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Backlash fears over digital radio

March 30, 2010

The UK government could face a public backlash over its plans to switch national radio stations over to digital transmission, peers have warned.

The Communications Committee of the House of Lords says there is “public confusion and industry uncertainty”. It said people were still buying analogue radios which will be out of date in a few years’ time.

The government has set a target date of 2015 for national and regional radio stations to switch over from FM and AM. But the committee has warned there could be a “major public reaction” against the plans unless ministers explain what is happening and address listeners’ concerns. It says between 50 and 100 million analogue radios will become largely redundant after 2015 and around 20 million car radios will need converters.

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