UK Radio Listening Data - Q4 2014 - Q4 2015

Posted by: Mike-B on 05 February 2016

The latest RAJAR radio listen data was released yesterday.

Make what you will of the numbers: the decline in FM is more or less balanced with the increase towards DAB, but that is not so straight forward as the biggest increase is on-line (www) radio.

I expect the move to DAB will increase in the future as the transmitter area expansion program is due to be completed Sept. 2016. This will bring DAB area coverage to be =/> to FM.

I have no news on when the Gov, Ofcom & Radio Industry working group will consider a date for national FM broadcasting to be switched off.

I don't have any news of a change of mind from Gov & Ofcom on DAB+. However BBC trails continue, as do some commercial radio, plus some new commercial trails due to start at the end of February.

Posted on: 05 February 2016 by antony d

thanks Mike - really like the new BBC HD on Iradio - DAB is very good in the car and now at home with HD!

Posted on: 05 February 2016 by Mike-B

I with you on that Antony D, I'm more & more appreciating what BBC HLS HD brings, thanks to Naim iRadio. I've found that some live R-3 broadcasts can be exceptional, whereas the same broadcast on FM - although good - seems to loose an edge & atmosphere. I believe its the FM compression & 15kHz pilot tone limiter.

I also prefer DAB in the car, it is brighter, maybe again due to the 15kHz KM pilot tone filter, & maybe because ageing ears are compensated better with the DAB high frequencies.

However I do not like DAB on the kitchen set, its screeching high fs has me reaching for the warmth of FM

Posted on: 05 February 2016 by antony d

DAB in office through PURE is not to bad - BBC six Music is superb on HD

Posted on: 05 February 2016 by Clive B

I was listening to La Traviata from a CD rip through the NDS. This thread has made me switch to BBC Radio 3 on FM through my NAT01. It's still the most musical source I have.

Posted on: 05 February 2016 by Ravenswood10

HLS is great until the dropouts plague it. That's the problem with living in the sticks. That's when my NAT 01 comes in. Bought second hand 12 years ago and serviced by Naim around 6 years back it's never put a foot wrong and is used almost every day. I just hope it'll keep going for a few more years.

Posted on: 06 February 2016 by Mr Paws

I listen to the BBC National & Local Stations online now and only listen to DAB when our local BBC station switches frequencies for the sport.

The BBC HLS feeds are really good in my opinion and I love the facility where one can listen to any local BBC station in great quality.

My only gripe is that BBC 5 Live should be in Stereo like it used to be some years ago.

Posted on: 06 February 2016 by George F

I ask in all seriousness why stereo is better for radio than mono. What is improved by two channels rather than one good one!

ATB from George

Posted on: 06 February 2016 by Simon-in-Suffolk

Listening to BBCR3 right now, Jazz Line Up, and FM is noticeably more natural, enjoyable and vibrant than the HLS equivalent (on my NAT05) - perhaps down to the lossy compression used on the HLS feeds and the limited dynamic compression used on the FM PCM feeds on BBC Radio 3.

To Mike's point - I find DAB in my car a little shut in with music and lacking in sparkle, FM is significantly brighter, i put it down to the very lossy MP2 compression, however BBC Radio 6 is passable but i do find DAB a little tiring to listen to after a while - perhaps down to more brain processing to work out what you are listening to.

I found DAB+ on the continent easier and more enjoyable to listen to whilst concentrating on driving.

Simon

Posted on: 06 February 2016 by ken c

i am also listening to this as well Simon... Great stuff...

enjoy...

ken

Posted on: 06 February 2016 by hungryhalibut

Yes indeed, jazz line up is sounding great on FM. The trumpet and piano sound brilliant and just as good as any CD or CD rip. It's amazing how good FM sounds with a good broadcast.

Posted on: 07 February 2016 by Mr Paws

George Fredrik Fiske posted:
I ask in all seriousness why stereo is better for radio than mono. What is improved by two channels rather than one good one!
ATB from George

In all seriousness, Radio Paradise in Mono ? Long Live RP ! :-)

Posted on: 08 February 2016 by Mike-B

Simon-in-Suffolk posted:
To Mike's point - I find DAB in my car a little shut in with music and lacking in sparkle, FM is significantly brighter
I found DAB+ on the continent easier and more enjoyable to listen to whilst concentrating on driving.

....... it seems we are diametrically opposed Simon. My BMW's FM does not have any of the HF "sparkle" of the same station(s) on DAB, especially with BBC R-3 at 192kbs. I will add that listening to some of the "pop" stations, the pain is eased somewhat with FM.

There is no doubt that on my car radio DAB has a wider bandwidth than FM. I suspect its one or other of variations in the way the radio (receiver) FM pilot tone filter is applied & its not applied with the DAB front end. Or, we know BBC FM is bandwidth-limited to 15kHz for this purpose & its applied at the feed stream stage. I don't know if DAB is also bandwidth limited but strongly suspect its not as the same broadcasts on iRadio at home are also noticeably brighter. i.e. only the FM stream is 15kHz bandwidth limited.

I'm also a bit suspicious of BBC's compression application, its seems to be variable & hear a lot of heavy handed use (IMO) & wonder if like the 15kHz FM bandwidth, its applied differently/separately to FM, DAB, Freeview & www-radio streams.

Agreed, DAB+ I heard in Holland was noticeable better.

Posted on: 08 February 2016 by Mike-B

Further to the above, this is the latest BBC "Audio Factory" info dated 1-Feb-16 w.r.t. BBC streaming services.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/int...f0-8b01-09890a8fed8f

Posted on: 03 March 2016 by Mike-B

The UK’s second national DAB multiplex was switched on 29 Feb. The multiplex is owned by Sound Digital in a joint venture with Arquiva, Bauer & Media GB. 18 new stations incl TalkRadio, Planet Rock, TalkSport 2, Heat & Jazz FM. 12 are broadcasting now, the rest be on by the end of March. A retune is all you need to do.

Jazz FM is DAB+ !!!!! as is Fun Kids & Magic Chilled starting 28 Mar

The DAB transmitter expansion program to install 162 new transmitters is ongoing & expected to be completed by 2017. Best keep an eye on local press or run a retune once in a while.

Posted on: 03 March 2016 by Claus-Thoegersen

George Fredrik Fiske posted:
I ask in all seriousness why stereo is better for radio than mono. What is improved by two channels rather than one good one!
ATB from George

One channel is good, 2 channel is better!!!!!!

Posted on: 03 March 2016 by hungryhalibut

The Archers is infinitely better in stereo, especially when there is serious milking parlour action.