Radio scrappage launched to help African children
A radio amnesty has been launched to encourage people to swap their analogue sets for a digital version.
A scheme to encourage people to swap their analogue radios for digital ones has been launched today by the BBC and Digital Radio UK, with the old sets being sent to charity projects in southern Africa.
Like the car scrappage scheme, people are being encouraged to take their old analogue radios to their nearest participating retailer – including Argos, John Lewis, Comet and Tesco – where they will be given discounts on selected new digital radios.
The analogue radios taken in will then be reconditioned and donated to charities such as UNICEF and the Children’s Radio Foundation who work in Southern Africa to help support the personal and intellectual development of children. Those that cannot be repaired will be recycled.
Radio 5 Live Controller, Adrian Van Klaveren, said: “The amnesty is a brilliant way to support a great cause in Africa. It illustrates the power of radio to provide essential information and entertainment.”
According to Digital Radio UK, more than 40% of radio listeners now listen to digital radio every week with 11 million digital radios sold so far. Digital radio’s share of listening is also on the rise and has reached almost a quarter.
Ford Ennals, Chief Executive of Digital Radio UK, said: “Digital radio is the future for UK radio and the Radio Amnesty gives consumers even more reasons to get digital radio. This is an amazing summer of exclusive sports and music on digital radio and also a great opportunity to support children’s charities in Southern Africa. It is a wonderful example of the UK Radio Industry coming together to support digital radio and a very worthwhile cause.”
Radios play an important role in Africa as they help provide access to life-saving information while also acting as a source of entertainment.
President and Founder of the Children’s Radio Foundation, Elizabeth Sachs, said: “Giving children radios is in fact giving them access to a world of information, ideas, and inspiration. Radios connect young people to each other and broaden their horizons. We’re proud to be working with the UK radio industry to provide young Southern Africans with radios, as it allows even more young people to hear these powerful stories and to be inspired themselves.”
People can take part in the radio amnesty between 22 May and 26 June. Visit www.getdigitalradio.com for more information.
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Its all very well the Government the BBC and Others promoting a radio Scrappage scheme to speed up the Change over to digital radio, and in the process no doubt bump up the profits of the manufacturers of digital radios.
But until there is a complete and better digital radio coverage across the whole country, I would’nt advise anyone to give up their trusty FM/AM radio.
In my part of the country (Oxfordshire) we are very badly served by the digital network, currently only able to receive BBC channels, BFBS and a few other commercial and specialist stations. now Im not saying there is anything wrong with this selection but until there is a wider more varied choice stick with your oald and trusted freinds FM and AM.
May 21st, 2010 at 6:12 am