DRDB 'regrets' GCap's retreat from DAB

The Digital Radio Development Bureau - whose job is to ensure DAB is a success - has said it "regrets" GCap's decision to close Planet Rock and the Jazz.

GCap announced the closures today, along with its decision to sell its stake in DAB multiplex Digital One, as part of a round of cost-cutting. Chief executive Fru Hazlitt said she wanted to focus "on platforms that listeners want and that generate higher revenues and profit".

The DRDB said it believed new national DAB-only stations would emerge to take GCap's place.

"The DRDB regrets the closure of Planet Rock and the Jazz, but we look forward to the emergence of new national DAB-only services, and the rationalisation of the commercial radio national DAB provision," it said in a statement.

"DAB digital radio is growing strongly and, as recently published receiver sales and listening figures show, remains a strong proposition for the UK radio industry, both commercial and public, and we believe the medium will emerge from this period of transition stronger and more attractive to both broadcasters and listeners."

It comes days after Digital One, currently the platform for all commercial stations on DAB, announced its signal now covered 90% of Great Britain.

Chief executive Quentin Howard said commercial radio was "leading the way in delivering DAB digital radio to more people than ever before".

He said DAB was "in rude health" and added: "We had record Christmas sales figures from GfK, the RAJAR results show that DAB digital radio commands 10% of all radio listening and total sales have reached six and a half million sets. Digital One’s announcement that we now reach over 90% of the British population is another hard fact, demonstrating digital radio’s strong position and firm foundations."

The DRDB is an industry body with the role of promoting DAB's "wide accessibility and swift adoption".