What is DAB+ Digital Radio?

Digital radio is a new, exciting and involving way for listeners to tune into their favourite radio stations.

• Offering an exceptionally high sound and signal quality, digital radio offers a range of exciting features to enhance your listening experience.
• Clearer sound and improved reception
• Extra features such as extra channels, pause and rewind radio, downloadable music, more details about the advertised product, slideshows, scrolling text, Electronic Program Guides, updated news, sports and racing information. Just to name a few
• Extra channels potentially doubles the number of commercial stations
• Tuning by station name, not frequency, making it easy to find favourite stations
• A wider choice of shows and program highlights better meets the needs of niche audiences

With digital radio all you need is a digital receiver or a device with a DAB+ chip in it and that’s it – no subscription fees, no messing about with signing up or logging on, just tune in.

The Australian commercial radio industry launched digital broadcasting in five capital cities – Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth throughout May 2009, creating a new wave of consumer interest and excitement about this well-loved medium.

Australia is ahead of countries like Germany, Italy and China in adopting DAB+, a superior new technology that will enable radio stations to multichannel as well as broadcast a variety of multimedia, data and interactive programming – all free to air.

Digital Radio is not currently available in this market, but is expected to become available across regional Australia from 2011 onwards. Check the DAB+ website for coverage and rollout information.

Frequently Asked Questions about DAB+

When did digital radio become available in Australia?
All commercial and public service broadcasters are now broadcasting digital radio in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide.  Australian commercial digital radio services switched-on progressively in May and June 2009 in the five state capital metropolitian areas.  The public service broadcasters switched on 1 July 2009.

Can I receive digital radio?
Type your postcode into the search function on digitalradioplus.com.au or sms your postcode to 0409377587. Radio has been planned by the Government into specific radio licence areas. Be aware that as some postcodes cover a large area, some parts of a postcode at the boundary of a radio licence area may receive digital radio signals while another part of the postcode that is outside of the boundary of a radio licence area may not.

Will digital radio cost listeners anything?
No, digital radio is free. Listeners simply have to buy a new digital radio to listen, Digital radios are priced from around $89. There are no other costs - no subscription fees, no messing about with signing up, just tune in.

What extra features will digital radio provide?
Digital radio will provide new stations – a few of these are Austereo’s Radar, Choose the Hits Jelli, DMG’s Koffee and NovaNation, ARN’s The EDGE and "Plus" stations, and Fairfax Radio Network’s The Buckle - with further stations continually being developed.  Digital radio also means you can listen to your existing favourite radio stations but with digital sound quality and you can tune by station name, not frequency, making it easy to find your favourite stations.  Digital radio will provide more details on screen via text about advertised products, competitions, news, weather, sports and racing, plus logos, photos and animation on digital radios with screens. Features like pause and rewind are available on some digital receivers.

What radio receivers are available?
To listen to digital radio, consumers need a new DAB+ radio. Models include DAB+ clock radios with iPod docks, WiFi and DAB+ combinations, Hi Fi components, portable players, hand held MP3 & MP4 players, an adaptor to listen to digital radio in your car and touch screen models.  Plus there are digital radios with small screens showcasing radio with pictures – fully illustrating the DAB+ capabilities with CD covers, presenter photos, sports results and logos broadcast on screen.

When I first turned on my digital radio I couldn’t hear all my favourite stations.
When you first switch on your digital radio, and on some receivers when a new digital radio station is launched, listeners need to simply press the “full scan” or “auto tune” button on your digital radio so that all the stations in your area can be stored in the memory of the radio.  For further information refer to your radio user guide or check the www.digitalradioplus.com.au website. If your radio doesn’t automatically update with new stations, keep checking the website or regularly autotune to pick up new content.

Where can I buy a new DAB+ radio?
More than 600 stores throughout metropolitan centres are stocking digital radios including; Harvey Norman, Dick Smith, Clive Peeters, The Good Guys, Myer, David Jones, Big W, JB Hi Fi, Target, Retravision, Radio Rentals, Rick Hart and specialist audio retailers. This pattern is expected to be repeated in regional centres. Go to the website for a full list: www.digitalradioplus.com.au

How much will a DAB+ radio cost?
Like any product range, digital radio prices vary depending on the features and capabilities. Entry-level receivers (with scrolling text) start from around $89 and receivers with more functionality start at around $299.

Who makes DAB+ digital radios?
Pure, Roberts, Sangean, Bush, Revo, Grundig, Teac, Yamaha, Oxx Digital, iRiver,  Cowan, kaiser baas, Lenoxx, Philips, Onkyo, Tivoli, sTone Tech and iRiver are just some of the manufacturers making DAB+ digital radios.  Other large electronics manufacturers are currently developing further DAB+ digital radio products.  Check the website regularly for a list of digital radios available.

Will AM and FM radio be switched off soon?
There are no plans at this stage to switch off AM and FM radio services.  As there is an estimated five radio devices per home, listeners must be given time to change over all of their radios before any discussion of the switch off of analogue services.  In addition, planning needs to continue for the switch on of digital services to the rest of Australia outside of the five metropolitan capital cities.
 
I sometimes get crackling on my AM signal will this happen with digital radio?
Digital radio provides interference free, digital quality sound and your radio will find the best signal in your area rather than you messing around with tuning the dial.

Can I receive AM and FM on my new digital radio?
Digital radios will come in a range of different models.  To ensure your radio receives digital radio services in Australia it must be DAB+ enabled.  Some DAB+ radios will also receive FM.  However you’ll be able to hear your favourite AM and FM stations simulcast on DAB+. Look for the DAB+ enabled logo on the product pack or in store.

When will I be able to receive digital radio in other areas outside Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth?
Commercial Radio Australia (CRA) has already started planning the digital radio rollout in other areas throughout Australia. CRA is working on a regional trial of digital radio and is calling on the Federal Government to allocate VHF Band III spectrum in regional areas for the rollout of digital radio services across Australia.

Is digital radio the same as internet radio?
No, digital radio is broadcast free to air over the airwaves via DAB+ technology.  Internet-only radio services are streamed over the telecommunications networks and incur a download cost which varies depending on the internet service provider package.  Free to air broadcast radio stations will also stream their current radio stations plus any new digital services on the internet as well as broadcasting, so the content can be accessed on both platforms.

How are you telling listeners about digital radio?
The commercial radio industry is promoting the benefits of digital radio to listeners in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth.  A $10 million advertising campaign aims to raise awareness of digital radio as well as the website: www.digitalradioplus.com.au which contains extensive information about digital radio. We are also working with retailers, manufacturers and broadcasters to help promote new stations, products and services as they are launched.

Can I receive digital radio through my digital TV set top box?
Currently we are unaware of a digital TV set top box that will receive DAB+. However, we have been advised that a number of manufacturers are currently working on integrating DAB+ into a digital TV set top box.  As new DAB+ products become available they will be featured on the www.digitalradioplus.com.au website. 

How do I receive digital radio in my car?
You can buy a digital radio adaptor for your car that is simply placed in the vehicle like a satellite navigation device and receives all your favourite stations plus the new DAB+ only stations.  Plus you may also be able to link your portable DAB+ receiver via Bluetooth in your car or through a car navigation system. 

Commercial Radio Australia (CRA) is continuing to work with the car industry to have DAB+ digital radios in cars.  Other receiver manufacturers CRA has spoken with are working on after-car market options. 

What should I look for when purchasing a digital radio to ensure it will work in Australia?
Only DAB+ radios will receive digital radio in Australia.  When buying a new digital radio look for the DAB+ enabled logo.

What are Event or Pop Up digital radio stations?
Event or Pop Up stations are digital stations that exist for a short period of time and then change into another concept.  Like the station - Radio GaGa celebrating Lady GaGa's Fame Monster tour of Australia. Or Elf Radio playing Christmas songs throughout the festive season, Digital radio allows for flexible niche programming that can highlight an event, a festival or artist – the possibilities are endless.