Any vehicle can be converted to digital radio as this conversion of local farmer John Nicholas’s tractor showed!

As we know, the future of radio is digital. As the number of new cars with DAB as standard (86.8% in Q2 2017) continues to increase, we are seeing a significant increase in cars on the road that can access digital radio (currently approx. 10 million).

However, the majority of the UK’s 34 million cars still need upgrading to digital (and there’s 24 million of them!) and as the transition to digital radio moves on, it is vital that we all understand the challenges to converting cars and is addressing them.

From the digital radio switchover in Norway, which began in January this year, we learned a few things on a variety of issues such as the importance of trained installers, the availability of products and consumer communications.

In Norway, there are also a number of garages successfully offering conversions to customers when providing servicing and MOT, which is not yet happening in the UK.

Surrey is one of the most digital areas in the UK, with over 70% of homes having a digital radio and over 53% of all listening is to digital. There are now over 50 stations available in Surrey on DAB, including the brilliant bunch of local stations on our multiplex. By upgrading their car to digital radio, drivers can have all the digital stations they enjoy at home in their car too.

What is it?

The Go Digital Car conversion pilot has been put together and coordinated by Digital Radio UK, and sees local broadcasters, garages and retailers working together to make it easier for drivers to get digital radio in their car. It is also supported by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport.

A wider range of digital radio car adapters and new services will be introduced in Surrey, and for the first time drivers will be able to get digital radio fitted in their when they book it in for a service or MOT.

The local radio broadcasters from our multiplex involved include BBC Radio Surrey, Eagle Radio, Jack FM, Heart Surrey and Premier Praise. They will be communicating the benefits of digital radio in car by running ads, features and listener competitions to win in-car digital radios and car adaptors.

The retailers and garages supporting the Surrey pilot include Halfords and Halfords Autocentres, KwikFit and independent garages and retailers.

The radio and adapter manufacturers involved include Nextbase, Pure, Sony, RadioPlayer Car, Kenwood JVC and AutoDAB, and from Norway Tiny and POP.

When’s it happening?

It launches today – Monday 16th October and runs for three months until the 12th January 2018.

Why?

By running the pilot in Surrey, we hope to establish learnings to improve the experience of getting the UK’s cars upgraded to digital radio that can be rolled out nationally. We will be running joined-up industry communications to promote and educate people about converting cars to digital radio. We will conduct consumer research on their experience of getting cars converted and using the new equipment. And ultimately, increase the availability of digital radio in car upgrades and drivers’ awareness and understanding of how and where to do it.

We’re pleased to have added another radio station to the Surrey multiplex this morning – Encore Radio!

For the first time, Encore Radio brings popular songs from musicals and films to the UK. It launches officially on Monday 24th October at 1pm.

On Friday (27th) we completed the expansion of our Surrey and South London multiplex. We’ve improved coverage by adding transmitters at Dorking and Caterham Old Park Wood. The coverage map has been updated too.

Whilst it extends coverage to some new areas, the nature of the single frequency network means that many listeners, and particularly those in-car, will get an even stronger signal.

We’re pleased to welcome Eagle Oldies to the Surrey and South London multiplex, which will be launching officially on Monday (4th April) at 4pm.

UKRD’s Paul Marcus says “Whilst it’s true that our station will be playing older music, you don’t have to be old to listen! Indeed by showcasing the classic hits of 60s and 70s we will enable a new generation of listeners to discover artists for the first time, many of whom have had a huge influence on the current music scene.”

Eagle Radio’s Peter Gordon says: “For 20 years Eagle Radio has been trusted by listeners in Surrey and Hampshire to provide the very best service. We feel that now is a fitting time to offer a brand new service for the people who grew up with music radio. Eagle Oldies will take great pleasure in celebrating the best music, from the best artists through the years.”

This weekend we’re pleased to add two new radio stations to our Surrey and South London multiplex.

Oxis Media will be launching JACK and JACK 2 tomorrow, on the 8th August. We’re pleased to welcome these stations and look forward to tuning in.

Clive Dickens, Oxis Media’s Chairman, said: “We’re thrilled to be launching two brand new JACKs into Surrey and South London. We will have a strong local commercial presence in the area as we introduce our brand to local businesses over the coming months. As always, JACK will be at the cutting edge of all things digital and we’re excited to work with various local advertisers to help reinforce their commercial messaging. We acquired the JACK brand outright earlier this year which enables great opportunities for growth, and this is the first of a number of expansion announcements we plan to make in the next twelve months.”