article_snippet.sent: It is the radio format that has delivered the latest chart hits, news and talk shows in stereo to homes around the world for decades.
article_snippet.sent: But now the characteristic hiss of interference that accompanies most FM broadcasts is set to fall silent.
article_snippet.sent: Twiddling the knobs of a radio will no longer be necessary  as analogue services switch off in favour of digital .
article_snippet.sent: It is now not expected to happen until sometime after 2020 when digital listeners are expected to outstrip those using analogue stations.
article_snippet.sent: Listening figures currently show that digital radios account for 37.9% of all listening hours in the UK.
article_snippet.sent: In the US, around 85% of American adults still listen to AM/FM stations.
article_snippet.sent: Thorhild Widvey, the country's minister of culture, said: 'Digitisation will open the door to a far greater range of radio channels, benefiting listeners across the country. '
article_snippet.sent: Listeners will have access to more diverse and pluralistic radio content, and enjoy better sound quality and new functionality. '
article_snippet.sent: Digitisation will also greatly improve the emergency preparedness system, facilitate increased competition and offer new opportunities for innovation and development.
article_snippet.sent: Digital radios, like  above, might look retro but can give listeners access to more stations than ever before .
article_snippet.sent: Growing numbers of car stereos now come with digital radio as standard, leading to a drop in FM listeners . '
article_snippet.sent: More than half the population already has access to local radio on DAB, and there is considerable potential for further local channels.'
article_snippet.sent: The switch off of FM services could create other problems - leaving millions of households with legacy electronics unable to pick up a signal.
article_snippet.sent: FM radio, which was first invented in 1933, transmits information by modulating the frequency of the carrier wave.
article_snippet.sent: This produces a high quality analogue signal that travels over short distances but can be prone to interference.
article_snippet.sent: FM radio became the popular way to transmit stereo broadcasts and FM radio also became hugely popular with pirate radio stations.
article_snippet.sent: Digital radio by comparison uses digital modulation - compressing the audio signal into a specific bandwidth spectrum.
article_snippet.sent: This allows more radio stations to be crammed into the bandwidth space and can produce clearer reception.
highlights_snippet.sent: The decision was driven by rise in popularity of digital and internet radio .
  