BBC asks for more national DAB capacity

5th December 2005

The BBC has responded to Ofcom's recent public consultation on Band III spectrum allocation where Ofcom have proposed to allocate three channels to provide local multiplexes which don't already have one, and another channel for a national multiplex, along with the possibility that if a fifth Band III channel becomes available for UK use at the Regional Radio Conference next year that it be used to allow a second additional national multiplex.

The BBC's opinions are summarised as follows:

the BBC welcomes Ofcom's decision to allocate 3 channels for local multiplexes and 1 channel for a national multiplex;
the BBC disagrees with Ofcom's decision to allocate the 5th channel for a national multiplex if it becomes available, because the BBC thinks it should be used to allow the 90 stations that cannot get on DAB (plus the 30 future FM stations yet to be licensed) to get on DAB;
the BBC say the current compromises on audio quality, not providing services in stereo and frequently reducing Radio 4 to mono, are "unsustainable" and they "had looked to resolve [this] with the advent of further spectrum", and they're now asking Ofcom and the DCMS for additional national capacity both to address these compromises and to allow the BBC to launch new "multimedia enhancements";
they argue that 5.1 surround sound will become more widely available but the BBC won't be able to provide this on DAB;
they argue that Ofcom's view that improvements in audio encoders will improve audio quality are unproven and should not be relied upon;
they are concerned that acquiring additional capacity by participating in a licence application process or leasing capacity from the winner of the national multiplex licence may not fulfil their needs.

Overall, their view that Ofcom should allocate the fifth channel to local multiplexes if it becomes available is completely contradictory to their request for additional national capacity, because they obviously stand a far better chance of acquiring additional capacity if there will be two rather than one new national DAB multiplex. Moreover, the BBC claim they are in favour of increasing choice for listeners, and yet their view that the fifth channel should be allocated to local DAB multiplexes would stifle the possibility of extra stations launching on DRM+ in future, which could significantly improve the number of stations listeners can receive.

Also, the BBC's consistent public denial that there's anything wrong with the audio quality won't do them any favours in their attempt to acquire additional capacity. They may say that admitting that there's a problem with the audio quality would cause PR problems that could impact DAB sales, but if they fail to acquire any additional capacity then we'll be stuck with low audio quality on the most listened to stations in the country and stations being in mono that should be in stereo. A price worth paying for DAB sales? I don't think so.

As I've said before: talk is cheap, and the BBC's actions will be judged on the outcome -- if they fail to acquire any additional capacity then heads should roll. Will heads roll? Nah, the BBC doesn't care about audio quality any more.