Industry News

DCMS holds industry roundtables as digital listening approaches 50%

This week the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS) held two roundtables on digital radio progress with key stakeholders from across the radio industry.

The proportion of radio listening on digital platforms is expected to reach 50% when the next RAJAR figures for are released on Thursday 17th May (up from the current level of 49.9%).  At this point the Government has said that it will undertake a review of the market and consider the question of digital switchover.

In preparation for the review DCMS is engaging with industry. The first roundtable, hosted by Radiocentre and Digital Radio UK, included larger commercial radio groups, the BBC, Arqiva, Ofcom, manufactures and the supply chain.  The second roundtable, hosted by Radiocentre, focussed on medium and smaller radio groups.  The meetings provided a helpful opportunity for stakeholders to outline their various positions and for government to better understand the views held across the industry.

Margot James MP, Minister for Digital and the Creative Industries, will be providing a keynote address on the state of radio in 2018 at Radiocentre’s Tuning In conference on Wednesday 16th May. Sign up to the Tuning In conference here.