Austria - Current situation - History
07.06.2013
Austria is committed to a digital radio future and a report by the regulators, the Austrian Communications Authority (KommAustria) and RTR-GmbH recommended DAB+ in Band III as the way forward. As planned, KommAustria completed a call for interest regarding DAB+ in August 2012. KommAustria intended to launch DAB+ by an open call for tender regarding the DAB+ network if enough parties showed believable and sustainable interest. A minimum limit of 12 possible programs (to fill one MUX coverage) was set. Unfortunately this limit was not reached as too few parties showed interest or failed to meet the criteria of the call for interest. Most remarkably, the public broadcaster ORF and the bigger players in the Austrian market did not show interest but strongly voiced their opposition against the launch of DAB+ in Austria. However there is a group of broadcasters who are very outspoken in favour of DAB+, but the majority of radio stations remain unsure. The public broadcaster ORF has recently renewed its objection to any DAB+ plans. In the upcoming “Digitalisation Concept” which marks the authority’s official strategy and schedule for the digitalisation of broadcasting, KommAustria plans to elaborate on the technical details of a possible DAB+ network. There will be no further call for interest but the possibility for a call for tender upon request. Nevertheless a working group that was created in 2009 to consider the countries digital future is still at work . It´s members are stakeholders from the Austrian radio market who represent opponents and proponents of digital radio. It consists of the regulatory authority, the public broadcaster ORF, the commercial and non-commercial broadcasters associations, the electronic industry and consumer associations. The group is constantly watching and evaluating the progress of digital radio in other European countries. The success of digital radio in Germany will have an impact on whether Austria decides to implement DAB+.
New club aims to establish digital radio in Austria
The Austrian Association of the Electrical and Electronic Industry (FEEI), and leading Austrian radio stations such as Radio Arabella and LoungeFM have founded the digital radio club, Digital Radio Austria. The aim of the new organisation is the promotion and development of digital radio in Austria, developing the media category “Radio” in the digital media world, the establishment of radio on new platforms and to promote the provision of information and support for education and training in the field of electronic and new media.
08.03.2013
Austria is committed to a digital radio future and a report by the regulators, the Austrian Communications Authority (KommAustria) and RTR-GmbH recommended DAB+ in Band III as the way forward. As planned, KommAustria completed a call for interest regarding DAB+ in August 2012. KommAustria intended to launch DAB+ by an open call for tender regarding the DAB+ network if enough parties showed believable and sustainable interest. A minimum limit of 12 possible programs (to fill one MUX coverage) was set. Unfortunately this limit was not reached as too few parties showed interest or failed to meet the criteria of the call for interest. Most remarkably, the public broadcaster ORF and the bigger players in the Austrian market did not show interest but strongly voiced their opposition against the launch of DAB+ in Austria. However there is a group of broadcasters who are very outspoken in favour of DAB+, but the majority of radio stations remain unsure. The public broadcaster ORF has recently renewed its objection to any DAB+ plans. In the upcoming “Digitalisation Concept” which marks the authority’s official strategy and schedule for the digitalisation of broadcasting, KommAustria plans to elaborate on the technical details of a possible DAB+ network. There will be no further call for interest but the possibility for a call for tender upon request. Nevertheless a working group that was created in 2009 to consider the countries digital future is still at work . It´s members are stakeholders from the Austrian radio market who represent opponents and proponents of digital radio. It consists of the regulatory authority, the public broadcaster ORF, the commercial and non-commercial broadcasters associations, the electronic industry and consumer associations. The group is constantly watching and evaluating the progress of digital radio in other European countries. The success of digital radio in Germany will have an impact on whether Austria decides to implement DAB+.
New club aims to establish digital radio in Austria
The Austrian Association of the Electrical and Electronic Industry (FEEI), and leading Austrian radio stations such as Radio Arabella and LoungeFM have founded the digital radio club, Digital Radio Austria. The aim of the new organisation is the promotion and development of digital radio in Austria, developing the media category “Radio” in the digital media world, the establishment of radio on new platforms and to promote the provision of information and support for education and training in the field of electronic and new media.
17.10.2012
Austria is committed to a digital radio future and a report by the regulator, RTR recommended DAB+ in Band III as the way forward. A call for expressions of interest was announced by the government and completed in July 2012. KommAustria is currently assessing the expressions of interest and will ask some of the players to clarify their plans. The range of the expressions of interest varies from existing national and international analogue/digital market players to yet “unknown” private individuals. The result of the assessment will be published on KommAustria’s website in August 2012. ORS (Austrian network operator) are currently planning a field trial for DAB+ and are in the process of planning the network, and possible business models. Austria continues to prepare for digital radio and has created a Working Group to consider the country’s digital future. Meanwhile, authorities are watching neighbours Germany and Switzerland as they launch services in DAB+.