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

The 320 kbps AAC stream can be found at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/proms/2010/audioexperiment/

The online questionnaire is at http://ecustomeropinions.com/survey/survey.php?sid=471224792

And a BBC Internet blog about the “extra high quality audio experiment” can be found here:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/bbcinternet/2010/09/bbc_proms_extra_high_quality_audio.html

Teletext Limited announced in July 2009 that it intended to cease the Public Teletext Service it provided on ITV and Channel 4. On 16th December 2009 it ceased to supply the national, international and regional news which are the public service obligations of its licence.   Ofcom stated that “This is a serious breach of the licence conditions”.

Teletext Limited was asked for its representations and, following consideration of those representations, the Licence has now been revoked.

Subtitling provision and the page 100 index remain unaffected.

The revocation notice can be found on the following link: http://www.ofcom.org.uk/tv/ifi/tvlicensing/pt/

For the not insignificant upgrade cost of £300, future owners of new models of the Ford Focus, Ford C-MAX and Ford Kuga will be able to order their car with a Sony digital receiver.

While is expected to remain only an option for most Ford cars in the near future, one model – the Ford Kuga Titanium – will come with DAB as standard.

Car manufacturers traditionally require a very long lead-time to introduce new features and costs of DAB car units remain relatively high.    This step by Ford may be a small step in the right direction for DAB, but it seems that the important in-car radio listener market will continue to rely on AM and FM as their main means of radio reception for the immediate future.

A complete changeover would render all existing Freeview receivers obsolete.

Last Friday, the UK regulator Ofcom published Terms of Reference for a technical pilot to trial digital TV DVB-T2 transmissions.

The pilot will help to establish the technical standards for the delivery of high definition services on digital terrestrial television. The document can be found here http://www.ofcom.org.uk/consult/condocs/dttfuture/pilot_tor.pdf

Ofcom, who will coordinate the pilot, has also published an open letter inviting participation in the pilot from interested parties. The letter can be found here http://www.ofcom.org.uk/consult/condocs/dttfuture/pilot_letter.pdf

The station is now reported to be in talks with DAB multiplex operators with a view to securing space on that terrestrial digital platform. This could be a national DAB network or a series of local DAB networks.

It has also been reported that the station will launch on Freesat next month.

Under a licence agreement the station will continue to operate under the Original FM brand name.

Radio Cardiff began broadcasting on October 8th 2007, providing local news and information with music  featuring reggae, soul, jazz, funk and house music.

The station reportedly blames the closure on a delay in funding from the Welsh Assembly Government and Cardiff County Council.

The funding opportunity was notified in a press release from MG Alba:-

MG ALBA is embarking on an ambitious programme of continuing professional development for producers and freelancers working in the Gaelic television sector, to support the production of high quality Gaelic programmes for the TV schedules of the new Gaelic Digital Service, to be run in partnership by MG ALBA and the BBC.

Over a two year period, MG ALBA will commit £260k to the scheme, allowing both new entrants to the industry and established professionals to access funding for training and CPD, providing up to 50% of the cost of training plans to match participants’ own investment or funding from other sources.

Donald Campbell, Chief Executive of MG ALBA, said: “We have supported training in the Gaelic television sector for many years through the Gaelic Television Training Trust, and we recognise that CPD is increasingly important in an industry that is evolving to meet the challenge of providing high quality content in the digital age. The new Gaelic Digital Service is giving production companies and freelancers the opportunity to make more programmes and hire new staff, and we want to ensure that they have the skills they need to create the content our viewers want to watch.”

Alasdair Smith, director of Skillset Scotland, the sector skills council for creative media, welcomed the news, saying: “Skillset is delighted to see MG ALBA making such a strong commitment to skills and training at a time when broadcasting in Scotland is under such scrutiny. Broadcasting is highly dependent on the skills of its workforce, particularly as the industry adapts to meet the challenges presented by new digital technologies. The financial support will be invaluable in helping companies and freelancers meet the demands of these new challenges and I look forward to working with MG ALBA up to and beyond the launch of the new Gaelic Digital Service.”

Linda Fabiani, Minister for Europe, External Affairs and Culture, said: “This Government is committed to strengthening the Scottish broadcasting industry, that is why we set up the Broadcasting Commission. Clearly, ensuring that the workforce has the opportunity to enhance their skills is an important factor in building the industry and this is particularly important for Gaelic broadcasting, given that the new channel will be launching soon. I am delighted that MG ALBA has made this strong commitment to supporting the training of the sector.”

Applications are invited by Friday 8 August 2008, and awards will be made by 22 August 2008. Information about eligibility criteria and further details of the scheme can be found at www.mgalba.com.

Findlay and his son Adam own New Wave Media and are understood to be offering more than 50 million pounds to buy the stations.

The stations are reported to be Ocean FM (Sligo/Donegal), KCLR (Kilkenny/Carlow), Tipp FM (Tipperary), KFM (Kildare) and Mid West Radio (Mayo).