UK DIGITAL Radio Roll-out:

• In January 2000
  
• National Digital radio - Digital One - is on-air with 5 services,
  
• A further 5 services to be added in the coming months
  
• 28m adults can already receive the BBC National Service with 8 or more programmes
  
• 60% of UK adults can receive more than 16 digital radio services
  
• HiFi, Car and PC Digital Radio sets are widely available
  
  
• By June 2000 - 30m adults will be able to receive digital radio
  
• Local services on-air in London, Birmingham, Manchester and Glasgow
  
• Each local service will offer 7 or 8 services including BBC Local channels.
  
• Around 15m adults will have a choice of 24 digital sound services
  
• A further 13m adults will have a choice of 16 digital services
  
  
• By Summer 2001 - 34m adults will be able to receive digital radio
  
• A second London local service will be on air
  
• Around 9m adults will have a choice of around 32 digital services (more than on analogue!)
  
• A further 25m adults will have over 24 digital services to choose from
  
  
• Around Summer 2002 - 40m adults will be able to receive digital radio
  
• Digital One coverage expansion continues
  
• Several regional services will be on-air
  
• Around 22m adults will have a choice of around 32 digital channels
  
• A further 5m adults will be able to choose from over 24 digital channels
  
• A further 10 to 15m adults will be able to listen to 8 or more national digital channels

(Based on published Radio Authority Licence advertisement plan and current BBC Services.)

Commercial and BBC Digital Radio services will generally comprise a combination of familiar AM/FM programmes and new channels available only through Digital Radio. Overall Digital Radio is expected to offer a 50:50 split of existing and new services. Digital Radio will offer consistently high quality for all services.

AM services account for more than 20% of commercial radio listening, those which transfer to digital will benefit most from the giant leap in quality and consistency of sound.

For any further details, call the Scottish Digital Radio Helpline:

0141-565 2449