Adoption of Digital Economy Bill Means Change for British Radio

Apr 21, 2010 12:01 PM, By Mark Krieger

The UK’s controversial Digital Economy bill, now law, will impact just about every form of media, including radio. According to a release from DigitalRadioUK, the legislation includes six specific provisions designed to facilitate a transition to DAB-only for the BBC as well as larger commercial channels, while improving the lot of smaller regional and community stations, expected to remain on analog FM indefinitely.

While many in the nation’s broadcast industry praise the new act, projections that a two-year digital-only transition timetable will be triggered as early as 2013 remain contentious among those critical of DAB’s performance in Great Britain.

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