Original article – The Guardian
A digital radio traffic and travel news service always seemed an unlikely proposition when so few vehicles have in-car digital radio. Now the Highways Agency’s traffic radio service has become the latest victim of government cuts – just as the administration is encouraging the BBC and commercial radio to invest more in digital.
Traffic Radio, which launched on digital audio broadcasting (DAB) radio in 2007 and broadcasts live traffic updates 24 hours a day, will stop broadcasting in August next year. Its online service, which launched in 2005, will also come to an end.
A Highways Agency spokesman said: “Given the financial pressures this country faces, it is vital that every pound is spent wisely. “We have looked at Traffic Radio closely to make sure that taxpayers’ money is being spent in a cost-effective way and have decided that the service should not continue once the current contract [with service provider Global Traffic Network] ends in August 2011.”
The agency said it would review its position in the future “as DAB becomes better established”. But the government was accused of a failure of joined-up thinking, pulling the DAB service just as it is looking to get the platform better established and encourage in-car takeup of the new technology.
One industry executive said: “One part of the government is telling us DAB is the future and we need to provide more content, while another part is axing one of its own DAB services. Where’s the joined-up thinking?”
The closure will also have a financial impact on the owners of about 30 local commercial DAB multiplexes, on which Traffic Radio is broadcast. The government spends about £1m a year on transmission costs, according to industry estimates, income that the commercial DAB owners will no longer receive.
The decision to pull the plug comes just days after transport secretary Philip Hammond said there would be a review of how authorities coped with the ongoing cold spell, and appeared to suggest that communications should be a priority. “Unfortunately, in extreme weather conditions, some disruption is inevitable but there is no excuse for poor communication with passengers and motorists,” said Hammond.
A spokesman for Global Traffic Network said it would investigate the possibility of securing commercial funding to continue with the service, depending on the results of its market research. The company also provides traffic and entertainment reports to 270 commercial radio stations around the country.
A Highways Agency spokesman added: “We will continue to provide information to media partners for onward delivery through DAB, FM, AM and digital channels to ensure we keep drivers on our roads up-to-date. We hope to review our position in the future as DAB becomes better established.” •
Original article – The Guardian
Tags: dab, dab radio, traffic radio
