WorldAudio CEO, Andrew Thompson, has been following the latest developments in the digital radio policy debate closely, because the success of WorldAudio would be greatly enhanced if his off-band commercial stations could migrate to the digital spectrum at the same time as other stations.

As a company involved in the rival digital radio trials in Melbourne, Thompson understandably has a different view on why Commercial Radio Australia is pushing the digital policy debate (see earlier story) now.

“This is hypocrisy at its highest,” Thompson has told radioinfo.

“CRA was given the chance seven or eight years ago to determine the outcome of the move to digital radio and they sat on their hands. They have been doing so ever since.

“This 180 degree turn might look good in the media, but I’m sure the government is not impressed with this last minute veiled land grab.”

Thompson wonders if the commercial radio industry will “sit on their hands” for another seven years if the CRA policy is adopted by government.

WorldAudio was one of the first broadcasters to supply programming for the Broadcast Australia digital trial in Melbourne when it began last year and he credits his company with being a catalyst for the rapid progress of the debate recently.

“Market forces have moved on [since the early days of the debate]… other players, such as us, have been trying to bring it forward.

“We are one of the greatest proponents of digital radio.”

Thompson says there will be a significant announcement in the next few days about the next stage of the digital radio trials in Melbourne.