UK, partita la rottamazione delle radio analogiche

Come avevano promesso all'inizio dell'anno, i fautori della radio digitale in Gran Bretagna faranno partire un piano di rottamazione delle vecchie radio FM. Chi consegnerà la sua a un negozio delle catene aderenti al piano (che non è stato accolto con entusiasmo da tutti i commercianti), potrà acquistare un apparecchio DAB con uno sconto del 10-20% o avrà in cambio un buono acquisto di valore fisso. Ancora non sono chiari i dettagli dell'operazione, che dovrebbe però partire in questi giorni. Non è nemmeno molto chiaro chi sarà a finanziarla. Quello che si sa leggendo vari quotidiani, è che le radio consegnate verranno "smaltite" attraverso il meccanismo della donazione: sembra che gli apparecchi verranno trasportati verso le nazioni africane.

Mi sembra di poter dire, da quello che sto leggendo, che l'operazione rottamazione viene gestita col deretano, come molte cose nel settore della radio digitale. Nessuno finora ha rilevato tra l'altro che la digitalizzazione nel Regno Unito viene fatta con un sistema, il DAB convenzionale, di pessima qualità e scarsa ottimizzazione delle frequenze. E che il grosso degli apparecchi venduti oggi con tutta probabilità non può essere aggiornato via software, ai nuovi codec DAB+ che garantirebbero alla nascente radio digitale un percorso evolutivo più di lungo termine. In compenso le statistiche "ufficiali" continuano a magnificare la quota del 24% di ascolto solo digitale. Arrivati al 50% la radio analogica dei grossi network verrà spenta, mossa giudicata indispensabile per riuscire a vendere abbastanza apparecchi digitali.

Digital Radio Scrappage Scheme Launched to Boost Switchover Rates

May 19, 2010

In the next few years the UK will switch TV & radio coverage from analogue to digital. A new digital radio scrappage scheme may save on upgrade costs.

Consumers wishing to upgrade analogue radios to digital products may now be able to save some money on the cost of a new model. A radio "amnesty" scrappage scheme was announced on the 19th May 2010 which will cut the costs of some digital radio sets. This is aimed to boost consumer take-up in the run up to the digital switchover in in the UK.

When Will UK Radio Stations Switch From Analogue to Digital?

There is no firm switchover date as yet although this is projected to happen by the end of 2015. The previous government agreed that the two year announcement process would only start when 50% of the UK population had made the switch to digital radio. This currently stands at around 20% and it is hoped that this new scrappage scheme will kick-start take-up to speed up the process.

How Will the Digital Radio Scrappage Scheme Work?

This scheme is modelled on other scrappage schemes (such as government led car and boiler deals). The aim of these offers is to encourage consumers to upgrade/make a new purchase by giving them discounts on their costs.

The radio scheme will start on Saturday 22nd May 2010 and is projected to last until June 26th. To take part, consumers will need to take along an old analogue radio and buy a new digital model. Swapping the old set will give them a discount on the cost of the new one.

Some leading manufacturers (Pure, Sony and Roberts) have agreed to take part as have a number of retailers (Argos, Comet, John Lewis, Tesco and some independent stores). It is unclear as yet whether the Currys Group will participate. Some members of the press state that they will (The Daily Mail); others (The Telegraph, The Times) say that they will not.

How Much will the Radio Scrappage Scheme Save on a New Digital Radio?

There is no fixed discount for this scheme and consumers may well want to shop around to look for best costs. In some cases a discount of between 10-20% may be offered. In others this discount may be given as a flat reduction (i.e. £10 off).

Why Make the Switchover to Digital Radio?

If all goes according to digital switchover plans, then analogue radios will ultimately simply not work. Buying a digital model now under this scrappage scheme could see consumers save some money on the costs of a new radio in preparation for the switchover.

There is also a charitable/environmental message here. Where possible the old analogue radios that are traded in will be sent to Unicef and the South African Children's Radio Foundation where they will be distributed to young people to broaden their radio access. Models that are not suitable for reconditioning will be recycled according to the WEEE (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment) Directive.

The Telegraph ("Radio 'scrappage' scheme 1to help listeners move to digital sets'"); The Daily Mail ("Now tune into a scrappage deal for your old radio"); The Times ("Scrappage scheme is extended to old radios in push to turn digital").