Press Releases & Press Packs

04.02.04

RADIO

BBC digital radio launches in Inverness

BBC national digital radio comes to the Inverness area today, Wednesday 4 February, with the addition of the Mount Eagle transmitter to the BBC's expanding UK digital radio network.

Mount Eagle brings approximately 133,000 people into BBC national digital radio coverage for the first time, in areas including Burghead, Nairn, Invergordan, Cromarty and Dingwall.

Digital radio listeners will be able to tune-in to the BBC's portfolio of new digital stations - 1Xtra, Five Live Sports Extra, 6 Music, BBC 7 and the Asian Network - as well as the BBC's existing national radio stations - Radio 1, Radio 2, Radio 3, Radio 4, Radio Five Live and the World Service - and enjoy the benefits of digital audio broadcasting (DAB) with its robust reception and clear sound quality.

Mount Eagle is the 21st transmitter to go live in a BBC digital radio expansion plan which will increase the BBC's digital radio coverage to 85% of the UK population by mid-2004.

More than five million people have been brought into BBC national digital radio coverage since work began in August 2003 and BBC coverage currently stands at more than 70%.

Listeners will need a DAB digital radio to receive the BBC's digital radio broadcasts.

Existing digital radio listeners in the Mount Eagle area should carry out an 'autotune' to scan and store the newly available BBC services in their radio set's station list.

For advice on receiving BBC digital radio and to check coverage listeners can ring 08700 100123 or go to www.bbc.co.uk/digitalradio and refer to the coverage map (the 'coverage by postcode' feature is not immediately updated).

Crown Castle International, the UK's leading network infrastructure management company, is responsible for the roll out of the new digital radio transmitters.

Notes to Editors

• The BBC has five digital-only radio networks, all launched in 2002 -

1Xtra - the best in new black music;

Five Live Sports Extra - the home of live sport with exclusive coverage of live events;

6 Music - the best of contemporary and classic rock and pop;

BBC 7 - the best of BBC comedy, drama and books from the archive;

the Asian Network - news and music from the British Asian scene.

• Nearly 1.5 million adults are listening to the BBC's new digital-only stations each week (RAJAR figures, periods ending September and December 2003).

• The BBC's whole family of speech and music networks is also available on digital radio: Radio 1, Radio 2, Radio 3, Radio 4, Radio Five Live and the World Service (in English).

• Digital radio offers very robust reception and does not suffer from the interference and fading that can happen with AM and FM radio.

• Digital radio is a more efficient means of broadcasting. More networks can be transmitted, offering more choice for listeners.

• Digital radio can transmit text and data with the audio signal.

A small screen on digital radios carries rolling text telling listeners what music they're listening to, who's being interviewed, and giving phone numbers and e-mail and website addresses.

• 30 manufacturers produce 58 different digital radio products for the UK market.

Sony Europe recently announced it will launch a digital radio in 2004 - the first major Japanese manufacturer to come into the digital radio market.

• The price of digital radios starts at around £75 and they are available as tuners (i.e. as part of a hi-fi), portables and as car radios.

• Total UK digital radio sales have reached 430,000 sets (GFK data, February 2004).

• Digital radios are available from more than 3,000 retail outlets across the UK (both large high street chains and small independent retailers) and can also be bought on the internet.

• Digital radio can be received via digital television (satellite, cable and Freeview) and through the internet, as well as through a digital radio receiver.

• Full list of 21 BBC national DAB transmitters on air since August 2003 -

Mount Eagle (Inverness) - 133,000 new people in coverage;

Caradon Hill (Plymouth, Devon) - 245,000 people;

Plympton (Plymouth, Devon) - 108,000 people;

Midhurst (East Sussex) - 135,000 people;

Poole (Dorset) - 290,000 people;

Hastings (East Sussex) - 240,000 people;

Tacolneston (Norwich) - 310,000 people;

Whitehawk Hill (Brighton/Worthing) - 405,000 people;

Angus (Dundee) - 320,000 people;

Blunsdon (Swindon) - 240,000 people;

Churchdown Hill (Gloucester) - 310,000 people;

Heathfield (East Sussex) - 230,000 people;

Idle (Bradford) - 100,000 people;

Piccadilly Plaza (Manchester) - 100,000 people;

Naish Hill (Chippenham) - 135,000 people;

Manningtree (Ipswich) - 540,000 people;

Rowridge (Isle of Wight/Southampton) - 760,000 people;

Dover (Canterbury/Folkstone/Dover) - 230,000 people;

Bromsgrove (Bromsgrove/Worcester) - 160,000 people;

Salisbury (Wilts) - 65,000 people;

Bath (Avon) - 50,000 people.

Freeview offers the BBC's eight television channels, interactive services from BBCi, as well as 11 national BBC radio networks.

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