Two new commercial digital radio stations have launched in Canberra, Elf Radio and Coles Radio as recent figures show one out of four people in the nation’s capital listen to DAB+ digital radio.
The new stations have hit the airwaves ahead of trial services being switched to permanent services next year as the commercial radio industry rolls out digital radio to major regional areas.
Elf Radio is a festive pop-up radio station and Coles Radio is a contemporary music station playing handpicked throwback tunes.
Joan Warner, CEO of industry body Commercial Radio Australia says, “Canberra listeners have been enthusiastic adopters of digital radio and we expect more people to make the switch next year as more new stations launch and the industry and retailers start to promote the benefits of upgrading to digital radio. Canberra listeners have had access to trial DAB+ digital radio services since 2010 and GfK data shows listening has steadily increased to 27 per cent of the population, or 105,000 people each week. The reach of digital radio in Canberra is just behind the average metropolitan penetration of 28 per cent in the five capitals of Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth.”
Canberra commercial radio stations 2CA, 2CC, Mix 106.3 and 104.7 currently broadcast in digital, along with the digital-only stations My Canberra, KIX Country, Buddha Hits, The Edge, Coles Radio and Elf Radio, all adding to the choice of services available to local audiences.
