Category: Northern
Ireland; Radio
Date: 23.02.2005
Printable version
Michael Grade, Chairman of the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ, has announced that Northern Ireland
is to get three new transmitters which will double DAB (Digital Audio
Broadcasting) coverage in the north-west and west.
The new DAB enabled transmitters will be sited at Brougher in Tyrone,
Limavady and Sheriff's Mountain in Londonderry.
The first two of these transmitters will come on stream in late spring
with the third following in the summer.
Digital radio listeners will be able to tune in to the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ's portfolio
of new digital stations - 1Xtra, Five Live Sports Extra, 6 Music, Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ
7 and the Asian Network - as well as the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ's existing national radio
stations - Radio 1, Radio 2, Radio 3, Radio 4, Radio Five Live and the
World Service - and enjoy the benefits of digital audio broadcasting
(DAB) with its robust reception and clear sound quality.
These stations join Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio Ulster which is already available on
DAB digital radio.
Around 6 million people across the UK have been brought into Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ national
digital radio coverage since work began in August 2003 and the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ is
planning to expand coverage to 90% of the population.
Addressing the Board of Governors and local community representatives
at a dinner in Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Broadcasting House in Belfast on Tuesday 22 February,
Mr Grade said:
"It's our job as Governors to represent the public interest, to be
the voice of the licence fee payers and to ensure that their concerns
are fully taken into account when the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ makes its decisions.
"I'm very happy tonight to be able to announce that the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ is commissioning
three new DAB-enabled transmitters in Northern Ireland at Brougher,
Limavady and Sheriff's Mountain in Londonderry.
"These will effectively double the DAB coverage and bring benefit
to large numbers of people in the north-west and west of Northern Ireland."
Paying tribute to the work of the Broadcasting Council of Northern
Ireland he added:
"One of the key ways we keep in touch with our audiences here is through
the work of the Northern Ireland Broadcasting Council.
"The Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ's broadcasting councils do really remarkable work. That work
isn't always as well recognised as it should be. So I'd like to take
the opportunity to pay tribute this evening.
"They identified this 'digital deficit' as a major policy issue. They
pressed the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ hard to speed up very significantly its roll-out of
DAB in Northern Ireland. They made their case with vigour and persistence.
And it worked."
He also outlined how Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Northern Ireland is keeping pace with the
changes in digital broadcasting:
"The Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ has now begun to experiment with ultra-local television. Taking
a small geographical area and producing ten minutes an hour of truly
relevant local news and information, available on digital television
and broadband.
"And because it's digital, it's available on demand, around the clock,
whenever viewers want it. The Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ hopes to start proper pilots soon
- and if it works out, it's proposed to develop up to 60 such areas
around the UK.
"By the end of the year Northern Ireland will be the first region of
the UK to have near 100 per cent broadband coverage and Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Northern
Ireland will be piloting local TV on broadband in the Coleraine area."
Welcoming Mr Grade on his second visit to Northern Ireland in the last
12 months, the Controller of Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Northern Ireland Anna Carragher said:
"These digital announcements are a signal of the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ's commitment to
audiences in Northern Ireland. We are committed to bringing exciting
and unique services that fully reflect the lives and concerns of all
of our viewers and listeners."
The monthly meeting of the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Governors is being held in Belfast today
(Wednesday 23 February).
The 12 Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Governors act as trustees of the public interest and monitor
the performance of the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ on behalf of licence fee payers.
The National Governor for Northern Ireland is Fabian Monds. He chairs
the 12-strong Broadcasting Council in Northern Ireland.
The council holds regular public meetings to gather the views of audiences
and the Board of Governors consults them on proposals affecting Northern
Ireland and the objectives set for the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ.
Notes to Editors
Listeners will need a DAB digital radio to receive the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ's digital
radio broadcasts.
Existing digital radio listeners in the new digital radio areas should
carry out an autotune to scan and store the newly available Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ services
in their radio set's station list.
For advice on receiving Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ digital radio and to check coverage, listeners
can ring 08700 100123 or visit bbc.co.uk/digitalradio and refer to the
coverage map (the coverage by postcode feature is not immediately updated).
Crown Castle International is responsible for the roll-out of the new
digital radio transmitters.
The Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ has five digital-only radio networks, all launched in 2002:-
1Xtra - the best in new black music;
Five Live Sports Extra - the home of live sport with
exclusive coverage of live events;
6 Music - the best of contemporary and classic rock
and pop;
Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ 7 - the best of Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ comedy, drama and books from
the archive;
the Asian Network - news and music from the British
Asian scene.
Listeners can also receive Radios 1 to Five Live on DAB, along with
more than 30 of the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ's English local radio and national stations.
More than 1.5 million adults are listening to the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ's new digital-only
stations each week (Rajar).
There are now nearly 1.3 million DAB sets in the UK (GFK).
Digital radio offers very robust reception and does not suffer from
the interference and fading that can happen with AM and FM radio.
Digital radio is a more efficient means of broadcasting. More networks
can be transmitted, offering more choice for listeners.
Digital radio can transmit text and data with the audio signal. A small
screen on digital radios carries rolling text telling listeners what
music they're listening to, who's being interviewed and giving phone
numbers and email and website addresses.
Digital radio can also be received via digital television (satellite,
cable and Freeview) and the internet (more than 10 million hours of
Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ radio is listened to online each month - live and on demand).
Digital radios are available from over 6,500 retail outlets across the
UK (both large high street chains and small independent retailers) and
can also be bought on the internet.
Hi-fi tuners and micro systems start at around Β£100. Hand-held products
are priced from Β£80; and kitchen radios start at Β£50. CD/cassette radios
start at Β£79; DAB clock radios start at Β£65.
DAB digital radio is a relatively new technology, so prices will continue
to fall as the market matures.
