Belgium - Current situation - History
08.03.2013
French speaking Belgium (Wallonia and Brussels)
The Radio Télévision belge de la Communauté française deBelgique (RTBF) is the public broadcaster for the Belgian Frenchspeaking community. Since 1998, RTBF has operated one DABmultiplex simulcasting its five FM radio stations and two BRF (the Belgian German speaking public broadcaster) FM radiostations, covering of Brussels and Wallonia. On this multiplex, RTBF is also testing four DAB+ audio and data channels (indifferent bit rates and with slideshows) for itself and also for the private radio stations. The aim is to plan a roadmap for DAB+ in French speaking Belgium together with the privatebroadcasters, subject to approval from the French CommunityGovernment and the regulator, the Conseil Supérieur del’Audiovisuel (CSA).In Spring 2011 a common vision of the main broadcasters,both private and public, was defined with a four-tier strategyfor migration from analogue to digital radio (DAB+ broadcast;hybrid radio; single online radioplayer and radio on TV). Insummer 2011 the Parliament of the French speaking Communityadopted unanimously a resolution asking the French-speakingGovernment to support the migration to digital radio from 2011onwards.
The CSA (regulator) launched a public consultationabout digital radio in autumn 2011 which provided positive feedback.In spring 2012, the CSA recommended to the Government a DAB+ rollout based mainly on two layers in Band III. In June2012 the Government authorised RTBF to proceed with DAB+ trials for commercial and non-profit radio stations licensedby the CSA.
The next step is to achieve a public funding agreement to finance the investments needed for the technicalDAB+ rollout, upgrade of the RTBF DAB network to DAB+ toensure deep indoor coverage of Brussels and Wallonia, for apotential public launch in 2014 (to mark the 100th anniversaryof the first radio broadcasting in Belgium. RTBF is testing RadioDNS interactive slideshows associated onits DAB+ channels.
Flemish speaking Belgium (Flanders and Brussels)
“De Vlaamse Radio – en Televisieomroep” (VRT), is the publicbroadcaster for the Belgian Flemish Community. VRT has oneDAB multiplex in operation with nine radio stations includingfour DAB only brand extensions for Nieuws +(News) , Sporza(Sport), Klara Continuo (classic music) and MNM Hits (top40).
Norkring, which operates VRT’s multiplex, also has a licence foranother multiplex and is currently examining the possibility of aDAB+ roll out.
Country wide
As VRT and RTBF’s multiplex covers the whole country’s mainroad networks, since 2012 they have been broadcastingdata traffic information (via TPEG) on behalf of Be Mobile, acompany specialised in the provision of traffic and mobility content. Their first client so far is Toyota Belgium.
29.01.2013
French speaking Belgium (Wallonia and Brussels)
The Radio Télévision belge de la Communauté française deBelgique (RTBF) is the public broadcaster for the Belgian Frenchspeaking community. Since 1998, RTBF has operated one DABmultiplex simulcasting its five FM radio stations and two BRF(the Belgian German speaking public broadcaster) FM radiostations, covering of Brussels and Wallonia. On this multiplex,RTBF is also testing four DAB+ audio and data channels (indifferent bit rates and with slideshows) for itself and also for the private radio stations. The aim is to plan a roadmap for DAB+ in French speaking Belgium together with the privatebroadcasters, subject to approval from the French CommunityGovernment and the regulator, the Conseil Supérieur del’Audiovisuel (CSA).In Spring 2011 a common vision of the main broadcasters,both private and public, was defined with a four-tier strategyfor migration from analogue to digital radio (DAB+ broadcast;hybrid radio; single online radioplayer and radio on TV). Insummer 2011 the Parliament of the French speaking Communityadopted unanimously a resolution asking the French-speakingGovernment to support the migration to digital radio from 2011onwards.
The CSA (regulator) launched a public consultationabout digital radio in autumn 2011 which provided positive feedback.In spring 2012, the CSA recommended to the Government a DAB+ rollout based mainly on two layers in Band III. In June2012 the Government authorised RTBF to proceed with DAB+ trials for commercial and non-profit radio stations licensedby the CSA.
The next step is to achieve a public funding agreement to finance the investments needed for the technicalDAB+ rollout, upgrade of the RTBF DAB network to DAB+ toensure deep indoor coverage of Brussels and Wallonia, for apotential public launch in 2014 (to mark the 100th anniversaryof the first radio broadcasting in Belgium. RTBF is testing RadioDNS interactive slideshows associated onits DAB+ channels.
Flemish speaking Belgium (Flanders and Brussels)
“De Vlaamse Radio – en Televisieomroep” (VRT), is the publicbroadcaster for the Belgian Flemish Community. VRT has oneDAB multiplex in operation with nine radio stations includingfour DAB only brand extensions for Nieuws +(News) , Sporza(Sport), Klara Continuo (classic music) and MNM Hits (top40).
Norkring, which operates VRT’s multiplex, also has a licence foranother multiplex and is currently examining the possibility of aDAB+ roll out.
Country wide
As VRT and RTBF’s multiplex covers the whole country’s mainroad networks, since 2012 they have been broadcastingdata traffic information (via TPEG) on behalf of Be Mobile, acompany specialised in the provision of traffic and mobility content. Their first client so far is Toyota Belgium.
17.10.2012
French speaking Belgium (Wallonia and Brussels)
La Radio Télévision belge de la Communauté française (RTBF) is the public broadcaster for the French speaking Community. RTBF operates one DAB multiplex with its 5 main channels and two BRF channels (Belgian German speaking public broadcaster). RTBF is currently testing four DAB+ audio and data programmes for itself and also for the private radio stations. The aim is to plan a roadmap for DAB+ in French speaking Belgium together with the private broadcasters, subject to approval from the French Community Government and regulation body, the Conseil Supérieur de l’Audiovisuel (the CSA).
In Spring 2011 a common vision of the main broadcasters, both private and public, was defined with a four-tier strategy for migration from analogue to digital radio (DAB+ broadcast; hybrid radio; single online radioplayer and radio on TV). In summer 2011 the Parliament adopted unanimously a resolution asking the French-speaking Government to support the migration to digital radio from 2011. The CSA launched a public consultation about digital radio in autumn 2011. The feedback has been positive. In spring 2012, the CSA recommended to the Government a DAB+ roll out mainly based on two layers in Band III. In June 2012 the government authorised RTBF to proceed with DAB+ trials for private radio stations who wish to participate. The next step is to achieve a public funding agreement for the technical DAB+ roll-out (upgrade of the RTBF DAB network to DAB+) with indoor coverage for a potential public launch in 2014.
Flemish speaking Belgium (Flanders and Brussels)
“De Vlaamse Radio – en Televisieomroep” (VRT), is the public broadcaster in the Flemish Community . VRT has one DAB multiplex in operation with nine main channels including three DAB only brand extensions for News+, Klara Continuo and MNM Hits. Norkring, which operates VRT’s multiplex, also has a licence for another multiplex and is currently examining the possibility of a DAB+ roll out.