Will my “old” DAB radio be made obsolete by these arbitrary changes?
– John
I have a Pure Evoke-1 and a Pure 1500 hand-held portable (only 4 years old). Neither of these can receive DAB+, even after a reset. Yet they both work extremely well! Why should people have to fork out yet again, after following government advice? This is as bad as the analogue/digital TV switch which cost everybody an arm and a leg?
– Neville
During 2023 some popular digital radio stations, like Absolute 80s and Planet Rock, switched from DAB to DAB+. Classic FM will switch to DAB+ in January 2024.
Many new stations are launching in the newer DAB+ format and some existing stations have switched to the new format in recent years. Depending on the radio stations that you listen to it is unlikely that your radio will be made obsolete any time soon. But it is definitely worth making sure any new radio can receive both DAB and DAB+.
In December 2023 there are nearly 40 national radio stations broadcasting in DAB+ (see our list here). This is up from 11 DAB+ digital radio stations available across the UK in August 2019. If you live in an area like Manchester or Norwich you could receive an additional dozen or more DAB+ radio stations. These local stations are part of the new small-scale DAB multiplexes currently being launched around the UK.
Many of the stations available on DAB+ are new radio stations which have only ever been available in this newer format. Virgin Radio Anthems and Radio X Classic Rock launched as DAB+ stations rather than using the original DAB format.
Some DAB stations have switched to DAB+, such as Gold in London.
So far adoption of DAB+ has largely been led by the broadcasters. As DAB+ is more efficient than DAB it’s possible to broadcast digitally using less space. The DAB+ stations Virgin Radio Anthems and Virgin Radio Chilled each broadcast in stereo at 32kbps. However, if they were to broadcast using the original DAB format they would take up more space. This would mean higher costs or only broadcasting one of the two stations, therefore providing less choice.
In February 2019 the media regulator launched a consultation which included questions about DAB+. The changes would see more stations broadcast using DAB+ across the UK. Stations wishing to broadcast in DAB+ would no longer need permission from the regulator. However, the proposals include a condition which would mean advice should be given to listeners on how to continue receiving a station which switches from DAB to DAB+.
In July 2019 Ofcom also proposed that new ‘small-scale’ digital radio services would only broadcast using DAB+, but some of these recently launched multiplexes do carry DAB stations.
When buying a new radio it’s essential to choose one which has the digital radio tick mark. This means that the radio will receive FM, DAB and DAB+ stations.
Will older DAB radios be made obsolete?
Ofcom estimates that 50% of receivers are compatible with DAB+ services. When we originally answered this question we said this means “it’s very unlikely that a station which has been available on DAB digital radio for a long time would move to the new format in the near future.” Changing to DAB+ would disenfranchise many listeners who would need to buy a new radio or continue listening on an alternative platform.
However, stations like Classic FM, Planet Rock and Absolute 80s have now switched or will do soon.
Some Pure digital radios which don’t currently receive DAB+ stations can be upgraded with a software update. The radio manufacturer lists more than 20 models which are DAB+ compatible and can be updated on its website. If any of your radios can be updated this would ensure they can be used for years to come as well as receiving more services.
Radio stations in some countries have moved from DAB to DAB+, such as Deutschlandfunk in Germany in 2016. Although DAB has 97% population coverage in Germany the penetration of population is only 18%. In the UK this figure is 64%, which may explain why Germany made the switch two years ago but why the UK does not have any plans at the moment to move equivilent stations to DAB+.
This answer was updated on 24 December 2023.