covered on digital radio: including events such as International Test Cricket, Wimbledon and the London 2012 Olympic Games.
The BBC announced that their new digital-only station Radio 5 Live Olympics Extra which will be on the air for the duration of the games will launch on 25th July. It will bring extra choice to listeners, offering extended commentary and a catch up service through the night so that Radio 5 live and 5 live Olympics Extra together will allow listeners to follow the games 24 hours a day.
There is good news for car drivers and commuters too as an additional 120 kilometres of roads in Manchester will be able to receive all the digital radio stations for the first time. Volkswagen, Ford and Vauxhall recently announced that they will be fitting digital radio as standard in new cars and radio manufacturers Pure and Alpine have launched digital radio adaptors that can convert any car to receive digital radio.
A major new TV and radio consumer advertising campaign has been launched to coincide with the Manchester boost, featuring the voice of Manchester actor John Simm telling listeners:‘if you love radio, go digital.’ The campaign highlights the station checker facility available on link which enables listeners to check what stations they can receive on digital radio.
Ford Ennals, CEO of Digital Radio UK, said: ‘The Manchester boost is great news for Manchester and great news for digital radio. Manchester loves digital radio and over 50% of all radio listeners listen to digital radio every week. With the signal boost and the unmissable summer of music and sport there has never been a better time to get digital radio in Manchester.’
Adrian Van Klaveren, Controller of BBC Radio 5 Live, says: ‘It’s great news that so many more Manchester households can now receive BBC Radio Manchester as well as the national BBC digital stations. The launch of our new digital-only station Radio 5 live Olympics Extra on 25th July means that, together with sister station Radio 5 Live, listeners in Manchester do not need to miss a thing of the 2012 Olympic Games or the great summer of sport.’
Gary Stein, Station Director of Key 103 said: ‘We’re proud to be supporting Manchester Digital Day by launching our very own pop-up station for one day only. Key 103D is a great promotion that will give listeners a real reason to tune into Key 103 on digital radio. The boost in digital radio coverage is great news for radio listeners in Manchester with nearly 90% of households now able to listen to Key 103, Magic 1152 and heat radio on digital.’
MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING ON LOCAL COVERAGE ANNOUNCEMENT
It was also announced this week that a Memorandum of Understanding on local DAB coverage has been signed by Government, the BBC and commercial operators. The agreement confirms the Government’s commitment to a decision on switchover in 2013. After a decision on switchover, planning will be undertaken to extend local DAB coverage from 90% to FM equivalence. The agreement also paves the way for the launch of at least five new local digital radio transmitters, including one for Chester and Wrexham, within the next eighteen months.
KEY DIGITAL RADIO FACTS (Sources: RAJAR Q1 2012, GfK, CAP/SMMT)
– 26.5% of Manchester radio listening is to digital platforms, compared with 29.2% nationally.
– 48% of all radio listeners in Manchester listen via a digital platform each week, compared with 50% nationally.
– Of all listening: 19.1% is to DAB (up 15% year on year), 4.4% to DTV (up 7% year on year), 3.9% internet (up 8% year on year).
– Of digital listening, 70% is to DAB (excluding not stated).
– 40% of Manchester adults have a digital radio in the home, compared with 42.6% of UK adults.
– Digital radio sales have now reached 15 million in total, including DAB standalone, DAB +internet and internet radios (GfK).
– 26% of new car registrations in April 2012 had digital radio fitted as standard, up from 10.8% in April 2011 (CAP/SMMT).
– Car DAB digital radio sales have grown by 40% for the three months Jan-Mar 2012 compared with the same period in the previous year (GfK).
About Digital Radio UK
Digital Radio UK works with Government, broadcasters, manufacturers, retailers, and a wide range of stakeholders to accelerate digital listening, to enable the expansion of the digital radio platform, and to ensure that industry meets the consumer-led criteria to be achieved for a proposed radio switchover. Digital Radio UK’s Board comprises representatives from the BBC, RadioCentre, Arqiva, Global Radio, Bauer Media, GMG Radio and Absolute Radio, together with Intellect and the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders.