DAB 성공전략에 관한 연구 - 영국 DAB전략을 중심으로 -

A Study on the Successful Strategy for DAB : Focused on DAB Strategy in UK

세계적으로 구축되고 있는 DAB 디지털환경은 디지털방송을 한 단계 도약시킬 수 있는 절호의 기회를 제공하고 있다. 지상파, 위성, 케이블의 디지털화에 의해 국내에도 막대한 장비시장이 형성되고 있어 기술개발을 유도할 수 있는 조건이 마련되었으며, 디지털기술은 아날로그 기술과 달리 단시간 내에 기술습득이 가능하며, 세계최고 수준의 통신기술과의 접목을 통해 새로운 부가가치 산업을 창출해 갈 수 있기 때문이다. 따라서, DAB 제휴네트워크로 한국의 업체들도 DAB 수신기 시장 진출에 해외 유력사업자와 유럽 등 메이저 시장에 진출해야 한다. 최근 삼성전기, 디지털스카이넷등 주요 DAB 수신기, 장비업체들이 유럽의 사업자들과 협력을 통해 유럽 시장에 진출하는 것은 현명한 선택인 것이다. 또한, DAB 특허에 대한 현실적인 대안을 마련하고, DAB 수신기 상품인지도 확립, DAB 멀티미디어 서비스제공에 따른 모바일산업과의 연계를 통한 기술우위 확보도 필요하다 하겠다.

DAB is meeting with mixed success. Denmark is performing similarly to the UK thanks to the innovation of the public broadcaster but where DAB is not so strong, the problem can usually be pointed at the lack of enabling regulation. The UK's example, whilst not appropriate everywhere, has valuable lessons including licensing incentives for existing analogue commercial broadcasters and a market-building obligation on the national multiplex licensee. Despite the obvious success of DAB, it would be an omission to leave some of the continued criticisms unanswered, whether of its slow start or the underlying technology. True, there was much over-optimism in the mid-1990s, coupled with unrealistic promises and expectations of receiver pricing and consumer take-up. Governments across Europe have legislated for DAB digital radio in a variety of ways but few as successfully as the UK. It is essential that both public and private broadcasters are encouraged equally to participate in digital radio. The UK is fortunate because, for the last 10 years, there has been a progressive government policy towards digital broadcasting. The 1996 Broadcasting Act set out a full licensing regime for both digital television and digital radio. The 1996 UK legislation contained a number of key elements which have been cornerstones of its success. DAB digital radio began test broadcasting around ten years ago but it has not been a universal consumer success across Europe. In the UK, however, digital radio receivers are one of the fastest-selling consumer electronics products and sales have overtaken those of analogue radios. Why has the UK succeeded with DAB digital radio when other European countries have yet to see their markets take off? This article explains what steps the UK took to make DAB digital radio a success.