Yes, here a good question here, where has the DAB enthusiasm and push gone. Just under a decade ago there was a real buzz around digital radio and although not all, many were playing with it and building business plans around it. Now DAB has made significant market penetration with digital radio everyone seems to have ticked the box and moved on. This is despite the choice of programming form the FM market reducing notably. It is very much a shame if you ask me.

The quality of BBC Radio 4 LW actually sounds pretty good here – but then again this is via Satellite!

But this does highlight a world of consumer confusion though, as on my Sky box I can choose from Radio 4 FM or LW, on Freeview or DAB I don’t get this option I just get Radio 4 – but could get some of the same content as R4LW on 5live Sports extra!

Would be interesting to know the number of listeners to TMS on actual Long Wave (rather than the DSAT ‘LW’ programme channel) as receivers with Long Wave reception are increasingly uncommon.

I think that other than perhaps on a hi-fi tuner (that lacks any decent AM antenna) the only radio sets I own with LW are a couple with Short Wave bands on as well, one of which is over 20 years old. Possibly something an average consumer wouldn’t go out and buy.

I think the last time I actually tuned into a Long Wave station would have been in the early 90′s to hear a certain Irish pop music station.

Given probable lack of numbers of cricket fans listening in on LW and the industries desire to push digital platforms (be that DAB/TV/Internet), then maybe it’s time that TMS becomes a ‘digital only’ programme. It may get a handful of sports fans to buy a new Digital set – but it will also help to give the general public the impression that Digital radio offers a greater choice of listening.

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