Digital radio is starting to get greater traction with sales in digital radio devices outperforming expectations, according to the latest statistics from Commercial Radio Australia (CRA).

In the five years since the launch of DAB+ digital radio in metropolitan Australia, around 1.7 million digital radio devices have been sold and PwC have forecast digital radio household penetration to reach 23.3%.

Currently 2.8 million people or 21.4% are listening to DAB+ digital radio each week in the five state capital cities. Significantly nearly 1.2 million more people listen to DAB+ digital radio than radio on the Internet.

The benefits of digital radio include high quality sound and new digital-only stations such as NovaNation, Koffee, Stardust Radio, Buddha, Classic Hits Plus, Mix 80’s, The Edge, Gorilla Dance Hits, Loveland, The Buckle, Hot Country, Zoo Music Variety, Mix ‘80s, Mix ‘90s, MyMP, SkySports Radio and others. There are also so-called pop-up stations, which are created for an event or a featured artist.