Digital Radio
Digital Radio UK is a London-based non-profit industry organization that coordinates UK adoption of DAB/DAB+ digital radio. It runs the government-backed Digital Radio Tick Mark certification scheme and works with broadcasters, manufacturers, and government to expand digital listening.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2013
- HeadquartersLondon, United Kingdom
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Digital Radio does
Digital Radio UK is a London-based, non-profit industry organization established to coordinate the development and adoption of DAB and DAB+ digital radio across the United Kingdom. Founded in 2010 and operating from 15 Alfred Place, London, the organization was created at the request of the UK Government's Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS) and is governed by a board comprising representatives of the BBC, Global, Bauer Media, Arqiva, techUK, and Radiocentre.
Its core offering is the Digital Radio Tick Mark, a registered certification mark that tests and approves DAB/DAB+ receivers against the ETSI TS 103 461 technical specification. The Tick Mark covers domestic and in-vehicle DAB receivers, handheld units, HiFi systems, head units, adapters, and — at the upstream level — DAB silicon and chipset providers. Testing is administered through an approved network of accredited test houses (DTG Testing in London; Intertek in Hong Kong). The scheme has been recognized as a European standard and was migrated to the upgraded ETSI TS 103 461 V1.2.2 in January 2022, with a refreshed logo introduced in July 2022 to communicate DAB+ inclusion to consumers.
The organization is funded by government, the BBC, and commercial radio stakeholders rather than by product sales. It supports consumers through an informational website (getdigitalradio.com), a postcode-based station availability checker, and curated lists of certified products. It coordinates industry activity through partnerships with broadcasters, manufacturers, vehicle OEMs and installers, Ofcom, SMMT, and tech-platform partners such as Radioplayer. By 2022, the organization's coordinated industry efforts had helped drive digital listening share to 67.9% of all UK radio listening, with national DAB coverage at 97.3% of UK households and 87% of new cars fitted with DAB as standard.
Digital Radio firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Digital Radio
- Legal name
- Digital Radio UK
- Website
- https://getdigitalradio.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2013
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Digital Radio UK is a London-based non-profit industry organization that coordinates UK adoption of DAB/DAB+ digital radio. It runs the government-backed Digital Radio Tick Mark certification scheme and works with broadcasters, manufacturers, and government to expand digital listening.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Digital Radio industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Digital Radio Certification Services
- NAICS
- Radio and Television Broadcasting Stations (5161)
- SIC
- Radio Broadcasting Stations (4832)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Digital Radio Broadcasting (DAB/DAB+, HD Radio) (MPAIAEAD)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Broadcast Transmission & Operations Services (Transmitters, Towers, Playout, Engineering) (MPAIAEAJ), Radio Network Distribution & Programming Services (Syndicators, Format Providers) (MPAIAEAH)
Keywords
Where Digital Radio is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- London
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Digital Radio business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Others
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels5 records
Digital Radio product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Digital Radio UK is a UK industry body that administers the Digital Radio Tick Mark certification scheme, under which DAB and DAB+ radio receivers are tested and approved against ETSI TS 103 461 standards. It also operates a consumer-facing website with a postcode-based station availability checker and a curated list of Tick Mark certified digital radio products, coordinating with Government, broadcasters, manufacturers, and retailers to grow digital radio listening in the UK.
Product overview
Digital Radio UK is an industry trade organization (not a product company) that promotes DAB and DAB+ digital radio adoption across the UK. The organization's primary offering is the Digital Radio Tick Mark certification program, which tests and approves digital radio receivers against specified performance criteria including DAB+ capability. Digital Radio UK operates consumer-facing informational services including a website with postcode-based station checking, guidance on listening platforms (DAB, smart speakers, apps, online), and maintains a list of recommended Tick Mark certified digital radio products from manufacturers such as Pure, Roberts, Sony, Ruark, and VQ. The organization coordinates with Government, broadcasters, manufacturers, and retailers to grow digital radio listening and help secure UK radio's digital future.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Digital Radio Tick Mark Certification A certification scheme that tests and approves DAB and DAB+ digital radio receivers against minimum UK performance criteria (aligned with ETSI TS 103 461). Products bearing the Tick Mark are future-ready, able to receive FM, DAB, and DAB+ stations, and cover domestic radios, in-vehicle head units and adapters, handheld receivers, HiFis, and core technology providers such as DAB silicon/chipset manufacturers.
- Postcode Checker
Quantifiable outcome
- Digital listening reached 67.9% share (May 2022)
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Digital Radio
Customer profileSegments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Digital Radio technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature2 records
Digital Radio partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.
- UK Government (DCMS)coreCommissioned the Digital Radio and Audio Review. Provides funding for local DAB transmitter expansion. Sets policy direction for UK digital radio switchover.
- BBCcoreBoard member of Digital Radio UK. BBC collaborates on national DAB transmitter network expansion, digital-only pop-up stations, and joint industry initiatives to promote digital radio adoption.
- Global (Radio)coreBoard member of Digital Radio UK. Global Radio operates stations including Heart, Capital, Classic FM, Smooth, and LBC on digital platforms.
- Bauer MediacoreBoard member of Digital Radio UK. Bauer Media is a leading commercial digital radio broadcaster with stations including Magic, Kiss, Absolute Radio, and Kisstory.
- ArqivacoreBoard member of Digital Radio UK. Arqiva builds and operates DAB transmitter infrastructure for both national and local digital radio networks.
- techUKsupportingBoard member of Digital Radio UK. Represents technology companies and manufacturers in the digital radio ecosystem.
- RadiocentresupportingBoard member of Digital Radio UK. Represents commercial radio broadcasters' interests in industry initiatives.
- RadioplayercoreNot-for-profit collaboration between BBC and commercial radio that develops hybrid radio technology. Developed Radioplayer Car - world's first voice-controlled hybrid radio adaptor for cars.
- DTG TestingcoreApproved test house appointed by Digital Radio UK to handle all aspects of technology provider testing for the Tick Mark scheme. Based in London, UK and accredited by UKAS.
- InterteksupportingApproved test house for Digital Radio Tick Mark testing. Based in Hong Kong.
- Connects2supportingMarket-leading supplier of car audio interfaces that manufactures Radioplayer Car hardware under licence.
- Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT)supportingPartners with Digital Radio UK on Drive to Digital initiatives to promote digital radio adoption in vehicles. Provides industry data on car sales and DAB fitting rates.
- OfcomcoreUK communications regulator that awards DAB multiplex licenses and conducts annual Digital Radio Reports tracking industry progress.
- Radio Manufacturers (Pure, Roberts, Sony, etc.)supportingDigital radio manufacturers whose products carry the Digital Radio Tick Mark certification. Includes Pure, Roberts, Ruark, VQ, Sony, Philips, Panasonic.
Scale indicators9 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Digital Radio competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- DTG (Digital TV Group): UK industry body that runs DTG Testing, the approved test house for the Digital Radio Tick Mark scheme; comparable as a UK broadcast technology standards and testing organization, with adjacent remit across DVB and radio standards.
- WorldDAB: Global industry forum for DAB digital radio promoting DAB/DAB+ adoption across Europe, Asia-Pacific and Africa; the closest direct analogue to Digital Radio UK, though operating at a supranational level rather than a single national market.
- techUK: UK technology industry trade association; a board-level partner of Digital Radio UK with an overlapping remit to advocate for tech sector interests to UK government, though techUK operates across all technology verticals rather than radio specifically.
- Radiocentre: UK trade body representing commercial radio broadcasters; both Digital Radio UK and Radiocentre serve as UK radio industry coordination bodies, with overlapping board membership and shared policy objectives.
- Digital Radio Mondiale (DRM) Consortium: Industry body promoting the competing DRM digital broadcasting standard; comparable to Digital Radio UK as a standards-promoting coalition, but backing a different technology family focused on AM/FM-band digital broadcasting.
Others
- Arqiva: UK broadcast transmission infrastructure operator that builds and operates the DAB transmitter networks Digital Radio UK promotes; a core board member and operational backbone rather than a competitor, but essential infrastructure partner.
Regional players
- iBiquity (HD Radio): Proprietary technology owner of the HD Radio standard used in North American AM/FM broadcasting; analogous role to Digital Radio UK as a coordinator/promoter of a specific digital broadcast standard, but serving the US/Canada/Mexico market.
Broad incumbents
- Ofcom: UK communications regulator that awards DAB multiplex licences and publishes annual Digital Radio Reports; not a peer in commercial terms but a closely intertwined regulator whose policy decisions directly determine Digital Radio UK's mandate and effectiveness.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Customer concentration
Digital Radio social profiles
Digital presenceDigital Radio compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Digital Radio financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Digital Radio leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
Digital Radio funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Digital Radio M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Digital Radio
What does Digital Radio do?
Digital Radio UK is a UK industry body that administers the Digital Radio Tick Mark certification scheme, under which DAB and DAB+ radio receivers are tested and approved against ETSI TS 103 461 standards. It also operates a consumer-facing website with a postcode-based station availability checker and a curated list of Tick Mark certified digital radio products, coordinating with Government, broadcasters, manufacturers, and retailers to grow digital radio listening in the UK.
Is Digital Radio a public or private company?
Digital Radio is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Digital Radio founded?
Digital Radio was founded in 2013. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Digital Radio based?
Digital Radio is headquartered in London, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
Who are Digital Radio's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are DTG (Digital TV Group), WorldDAB, techUK, Radiocentre and Digital Radio Mondiale (DRM) Consortium. Arqiva is listed as an others. iBiquity (HD Radio) is listed as a regional player. Ofcom is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does Digital Radio have an API?
No public API is recorded for Digital Radio.
What industry is Digital Radio in?
Digital Radio's product category is Digital Radio Certification Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAIAEAD, Digital Radio Broadcasting (DAB/DAB+, HD Radio), with a secondary code of MPAIAEAJ, Broadcast Transmission & Operations Services (Transmitters, Towers, Playout, Engineering). Its NAICS code is 5161 and its SIC code is 4832.