A new digital radio transmitter on top of BT Tower in London has been turned on today to improve DAB reception in the capital.
Olympic gold medal winner Dame Kelly Holmes and Colin Murray did the honours at a media gathering overlooking London.
The new transmitter, along with three other recent additions, means 99% of the London road network within the M25 will be able to receive a listenable signal.
Details of the previously announced digital-only BBC Radio 5 live Olympics Extra station were also confimed – the station will broadcast nationally alongside BBC Radio 5 live and 5 live Sports Extra.
The additional transmitters are a collaboration between the broadcasters, multiplex operators, Arqiva, and BT Wholesale, and is the culmination of a two-year programme of investment in digital transmitters around London.
Ed Vaizey MP, Minister for Culture, Communications and Creative Industries said that good progress was being made on the Digital Radio Action Plan, and that 23% of new cars in March 2012 were fitted with digital radio as standard, compared with 11% in March 2011 (source CAP/SMMT).
BMW, official Automotive Partner of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, has announced that a substantial proportion of the official Gamesfleet will be fitted with digital radio. This is in parallel to recently introducing digital radio as standard on all new MINIs.
Tim Davie, BBC Director of Audio and Music, said: “I’m delighted to confirm the launch of digital-only station BBC Radio 5 live Olympics Extra. Together with Radio 5 live and Radio 5 live Sports Extra this new station will make sure that listeners need not miss a thing of the 2012 summer of sport.”
Read more reaction to this event, including what this means for the rest of the UK, and see pictures in tomorrow’s edition of eRADIO. Click here to register.
Posted on Tuesday, April 24th, 2012 at 2:00 pm by RadioToday UK