DjShadow: I do recall a Geekzone Q&A with the CEO of Mediaworks and one of the questions was this, the answer was pretty much "not interested - no money in it"

That pretty much sums it up. Why fix something that isn't broken? FM is in the car already :o) From a viewpoint of an ex broadcast engineer/company director:

Some smaller LPFM's have been pioneering the way with online streaming for years, and I mean trying new technologies as they arrive, not sitting with one streaming codec system for what seems like forever like the big boys. Cellular coverage is getting better and IP is the real way forward so DAB to me doesn't look that appealing.

When you consider the codecs in use are either 64Kbps AAC or 96-112Kbps Layer-2 to save every penny of bandwidth. It won't be a step up in quality. Keep in mind the storage systems are usually around 160-192 Layer-3 if new, 192-256Kbps Layer-2 if old. Then the other layers that carry audio from HQ over satellite to the regionals etc... then another lossy layer of compression to the local transmitter. So local DAB won't be doing anything other than offering more lossy compression along the way.

I've been trying for the last 5 years to convince as many independents and other engineers to store PCM should DAB start catching on. Even with TB of hard disc space, when you buy a $2,000 audioscience sound card fit for studio work, it seems a waste not to use Layer-2 compression, and why buy lots of cheap space for PCM, when you can get the cheapest and store much more with MP3, close or less quality to what you download off the Interent?

So I wouldn't expect DAB to sound to flash, just more bandwidth for more channels. Now that presents a problem in its self. I doubt they would start any new formats anytime soon, just more of the same in competition with each other. That's the way commercial radio has always worked here. I've been looking at another format since Christmas, but to be honest, I'm 85% full of doubt because it can take years to get listeners familiar with anything that strays to far from what we already have.

An LPFM in Timaru has jumped on to UHF Freeview digital with the local TV station arrangement. It's another step forward to digital but what's the interest/uptake? What's the income return?

I remember helping out with tech advice for the manager of The Wolf, a station that was the first radio station on the Sky digital platform. The format was new to New Zealand, dragging in investment was an issue and of course it's no longer around.

But to go DAB everywhere costs the broadcaster, for what income in return? I can understand National going DAB, but that's about it.

Going satellite would be more for pay per channel stations given the more bandwidth. We have a population that is used to radio for free so that won't work.

Why do I say pay per channel/format? A lot of advertising is pulled in locally with the existing broadcast paradigm. To go national means bigger costs associated to regional advertisers. Like Freeview though, who's to say being in say, Auckland, you've got your decoder set to listen to the Auckland feed of TV1 rather than Chrischurch etc...?

It would be a cost to the broadcaster, a cost to the advertising which in turn is another cost to the broadcaster... FM is here for a while yet.

There are DAB broadcasts in Auckland and Wellington as I understand, but sounds more like boys playing with their toys than something that will be taken really seriously anytime soon.