October 29, 2004
Tim Luckhurst
The Times

Behind the deluge of tributes to John Peel lies a phenomenon not entirely
explained by Peel's charm and talent. It was previously apparent when the
Today programme presenter, Brian Redhead, died in 1993.

Both men were proof of the incomparable intimacy of radio broadcasting.
Millions of Britons sincerely believe that they knew Redhead and Peel. That
is because radio streams into their homes, cars and workplaces untrammelled
by the requirement to sit before a screen. It is a companion that stays with
us while we do other things. We adore its constant presence as well as its
capacity to stimulate and inform.

Now this relationship is threatened. The Culture Secretary is considering
switching off analogue radio. Driven by the same fiscal imperatives that
have persuaded it to promote gambling, the Government wants to convert
Britain to exclusively digital listening.

This should not be perceived, as manufacturers of radio sets want it to be,
as a laudable commitment to modernity. Nor should the excellent sound
quality and enhanced range of stations made available by digital audio
broadcasting persuade us that the future of radio must be entirely digital.

As long wave survived the arrival of medium wave and medium wave lived
through the birth of FM, analogue radio must continue alongside digital. If
it does not, 150 million analogue sets will be rendered useless. The cheap
technology that allows us to have a separate set in each room and to avoid
retuning by keeping a dedicated receiver for each of our favourite channels
will be made obsolete.

Digital radios will become less costly, but they will never be as cheap as
basic trannies. Digital sets are too complex and expensive for traditional
early adopters. There will not be digital radios in every room. It will be
reduced to the "appointment to view" status that renders television less
popular than radio.

Switching off analogue radio would be like murdering a friend. The average
of 22 hours listening a week by British adults would fall and advertising
revenues with it.

Let digital radio thrive, Secretary of State, but not by assassinating
analogue. That will deprive us of new John Peels and provoke fury throughout
the land.

(Tim Luckhurst is the author of This is Today, a Biography of the Today
Programme)

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article...334478,00.html