Retailers try to encourage switch to digital radio

A "scrappage scheme" is to be launched to encourage people to upgrade from analogue radios to new digital sets.

From Saturday, participating retailers will offer customers discounts of between 10 per cent and 20 per cent on new DAB digital radios.

The initiative, developed by the BBC and commercial radio stations, draws inspiration from the Government's recent car scrappage scheme and will run until June 26.

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It will be supported by on-air radio promotions developed by Digital Radio UK.

Analogue radios collected will be reconditioned and sent to the

Children's Radio Foundation in Southern Africa and Unicef.

Those beyond repair will be recycled.

In the Digital Britain report launched last year, the Labour Government anticipated that by the end of 2013, 50 per cent of radio listening would be digital.

DSG International, owner of PC World, Currys and Dixons, said it would not be involved in the scheme. A spokeswoman said: "It is the wrong timing for us. We are in the middle of a range change."