• Korean Business Review
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.133-149
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• 2005

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.