10monty, DAB+ is an evolution of DAB to provide more channels in a smaller amount of the airwaves. Those behind the technology are being driven by the Government and its relentless drive to sell off the family silver to the highest bidders. In this case, the family silver is the chunks of the airwaves that we use for TV and radio. The highest bidders are the mobile phone and data telecoms operators; from our point of view these are the people who run the transmitter networks that allow us to use our stream-everything internet-connected smart phones everywhere.
DAB+ uses newer compression algorithms to fit 'more' in to 'less' space. The powers that be tell us this is all for our benefit: more channels, higher quality. The cynic in me disagrees vehemently with the second part of that statement. DAB has never been about quality. I see no reason why DAB+ will be any different. My gut instinct says that this is simply about shoehorning more broadcast licences and the revenue they generate in to a tighter space and in the process freeing up more available space to sell off for billions to the telecoms giants. You can form your own opinion on that.
The nuts and bolts of it are that a radio with a DAB+ tuner can pick up regular DAB channels, but a DAB-only tuner won't be able to receive any existing or new DAB+ channels where they are available.
Currently, there are roughly 280 digital audio stations broadcasting in the UK. Of those, something like half a dozen are DAB+, the rest are normal DAB. There's a bit of a chicken and egg problem for the broadcasters: Without the uptake of DAB+ radios on a very large scale, there's little incentive and no financial benefit to broadcast in the new format since there aren't enough compatible radios to make it worthwhile. At the same time, the general public aren't that aware of DAB+, and with so few stations using the newer format, there's little incentive for them to buy a new DAB+ radio wjhen their existing unit gets DAB and FM just fine.
The change will be driven by the manufacturers phasing out DAB-only receivers, but it will be a long and gradual process since the listening market is fragmented between AM, FM, DAB, internet, satellite and Freeview.
The future is DAB+, not because consumers are crying out for it, but rather that there are larger commercial gains at stake. It's all about cashing in and killing the goose that lays the golden egg simply for a meal today. Meanwhile, the radio stations that are meant to be enjoying a bonanza of additional broadcasting capacity are having troubles of their own. In the world of independent local radio, stations are coalescing so that one central service provides the content whether you're listening in Luton, London, Liverpool, Leeds or Livingston. The independence of the local stations is dying.
