Beware – being a DAB hand may be an expensive mistake

The future of digital radio is in serious doubt –  before it is even off the ground. Its development time has seen all traditional media platforms losing ground fast to Broadband as the delivery platform of choice. There are over 9,000 internet radio stations. 63% of web users tune in. You can buy easily affordable, portable Internet Radio WiFi sets that look and work just like traditional radios – and you can carry them into the garden. WPP, the world’s second largest advertising sales company expects Internet advertising to overtake television advertising in 2009. GCap Media, the major partner in the consortium awarded the first national digital multiplex license has just closed two stations and put others up for sale – including Scotland’s Xfm. Jim Mather, Argyll’s MSP and Minister for Enterprise is keeping a close eye on this situation. GCap has also sold its stake in the national multiplex f0r a nominal sum saying that its commercial future is in FM and Broadband. DAB is not a technology to invest in -it looks like heading for failure, so be wary.