Champ

Like any other electronic media, radio is also buzzing-out digital frequencies. But is the new technology going to kill the radio we have known? According to my friend Travis, the death of radio is inevitable.

His argument says, radio, by its very definition, is a medium which only involves listening. The moment any visual aspect added to it, it is no more a radio. It either becomes TV, internet or whatever…but it ceases to be a radio.

And digital radio’s potential to carry data with the sound poses this ‘threat’ to the existence of radio. (BTW, XM radio has won the rights broadcast the FIFA World Cup 2006. Check out what else is being offered).

But before we get into more arguments, let us find out what digital radio is and how it is different from regular radio we have hearing all our lives? (Check Out: How to listen to digital radio).

“Over-the-air broadcast or cable radio that uses a compressed digital format for transmission. Digital radio effectively increases the capacity of a transmission channel. It also can accommodate data as well as audio transmission.” (www.bnet.fordham.edu/carey1/glossary.htm)

According to another definition: “Digital radio describes radio technologies which carry information as a digital signal.” (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_radio)

“How is this different from FM?

The ‘multipath’ interference which disturbs FM reception (caused by radio signals bouncing off buildings and hills) is eliminated in DAB. Digital radio sets have processors which filter out interference and correct signal errors. Digital radio is designed to use ‘multipath’ to its advantage. DAB technology allows the receiver to combine delayed signals, making for a more robust reception overall.” (http://www.bbc.co.uk).

In a layman’s language digital radio is a technology which converts analogue signal into digital (binary) code.

So what are the advantages of digital radio?

There are many advantages of digital radio over the traditional radio. However, the biggest plus with digital is its potential to reduce transmission disturbance. Plus, the digital signals can carry data with it, which can be converted into words on the small screen of a digital radio.

Radio station owners are using this facility to send information about songs (singer, music director, album, sports result, plot summary, email addresses or any other tit-bit). Also, this facility is being used to flash news headlines on radio screen. Media watchers further predict that digital radio will further expand and provide free useful information and programmes guides. The brand new digital radios have the option of pause, rewind and even digital recording of a live broadcast!

I can’t wait to see google launching something to search for audio content or make google search engine accessible on digital radio. (Latest news on digital radio).

Coming back to out topic, equipped with these facilities, according to Travis’s argument, digital radio is either a website or TV…anything, but it can’t be JUST radio.

As a counter to Travis’s argument, even TV is not the same old TV what we used to see as kids.
You have interactive TV, reality TV. Further, with emergence of TiVO and PVR, TV viewing is not the same. Moreover, TV has moved to internet, internet has merged with print, cinema has moved to computer screens, TV screen is being condensed to mobile phones…and I don’t know what else moving into what…it is mind boggling at times.

Probably, time has come when sharp boundaries, which separates one-medium-to-other, has to be erased. We are truly moving towards to the age of convergence. Perhaps in the next 5-10 years, radio, tv, internet, audio/video cd players, cinema everything will move into the little instruments in our pockets—mobile phones.

That one instrument will keep us connected with the world. Probalby, we will sit and figure what to call. What do you reckon Trav?

1. Digital Radio buyer’s guide

2. To find out about the full range of DAB sets available visit:

Digital Radio DAB
Simply Radios
Digital Radio Now

3. Check out exciting new digital radio stations

. Five Live (sports)
. 6 Music
. BBC 7: Comedy, drama, books and kids programmes
. Asian Network
. 1Xtra: hip-hop, street music

References:
1. www.bnet.fordham.edu
2. http://www.bbc.co.uk/digitalradio/about