Roberts reveals its DAB range

["Kenneth Watt" <kwatt@xxxxxxx>]

Roberts reveals its DAB range=20
ROBERTS Radio this week entered the digital broadcasting arena with the
launch of Gemini, its range of four DAB radios, which includes the
world's first digital radio with a rewind feature.

One of the products in the Gemini range - the Gemini 1 that is set to
retail at =A3200 - features a unique rewind function, which enables users
to listen to audio that was broadcast a few seconds or minutes earlier.

Speaking at The Smart Show, Leslie Burrage, chief executive at Roberts
Radio, said that since its market test and field trials in 2000, the
company had been reassessing DAB's potential and held back "until we
were convinced that signal strength was sufficiently robust to ensure
consumers were able to fully enjoy the benefits of DAB".

Mr Burrage said: "The transmitter installation programme during 2003
will ensure DAB coverage of over 80% of the population by the end of the
year.

"Simultaneously, programme choice has grown and the stations on offer
are now varied and extensive. We are confident that the time is now
right to reveal our DAB range."

Mr Burrage continued: "The Gemini range offers features to suit
different consumer demands. Two of our DAB products offer the unique
benefit of combining analogue and digital. This will be invaluable to
retailers who at the flick of a switch can demonstrate the clarity of
DAB versus analogue.

"It will also enable retailers to address the issue of varying signal
strength during the rollout of new transmitters in their areas."

According to Roberts, programme choice is the "driving force" for
purchasers looking at DAB and this, the radio maker said, is a strong
selling point for retailers. As well as programme choice, Roberts claims
that another key benefit of its DAB radios is ease of use.