DAB radio sales up 28% in Q1 2008

Sales of DAB radios in the first three months of 2008 were up 28% on the same period last year.

Figures from research firm Gfk show 489,000 sets were sold during the first quarter. The year-on-year growth was higher than the average of 16% seen in 2007.

The Digital Radio Development Bureau (DRDB) has put the growth down to products such as clock radios and docking systems, which have increasingly featured DAB receivers; as well as in-car DAB adapters.

The news came as several industry leaders discussed the future of the platform at the Radio Reborn conference in London yesterday.

Peter Davis, Ofcom director of radio and multimedia, said commercial broadcasters need to invest in stronger brands on DAB and called for a Freeview-style relaunch.

Jenny Abramsky, the outgoing BBC director of audio and music, said the corporation remained fully behind DAB but called on the industry to address problems such as affordability, coverage, reception and uncertainty over future technology.

Abramsky said DAB coverage - currently at about 86% of the population and 60% geographically - needed to be extended urgently.

Paul Brown, acting chief executive of the DRDB, said the Q1 figures were encouraging: "DAB digital radio came under fire earlier this year following announcements of withdrawal from the medium by GCap Media and the loss of several national DAB services. However, consumer, retailer and manufacturer confidence in DAB remains high, as these figures demonstrate."

During the first quarter, DAB accounted for 20% of all radio sales by volume. Clock radio sales were up 111% in volume in the last year.

A new product - Pure Digital's plug-and-go in-car adapter - helped DAB after-fit volume sales to grow 14% year-on-year.