Digital radio sales reach for the sky (Norway to swtich off FM transmissions in 2017)

[The Straight Story]

Digital radio sales reach for the sky

Sales of digital radios have gone through the roof this Christmas in Norway, in a development being credited to the government’s decision to switch off FM transmissions in 2017.

Electronics chain Clas Ohlsson said that sales of DAB radios increased fourfold - 300 percent - in 2013 compared to 2012. The new seems to fulfil a prediction by ‘Elektronikkbransjen’ magazine in November that digital radios would be this year’s hottest Christmas presents, according to NRK.

“I would call this an explosion of DAB sales, and people of all ages are buying them. We are set to sell out of several models,” Clas Ohlsson spokeswoman Camilla Tully told NRK.

The Norwegian parliament says it wants half the population to have moved to digital radio by the end of 2014.

http://www.thelocal.no/20131223/digital-radio-sales-reach-for-the-sky

[bhikkhu]

1. There's always something new - I had to check if we even had this in Oregon

There's a grand total of two digital radio broadcasts here, called "HD radio". I guess its a digital signal on the FM band, so the station can multiplex a bunch of broadcasts on a single FM frequency? Then you have to have a digital radio designed to receive it...so one of these days soon we can probably look forward to all of our current radios being obsolete, as all of our tv's did.

[dixiegrrrrl]

2. Luckily, there is the internet

which actually expands radio sources.
Decent streaming speed and good enough speakers, I can get any radio station I want.
Yesterday listened to a talk show from Portand Ore, about Fukishima.

A good thing, since we have piss poor radio reception in our area, so have no radio or tv.

[47of74]

3. I've had satellite radio in my cars since 2006.

Back when I first got satellite radio I had to drive so far for work that I'd have to switch at least three or four times between stations between leaving for home and arriving at work. Plus with my route to work was pretty much a choice between modern pop music, hate (aka conservative talk) radio, or sports. Plus a scattering of small local stations with minimal signal output.

So I went and got a satellite radio. That was a godsend. I could listen to progressive talk in my car, along with classic rock, classical, and other stuff I actually want to listen to. I can count on one hand the number of hours I've listened to traditional AM/FM radio in my current vehicle.