Will 2004 be the Year of Digital Radio ? High Definition Television & 24p High Definition production, Interactive TV, SMS TV - the linked roadmap of digital broadcasting and media convergence is un-mistakable. ( Die-hards sceptics meanwhile, can take a look at the following -
* CNN's recent implementation of SMS TV connecting 130 million U.S. citizens via cellphones with "America Rocks The Vote" clearly demonstrates increasing convergence between television & telecommunication.
* The recent U.S. law for regulating television content over the Internet is a clear acknowledgement of the net as a viable medium for broadcasting television content.
* The launch of paid Internet Radio services on Yahoo! and Rediff.com is once again a sign of convergence of radio & internet.)   So what's next ?

Digital Radio
Just as television is undergoing major technological changes (from NTSC-analogue to MPEG2-digital), the not-so-high-profile radio scenario is also changing rapidly, albeit quietly. Resulting in millions of dollars being invested in digital radio, worldwide.

Worldwide, more & more new stations have started digital radio broadcasts. As simultaneously traditional analogue stations continue to switch over to digital platforms. Digital radio signals can be uplinked alongside digital television signals (just as analogue radio signals are broadcast with television). And digital television sets can receive digital radio stations (just as analogue TV stations were/are uplinking radio signals).

Complex Audience
Meanwhile, there is already a marked change in radio listening habits. For example, many mobile phone sets have radio tuners, making radio listening more accessible, ubiquitous! Another pointer is seen in markets where digital radio has been launched - the first purchasers of digital radio sets have been the older generation. (Come to think of it, this may not really surprise since radio has already proved to be especially appealing to niche audiences - generally belonging to the economically upward class.)
Then again, with digital radio comes the possibility of accesing free-to-air digital broadcasts via multiple platforms like GSM, CDMA, Digital TV and the Internet. Leading to exciting possibilities like digital radio signals over GSM/CDMA, interactive radio broadcasts & SMS radio.

(Of course, all these developments are expected to make radio audience measurement a complex business - a fact which is already painfully obvious in advanced markets like the U.K.)

Conclusion
The recent entry of electronic giants like Sony in the manufacture of digital radio sets could be a signal that 2004 will be the year of the digital radio. And that digital radio will "write" the next chapter of media development & convergence.