Digital Radio celebrates its first birthday this week, and after just one year on air at full power in Australia’s 5 largest capital cities, digital radio has hit another milestone. The latest Survey 4 data shows there are 523,000 people listening to digital radio in an average week and three times the predicted number of digital radios in the market at nearly 150,000, according to manufacturing and sales data. Harvey Norman’s Gerry Harvey  says digital radio is “proving to be a growing category for us.”

This time last year, Australian commercial and public radio broadcasters put competition aside and more than 40 different radio stations held a simultaneous breakfast outside broadcast in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide to promote digital radio (see our launch story).

In the 12 months since that launch, sales of digital radios have steadily increased and up to 18 new digital only stations are on air in each market. Trial broadcasts have begun in Canberra and another trial will launch in Darwin in coming weeks.

Broadcasters have invested more than $50 million dollars on the DAB+ infrastructure and in excess of $24m in on air promotion.  CRA has revamped the www.digitalradioplus.com.au website to make it easier for listeners to navigate the site and see clearly the digital only content in their particular state.

There are 60 DAB+ digital radio models available for sale from 20 different manufacturers and strong support from the retail sector with digital radios stocked in more than 650 retail stores.

According to Gerry Harvey digital radio is a growing category for retail stores:

“The range of digital radios on the market continues to increase with the larger electronic manufacturers entering the market and creating a stand alone category in our stores offering listeners a wide choice in price and functionality.

“Digital radio has certainly shaken up the audio market.   We’re one of the top advertisers on radio and very pleased to see the industry supporting the new technology. I see that the radio industry is putting its money where its mouth is and committing lots of airtime to the promotion of digital radio. The category will grow even more when the Government gives the green light to make it available throughout Australia.”

Commercial Radio Australia’s Joan Warner says: “The industry continues to work together to promote digital radio with advertising on air and by launching fresh new digital only content which should encourage listeners to try digital radio. The new digital only stations have opened up a raft of new opportunities for the development of new Australian on air radio talent as well as providing more broadcast opportunities for Australian musicians and comedians.”

The industry is calling on the Federal Government to commit to the allocation of VHF Band III spectrum for digital radio across the rest of Australia. 

New digital only stations include; NovaNation, Koffee, U20 radio, Radar radio, Classic Hits Plus, Classic Hits Live, The EDGE, Gorilla Super Digi, mY Perth Digital, Hot Country Perth Digital, The Crack, Barry, Zoo Super Digi, Aussie, MyMP, SkySports Radio Digital and 4TAB digital two, plus an ongoing selection of pop up stations that are created for an event or featured artist and then transform into another concept.

CRA recently ran two successful Automotive Industry Workshops receiving positive feedback from the car manufacturers for the integration of digital radio into vehicles.

Broadcasters want digital radio to be available throughout the whole of Australia and to see all new cars with factory fitted digital radio.  Warner says “radio is a part of Australians everyday routine and we want to continue to provide listeners with new and exciting content to keep our loyal listener base.”

Happy Birthday digital radio