A document leaked to the Media Guardian suggests that analogue radio signals could start to be turned off in the UK as early as 2010, considerably earlier than previous estimations which have sometimes suggested such a move wouldn't be possible until 2030. If the document is correct, analogue broadcasts would end between 2010 and 2015, meaning every radio listener in the country would then need to have some kind of digital radio device in order to continue accessing radio services.
The new estimations appear in minutes of a meeting of the commercial radio body RadioCentre, which reports on discussions between the commercial sector and the BBC regarding analogue turn off. According to the MediaGuardian, the minutes say: "Discussions with the BBC on October 4 suggested that an analogue switch-off in 2010 - 2015 was feasible".
The minutes also confirm that the commercial sector recognise the need for more collaboration between themselves and the Beeb to ensure a smooth switchover to digital - although ironically such a collaboration would in many ways be part of a strategy to enable the commercial sector to better compete with its licence fee funded rival. In the radio business, of course, the BBC pose considerable opposition to the commercial sector, with collected BBC services commanded a bigger market share than collected commercial services. But most senior commercial radio execs reckon that they will be able to better compete with the Beeb once a fully expanded digital radio market is properly established, and that will probably be achieved sooner if the commercial stations form some kind of alliance with the Corporation on all things digital. The RadioCentre minutes say: "The relationship with the BBC is a central part of this strategy. The BBC dinner on October 4 has already helped build the 'frosty friendship' that was appropriate."
The RadioCentre has said that the minutes seen by the MediaGuardian "may be" drafts and were "not necessarily" their final report on their digital strategy. RadioCentre boss Andrew Harrison told the paper: "Clearly there is a strong future for radio in a convergent digital world. Converging all of UK radio - both the BBC and commercial - is a clear aspiration for both organisations. I can't speak on behalf of the BBC, but we need to agree with the government and the regulator a plan to facilitate switchover for all broadcasters big and small. Once those plans are in place we can talk about a switch-off date. The BBC makes a fantastic contribution to UK radio. We have a shared relationship on digital switchover, audience measurement, and things like copyright. Clearly they are also our key competitor and we have to balance the interests of the commercial sector with the joint interests of the industry".
The RadioCentre minutes also observed that the radio industry needs to forge a better alliance with the music industry to aid the growth of digital, observing that: "The music industry was probably the area where we had most work to do in order to foster credibility and mutual respect."