 UK company axes DAB stations, Net radio cited as factor ·Feb 15, 12:42 PM From CNet UK’s Crave: British commercial radio company GCap Media has decided to axe two DAB stations — theJazz and Planet Rock — despite almost a million listeners, claiming that DAB was “not economically viable.” Together, the two axed stations had 927,000 listeners, but FM’s retention of followers, combined with the growing popularity of Internet radio simulcasts, has hindered DAB’s growth. Last September, the British trade body DRDB — Digital Radio Development Bureau — forecast household DAB penetration to hit 40% by 2009, and almost 60% by 2011. Perhaps with the continuing rise of Internet radio and the increasing uptake of broadband in the UK, these figures could be significantly lower than anticipated… Our eyes will be closely following DAB’s movement in 2008. We’re not convinced that it’s about to crumble beneath our feet, but it’s certainly in for a rough ride as more content becomes on-demand — such as podcasts — and with more programs being simultaneously broadcast over the Internet. Read the entire article at CNet UK. share: del.icio.us.  Reddit  Digg  Yahoo  Wink  Windows  Google  Newsvine 
Comment Other stories RAIN 10/6: Last.fm updates iPhone app; Hanson to speak on online panel today at 12N ET RAIN 10/3: Chicago LPFM group to launch webcast while continuing push for license RAIN 10/2: Sirius XM offers a la carte; Sprint launches WiMax in Baltimore RAIN NEWS FLASH: Senate passes Webcaster Settlement Act; bill now goes to Bush RAIN 9/30: Mortgage bail-out meltdown presumably distracts Congress from webcast bill RAIN 9/29: Webcasting bill passes unanimously in House, moves to Senate RAIN 9/26: New legislation would extend negotiations over royalty rates RAIN 9/25: DI starts online magazine; MySpace music launches RAIN 9/24: Some sources still getting story wrong on royalty settlement RAIN 9/23: Despite what you've read elsewhere, Internet radio deal NOT done! |
