Digital radio in Australia is creeping closer, with both players involved in testing making significant moves in recent weeks.

Broadcast Australia, the company conducting digital trials in Melbourne, has moved to research consumer reaction to digital radio in a wide ranging survey of consumer responses to the new technology. Consumers have been recruited from a test panel of people who have been supplied with digital radios.

Meanwhile, Commercial Radio Australia’s campaign to convince the Government to accept its model for regulating the new digital broadcast bands appears closer, with CEO, Joan Warner, telling The Australian:

“We’ve had very positive discussions with the Communications and IT Minister, Helen Coonan, and the Prime Minister.”

Commercial Radio Australia also has a consumer trial running, with 50 panelists listening on receivers supplied to them by CRA.

The Government and the Opposition, both in election mode, have been heavily lobbied by commercial radio in recent weeks on the issue.