Digital radio and audio review
Ensuring a robust and sustainable future for UK radio and audio.
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Radio is a great British success story. It has evolved to embrace new digital opportunities to maintain its universal appeal to audiences. It has innovated to remain current, vibrant and vital. Alongside a thriving radio market, new online audio formats including on-demand music streaming and podcasts from both existing broadcasters and new entrants have emerged and grown rapidly, bringing increased choice and new habits to the UK’s audio sector.
The Digital Radio and Audio Review was commissioned by the government in February 2020 with the objective of assessing likely future trends in listening and to make recommendations on ways of strengthening UK radio and audio. The Review was undertaken in conjunction with a broad cross-section of industry stakeholders and is intended to complement work already done or currently being undertaken to ensure a healthy future for a thriving UK media, such as the Cairncross Review, the Online Harms White Paper and the Ofcom Public Service Broadcasting Review.
As set out in the terms of reference, the report describes sector commitments and options for future government support, with the government then needing to consider recommendations for future action on its part.
The government’s response to the report has now been published, focusing on the recommendations for specific government action. There are a number of areas identified in the report where industry is better placed to take matters forward, but where we in government can support these efforts, we will of course continue to do so as we work towards a vibrant future for one of the country’s longest-standing and most trusted mediums.
Updates to this page
Published 21 October 2021Last updated 28 April 2022 + show all updates
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Published the government response
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First published.