Digital radio is already available on cable, satellite and digital terrestrial TV platforms in addition to the terrestrial DAB networks that are rolling out worldwide. Now the advent of live television on mobile phones is likely to be accompanied by a selection of digital radio channels, providing another compelling digital radio outlet. Radio - the original mobile entertainment medium - is well suited to personal handheld devices and mobile phones offer a particular chance to combine broadcast content with interactive offerings.

What does the mobile phone mean for digital radio? This will be one of the leading themes for the Digital Radio Show 2006 as we ask whether channel owners can exploit the inherent interactivity and personal nature of mobile phones to deliver new and more compelling services to consumers. Can digital channel owners guide mobile phone listeners to websites populated with exclusive content-related information, for example? What are the advertising possibilities for interactive offerings of this kind?

Mobile phones are going to play a big part in the future of digital radio as new DVB-H and DMB (Digital Multimedia Broadcasting) broadcast networks start delivering low bit rate TV to these near-ubiquitous handheld devices. DVB-H and DMB (or DAB-IP) will compete with and complement cellular video networks. But radio is one of the potential winners, considered a natural addition to a digital TV service.

The launch of live television to mobile phones is also a huge opportunity for digital radio platform operators and transmission network providers. DAB networks will play a significant role in mobile TV and those companies with experience of working with this delivery technology are now well positioned to enter the TV business too (if they are not already).

The advent of live radio to mobile phones will also be complemented by recorded radio downloaded onto personal media devices - so called 'podcasting'. The Digital Radio Show will address the importance of personal storage to the future of this medium and how consumers relate to time-delayed shows from a form of entertainment that has traditionally been consumed live.

Personal storage is one of the key technologies that will shape the digital radio market in the next few years, particularly the advent of radio's equivalent to the Personal Video Recorder (PVR). What will consumers think of the ability to pause live radio or rewind several minutes of talk/music? And is radio sufficiently compelling that people will programme their PVR to store specific programmes for time-delayed listening?

The recent development of an Electronic Programme Guide for UK digital radio is a huge boost for the service there, paving the way to easy channel navigation and greater consumer awareness of what content is available. This can also be seen as a precursor to the radio PVR as these intelligent devices need programming information to work from.

Digital radio has still to exploit its ability to transmit all kinds of other data too. The Digital Radio Show will look at the kinds of data services that might develop for this medium - and also whether there is money to be made from them. This must-attend event will also assess market developments for receive devices as digital radio penetrates more homes worldwide, but also moves beyond the home onto the street/bus/train and, very importantly, into the car.

You can expect market predictions for digital radio uptake and revenues, and an outline of service introductions worldwide. The pending launch of DAB based terrestrial digital radio services in Taiwan and Italy are just the latest in a worldwide take-up that now puts DAB services within reach of 475 million people.

Continuing expansion of coverage in individual markets and increased penetration (estimates are that around 3 million DAB radio sets are used in the UK) raise another interesting question: are radio broadcasters and governments starting to think about analogue radio switch-off?

Digital radio is changing fast. Please join us at the Digital Radio Show for a comprehensive and thoughtful discussion on the many challenges and opportunities ahead.

For more information and bookings please visit http://www.digital-radio-show.com