Digital radio sales jump ahead of forecast

Official data relating to digital radio broadcasts in Australia was released by Commercial Radio Australia (CRA) today in the Digital Radio Industry Report 2012, showing the technology is tracking ahead of forecast, with 1.2 million people listening to digital radio in an average week, in the five state metropolitan capitals of Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide and close to 800,000 digital radios sold.

Over the Christmas 2011 and New Year 2012 period, Digital radio sales recorded the highest jump to date, with a total of 180,546 devices sold between Oct 2011- Jan 2012.  These sales figures are outperforming the original forecast and have prompted an update to the PwC Forecast for Digital Radio Adoption.  The PwC report now shows household penetration of DAB+ digital radio is forecast to reach 16% by December 2013 and 18% by June 2014.

Commercial Radio Australia chief executive officer, Joan Warner said: “Digital radio sales and listening have increased despite one of the worst retail climates for decades. The commercial radio industry has invested in the promotion of digital radio and worked very hard with retailers.  We’ve put our money where our mouth is and used our medium to tell our listeners about digital radio. Once again, results highlight just how well radio works.”