Sydney radio goes digital

Sidney Digital radio has finally launched in Sydney – more than 10 years after it was first proposed. Sydney's commercial radio stations switched to digital last week. ABC and SBS services are set to follow on 1 July, brisbanetimes.com.au reports. Digital broadcasts will continue at a lower power for the next six weeks before being increased to their full capacity in time for a national metropolitan launch on 6 August. Regional radio listeners will not get a digital service for at least four or five years. Commercial Radio Australia Chief Executive Joan Warner said: "The regional broadcasters are very keen to come on board. What we need now is for the government to allocate spectrum for those broadcasters." Metropolitan listeners who want to hear digital broadcasts will have to buy a digital radio. Unlike analogue television, the government has not set a date to switch off analogue radio, although 2019 has been mentioned. "We wouldn't support a move to switch off the analogue signal. But it depends a lot how quickly digital radio is embraced," Ms Warner said. "If we get to a point where 95 percent of people are listening to digital radio then it's likely the government will decide to switch off the analogue signal. But that's a long way off." She said digital radio might be adopted quicker than people think. Source: ABU http://www.abu.org.my/abu/index.cfm/elementid/53022/Sydney-radio-goes-digital via Yimber Gaviria, Noticias de la Radio