'Don't flick the switch'
Posted February 8th, 2010 by debritz
In the UK, 50 broadcasters are lobbying the government to delay the planned 2015 switchover to digital radio. While digital is well established in Britain, they argue that consumers will not be ready to abandon their analogue sets by then - and it will give time for the current DAB system to be upgraded to DAB+, as used here in Australia. Unsurprisingly, the manufacturers of digital radios back the current government timetable. More here at Media Guardian. Meanwhile, The Australian reports today that digital radio sales in Australia have exceeded expectations. Lara Sinclair reports that more than 100,000 units were sold in the first six months of digital broadcasting. I'm told, however, that given Australia's geography, a full switch-off of analogue services here is a long way away. I note, however, the Dick Smith is offering a DAB+ radio for $78 - the cheapest I've seen so far.
Most Digital radios I've seen have one speaker you can't get stereo sound out of one speaker.And the ones I've seen with two speakers are so close together you would'nt really get the stereo effect anyway. I wonder who is going out buying Digital radios ? Probably people in the radio industry mostly And what do you do with your analogue radio ? Throw it out I guess.
Brett,at risk of sounding like a stuck in the past simpleton.I cant help but feel that the powers that be are overestimating all this new technology.In my humble opinion the vast majority of us here in the real world couldnt care less about digital radio,digital TV,HD TV etc...You've mentioned the Dab system is to be upgraded to Dab+...WTF !!!!!
Again,perhaps I'm wrong,but most of us who live in the real world just want to,after a hard days work,turn their Television or radio on and be entertained.We couldn't care less if it's HD,MD or whatever D.
Perhaps if the TV and Radio networks spent a bit more on writers and performers and a bit less on Dab+ and HD nonsense we'd all be better off ?
ps The cheapest digital radio at the moment is $78 ? The last radio I bought several years ago cost me $20...It still sounded terrific this morning.Why would I want to spend nearly 4 times as much to hear the same programs?
Hi Iforsy,
I live in the real world when my head isn't in the clouds. Last night I finished work and lay down on the couch to watch some TV.
Yesterday I watched Benny Hill on 7Two, The Colbert Report on ABC2, and Nip Tuck & Dantes Cove on the Go! Channel.
Without the move to digital, there would be no way that any of those shows would have got a run on an analog FTA channel in 2010.
Oh, and when i cooked dinner, I had my DAB+ radio on and listened to the ABC Jazz radio channel. Can't get that on analog either.
All of this digital business is actually quite easy to understand and it provides so many more opportunities for content that you'd otherwise not see/hear on local airwaves.
Well Dan,you've convinced me.I was going to play golf over the weekend but now I'll be hot footing it to Dick Smith's on Saturday to spend $10000 on a new TV,CD,Set Top Box,Digital Radio (DAB+ of course) so I can spend the next 3 months of my life lying on my HD couch watching Benny Hill and listening to ABC jazz...On seconds thoughts I might just buy a gun and end it all now.
...Or you could just spend $30-$50 bucks on a digital STB.
I'm not telling you to share my bad taste in content. Just telling you that it might be an idea to have some sense of what you're talking about before you start shooting your mouth off.
You don't understand why progression of technology is important? That's fine. Ignorance is bliss. Apparently being a dick is too.
Oh Danny Boy ! What a sensitive little soul you are ! Your absolutely right...I obviously dont "understand why progression of technology is important".
My whole point is that it seems ridiculous to even a blissfully ignorant dick like me that I should be expected to buy numerous highly expensive gadgets to continue to watch and hear the same dross that I watch now.
As I've said before...In my opinion ( and its only my opinion) the majority of people I know dont go to bed dreaming of buying the latest digital stb or the most expensive HD flat screen TV...They just want to watch the footy,news or their favourite soaps on the TV they've had for the last 8 years.
Why should they be forced to change ?
ps The last time I watched Benny Hill was in 1978...Help me out here please mate...Do they still slap the little bald guys head ???