News story about the Digital Radio Development Bureau insisting that the DAB digital radio codec used in the UK will not be upgraded from 'MP2' to 'AAC+' until "around 2013", written by Grant Goddard in January 2007 for The Radio Magazine.

1. NEWS: DIGITAL RADIO
DEVELOPMENT BUREAU
INSISTS NO DAB RADIO CODEC
UPGRADE FROM 'MP2' TO
'AAC+' UNTIL "AROUND 2013"
by
GRANT GODDARD
www.grantgoddard.co.uk
January 2007

2. News: Digital Radio Development Bureau Insists No DAB Radio Codec Upgrade From 'MP2' To 'AAC+' Until "Around
2013" page 2
©2007 Grant Goddard
The upgrade of the present DAB digital radio audio codec from 'MP2' to the
more efficient 'AAC+' standard “will probably not happen before 2010, and
could possibly be around 2013” in the UK, according to a statement issued by
the Digital Radio Development Bureau [DRDB].
Although the World DMB Forum adopted the new codec last November [see
issue #762] and said it “expected compatible receivers can be designed and
broadcast services able to be introduced as early as 2007”, the UK radio
industry has no immediate plan to update the existing MP2 codec, whose
technology dates back to the early 1990s.
The DRDB statement said that “the UK will probably add the optional new high
efficiency audio codec at some point in the future, but the market will dictate
when that happens and its introduction will be gradual.” The 'market' refers to
the owners of the existing 47 DAB multiplexes, all but one of which are
controlled by combinations of the UK’s largest radio companies – GCap Media
plc, EMAP plc, UTV plc, Chrysalis plc, Guardian Media Group plc, Scottish
Media Group plc and UBC Mdia plc – who collectively use 84% of commercial
radio multiplex reach to broadcast stations that they own. The impact of the
new codec would be to more than double the number of stations that could be
carried on each multiplex, offering opportunities for stations not owned by
these groups to compete with them.
The DRDB statement explained: “Broadcasters will not turn off MP2
broadcasts in favour of the higher efficiency [AAC+] audio codec until: firstly, it
is economically sensible for them to do so i.e. when the majority of DAB
products in homes (not on the market, but actually sold and in someone’s
home) are capable of receiving both audio standards; [and] secondly, Ofcom
changes the regulation to allow them to do so.”
Although the DRDB acknowledges that new AAC+ receivers “could appear by
early 2008”, it argues that “no stations are expected to be broadcasting in the
optional new audio standard at this point” and that “dual standard products will
be significantly more expensive than existing sets”, so it anticipates that “MP2-
only products will continue to be sold during this time and beyond.”
However, Morphy Richards has already launched its 27024 DAB/DRM receiver
which the company’s Martin Robinson noted “has been designed to be as
future-proof as possible and, in the event of the implementation of the AAC+
codec for DAB and also DRM+ being rolled out, we would be in a position to
allow future upgrades to allow the current radio to receive these
transmissions.”
The DRDB’s determination to persevere with the MP2 codec appears
increasingly at odds with the policies of other countries. Earlier this month,
France started DAB tests in Paris using the AAC+ codec, while Switzerland is
processing 18 applications to launch DAB services using AAC+. DAB radios
sold overseas will need to be compatible with both the old and new codecs,
making it unlikely that manufacturers will continue producing MP2-only
receivers solely for the UK market.

3. News: Digital Radio Development Bureau Insists No DAB Radio Codec Upgrade From 'MP2' To 'AAC+' Until "Around
2013" page 3
©2007 Grant Goddard
The DRDB statement acknowledged: “If high efficiency audio codec products
continue to infiltrate the UK market over the following years, the DRDB
estimates it will be 2010 before such products make up a significant number of
sets in the market. However, at that point, the installed base of MP2 products
would still be significantly higher than that of dual-standard products.”
The DRDB forecasts: “Beyond 2010, it is possible there will be an increase in
high efficiency audio codec broadcasts. This would lead to a situation where
MP2-only radios would continue to receive the existing package of stations,
while dual standard radios would receive these along with any new services
broadcast in high efficiency audio.”
The DRDB also foresees that there could be “a period of simulcasting” when
existing stations broadcast in both the MP2 and AAC+ codecs, the impact of
which would be that they consume all available multiplex capacity.
The DRDB’s shareholders include the BBC, GCap Media, EMAP, UTV,
Chrysalis and the Guardian Media Group.
[First published in 'The Radio Magazine' as 'No DAB Upgrade Until 2013', #772, 24 January 2007]
Grant Goddard is a media analyst / radio specialist / radio consultant with thirty years of
experience in the broadcasting industry, having held senior management and consultancy
roles within the commercial media sector in the United Kingdom, Europe and Asia. Details at
http://www.grantgoddard.co.uk