80 applications get Digital Radio tick

By James Cridland for media.info
Posted 3 October 2014, 11.10am edt

There have been 80 successful applications for the Digital Radio Certification Mark, known as the 'tick mark', since the launch of the programme in June, it has been revealed.

The tick mark aims to give consumers assurance that the DAB digital radio products and services with the mark are future-ready and comply with the minimum specification. This includes compatibility with FM, DAB and the newer DAB+ technology, which is in a trial period.

Approvals have been granted to a number of manufacturers including Pure, Philips and Sony. A full list of approved receivers are published on the getdigitalradio.com website.

Operated by Digital Radio UK the Digital Radio Certification Mark is voluntary, and offered to manufacturers of DAB receivers, hifi units with in-built DAB; and for new and replacement in-car DAB sets and adaptors. Retailers and installers are also eligible for an installer tick mark. In-car units are tested for a variety of behaviours including correct service following.

With DAB+ likely to be a part of the new national DAB multiplex, listeners will need a clear method of knowing that sets will receive DAB+ correctly. The tick mark follows the digital tick used in the successful switchover from analogue to digital TV run by Digital UK. That organisation's former CEO, Ford Ennals, is now CEO of Digital Radio UK. Jane Ostler also moved from Digital UK to Digital Radio UK.

There's more information about the Digital Radio Certification Mark here.