Telegraph: UK households will have to replace their analogue radio sets by 2020, according to proposals in a government-commissioned report that sets out a timetable for switching to digital broadcasting.
In a process similar to television switchover, which completes in 2012 and is taking five years, the FM signal would go dark, making the 100m analogue radio sets in use today largely redundant.
Instead, stations would begin transmitting in Digital Audio Broadcast, which can only be picked up by new digital radio sets.
The government appointed Digital Radio Working Group, whose members include the BBC, commercial broadcasters, car manufacturers and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, today suggested switching off the FM signal for all but the very smallest local stations by 2020.
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