Introduction to radio on digital TV
 As well
as DAB, digital radio is also available via digital television.
You don't have to play the radio through your TV. Most digiboxes
have phono outputs, enabling you to connect them to your
hi-fi.
|
| Digital TV has the major advantage over DAB that the BBC
and most commercial broadcasters (not EMAP and GMG) use
higher bit rates for their radio stations on digital TV
than on DAB, giving significantly better sound quality on
a hi-fi. Digital TV also enables you to listen to digital
stations if DAB as a whole or the your choice of station
is not available in your area. The major disadvantage of
radio through digital TV is, of course, lack of portability.
There are three digital TV systems: satellite, terrestrial
and cable. All carry the main BBC networks |
Satellite
Satellite TV, or Sky Digital, offers the widest choice of digital
radio with about 80 stations available, including most of the main music
and talk networks and a wide selection of Asian and religous stations.
Nearly all of the radio stations broadcast free to air, so a Sky
subscription is not necessary. BBC TV is also free to air on satellite.
Satellite coverage is notionally nationwide, but some people can not
receive it due to local obstructions of the satellite signal or planning
restrictions preventing installation of dishes. If you want to watch TV
and listen to the radio at the same time, you can just buy a
second digibox.
Digital terrestrial
Digital terrestrial TV, or Freeview, has the smallest choice of
stations with only 21 available nationally, comprising the BBC, 8
EMAP stations, Jazz FM and Oneword. However, it is also the cheapest
option: Freeview receivers cost between £50 and £100 and you can
usually use your existing TV aerial. Combined Freeview and DAB
receivers are also available. Digital terrestrial TV coverage is
limited to about 75% of the population, less than national DAB.
Many areas will not receive digital terrestrial until analogue TV
is switched off due to lack of frequencies.About 30 TV channels
(some part time) are also available, inclucing all BBC channels,
ITV 1 and 2, Channel 4 and Five. Again, you can buy separate
digiboxes for radio and TV. However, not all receivers have phono
outputs, so check before you buy.
Digital cable
Digital cable is provided by either NTL or Telewest, depending on
where you live (except in Hull where Kingston Communications is the
provider). Not everywhere has access to cable and some places are
still served by the old analogue system. To get the radio services you
must subscribe to a TV package. NTL has most of the mainstream stations
that Sky has, but fewer minority stations. The choice on Telewest is
more limited.
A list of the radio stations available on each digital radio
platform can be downloaded here.
Useful Links
|
