Re: Ofcom rules about mono and stereo in DAB broadcasting

Paul Webster wrote:
"Hamlet" <pr_hamlet@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

http://technosoc.blogspot.com/2008/02/new-guidelines-for-uk-radio-stations.html

Today Ofcom published guidilines for commercial analogue radio and
the regulation of stereo and mono broadcasting on Digital Audio
Broadcasting (DAB).

the statement
http://www.ofcom.org.uk/consult/condocs/futureradio07/statement/

the file is here
http://www.ofcom.org.uk/consult/condocs/futureradio07/statement/statement.pdf

here you can read the article from the Guardian, John Plunkett
http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2008/feb/07/commercialradio.ofcom

Ofcom has concluded stereo and mono broadcasting on DAB should be
regulated to preserve sound quality for listeners. Licensees wishing
to switch from stereo to mono must now request approval from Ofcom.
This policy will be reviewed after 12 months.

Thanks for the links.
Regarding the audio characteristics change (e.g. stereo to mono or
dropping bit rate) ... while it looks promising (as a way to prevent
stations dropping their already generally low sound quality) there is
a big caveat.

"As a matter of general policy, Ofcom is likely to refuse a request
for a change in audio characteristics only in cases where the
capacity freed-up by the change is to be allocated to services which,
in our view, would not be in the best interests of citizens and
consumers. Such an example may be where a multiplex using its full
capacity for stereo radio services proposes to reduce these radio
services to mono, in order to allocate the permitted 30% data
capacity to provide a closed user group service. We believe that such
a move would generally (in respect of a national radio licence)
unacceptably diminish the capacity of the programme services provided
under that licence to appeal to a variety of tastes and interests, or
would generally (in respect of a local radio licence) unacceptably
narrow the range of programmes available by way of digital sound
programme services in the area. "

The comment about local radio seems half-baked ... since reducing the
audio characteristics to fit in a closed data service would not
necessarily "narrow the range of programmes available", it would
reduce the audio quality. What would happen if the reduction in
quality was to squeeze in another radio station ... that would
potentially increase the range of programmes available.


If the freed-up bandwidth were to be used to add another station then they
would be allowed to use mono - on both stations.

I gave Ofcom far too much credit on first reading, because in reality,
despite the way they've spun this, what this is is them officially allowing
mono to be used on radio stations on DAB, but the stations just have to ask
Ofcom for permission first, and seemingly the only requirement is that the
freed-up bandwidth isn't used for subscription-only services that aren't
freely available to everyone with a DAB receiver.

So what they wrote here is simply bull***:

"Ofcom believes that it is appropriate to intervene in this area in the
interests of listeners and in light of Ofcom?s duty in section 3(2) of the
Communications Act 2003 to secure the availability throughout the UK of a
wide range of high quality radio services calculated to appeal to a variety
of tastes and interests."

because they don't intend to stop people using mono at all, nor stop people
wanting to switch to using mono unless it's to free up capacity for
subscription-only services.

The incompetents strike again.


--
Steve - www.digitalradiotech.co.uk - Digital Radio News & Info

The adoption of DAB was the most incompetent technical
decision ever made in the history of UK broadcasting:
http://www.digitalradiotech.co.uk/dab/incompetent_adoption_of_dab.htm


.