Ads for digital radios are being boycotted by come commercial radio stations in the run up to Christmas. The industrial action is being taken due to how the DAB platform is funded at local level.

The dispute which began in October, came about after the BBC licence fee did not include funding for the DAB platform.  The current ad which has been given considerable airtime from the BBC and features Arthur Smith and David Mitchell, has not aired on many commercial radio stations.

The idea of the ad is to promote the DAB platform in the run up to Christmas, and there can be no doubt that DAB has many advantages over its analogue counterpart. Not least in the areas of sound quality and choice of stations. Like HD television, there is no doubt that soon most radios will be on the DAB platform, rather than analogue.

A Radiocentre spokesperson said, “Commercial radio operators are currently in discussions with Government about the funding of local DAB coverage. Until those discussions are resolved we understand that some stations felt it would be inappropriate to run the digital radio Christmas campaign.”

At the time of writing there was no end in site for the dispute.