We all know that DAB radio is having a tough time at the moment, even though the recent RAJAR audience research shows an increase in digital radio listening.
The Government is keen to push ahead with the plans to scrap FM radio and get us all onto digital radio as early as 2015, and the next step of this drive is underway, in the form of The Radio Amnesty.
Retailers including Argos, Comet, John Lewis and Tesco, but oddly not Dixons and Currys, will offer a trade in of up to 20% on FM and AM radios brought in to their stores. If you have an old FM tranny you don’t want, you could get a decent discount instore on a Pure, Alba, Bush, Panasonic, Philips, Roberts or Sony DAB radio.
Old radios traded in will be reconditioned and sent off to kids in Africa.
The Amnesty is being promoted by Stephen Fry on BBC and commercial radio at the moment.
Some voices in the UK radio scene aren’t convinced though, including the radio group, UKRD.
William Rogers, CEO at UKRD says: “We are not prepared to encourage any of our listeners to go and replace their perfectly satisfactory analogue radio set with a DAB one which may not be able to pick up a DAB signal at all. This is absolutely appalling and one has to question both the moral and ethical basis for running such a campaign.”
Radio group Niocom and broadcaster Steve Penk are also against the Amnesty, with Steve referring to the Amnesty as “farcical, misleading and dishonest”.
Those interested in taking advantage have until the 26th June 2010 to take advantage of the Radio Amnesty.
