Digital Radios Multi-Service Interactive Future To Be Debated At London Event

Digital Radio Show will also examine the implications for radio of new mobile services and portable devices

The Digital Radio Show, held at Olympia in London on 1-2 June 2006, will feature a new era of technology evolution, platform proliferation and increased consumer uptake.

The event, organised by digital technology event specialists Junction, is sponsored by Arqiva, RadioScape and VT Communications, and is expected to feature all of the leading specialists in the field. It has already attracted top quality speakers including Simon Nelson, the Controller of Radio & Music Interactive at the BBC, Emma Lloyd, BT Livetime Chief Commercial Officer at BT, James Cridland, Director of Digital Media at Virgin Radio, Yannick Andre-Masse, CEO at VDL, Oyvind Vasaasen, Head of Radio at NRK and Ian Valentine, Technical Alliances Director at Sky Interactive.

“Just like digital TV, a concept based on quality and choice, is about to have profound consequences for the entire digital radio value chain — from content producers and channel owners to transmission network operators and receiver device manufacturers,” said event organiser Ian Johnson of Junction. “The Digital Radio Show will be covering this whole field, as well as addressing the implications for its use with mobile phones and associated devices”.

Dave Hawkins, VP of Business Development at RadioScape, world leader in Software Defined Radio solutions, adds “At the Digital Radio Show we will be outlining our multi-standard modules with AM FM, DAB and DRM capability, allow users to access content easily without having to select a specific standard or frequency. It is simply a choice of selecting the desired station and letting the module do the rest”.

The launch of live television to mobile phones is another huge opportunity for digital radio platform operators and transmission network providers. DAB networks will play a significant role in mobile TV and those companies with experience of working with this delivery technology are now well positioned to enter the TV business.

“The worldwide take-up of digital radio so far puts DAB services within reach of 475 million people,” said Mr Johnson. “That statistic is set to rise sharply and the June event will highlight the trends and technology breakthroughs that are moving the market.”