Planning to shut down British AM (MW) radio should begin, while analog FM services should stay on air until at least 2030. These are some of the key recommendations in the just-released Digital Radio and Audio Review, which was commissioned by the U.K. government in February 2020.
Declining audience share is the reason for ending British AM. According to the Review: “AM — which according to estimates calculated for the Review now accounts for just 3% of all radio listening — has reached the point where the BBC, commercial radio and Ofcom need to prepare for the retirement of national services. However, traditional radio, including FM services, is valued by many listeners — particularly those who are older or vulnerable, drive older cars or live in areas with limited DAB or broadband coverage. On current trends,…
