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Last update: 04.07.2024 - older versions

Arcom White Paper on Radio

The result of more than 30 hearings and consultations with the main players in radio, Arcom has published its White Paper on the future of radio in France, which provides a broad overview of the sector and its economic, legal and technical aspects, as well as changes in usage.

The White Paper on Radio was presented by Roch-Olivier Maistre, President of Arcom and by Hervé Godechot, Arcom member and chairman of the Radio and Digital Audio working group, at the Assises de la radio 2024 conference on Tuesday 18 June at the Arcom headquarters in Paris.

Arcom is proposing a two-phase trajectory, aiming to achieve predominantly digital broadcasting by the end of 2033 and requiring the mobilisation of the entire ecosystem:

• Phase 1: Preparation (2024-2027): Establishing a balanced radio ecosystem within a legislative and technological environment that facilitates continued digitisation under optimal conditions.

• Phase 2: Migration (2028-2033): Completing a market-initiated transition to a digital broadcasting model, six years after the preparation phase and nine years after the publication of the White Paper in 2024.

The transition will require regulation, metrics, planning, marketing and then resources.

DAB+ : a structural choice for the radio industry

Launched in 2014 in Paris, Nice and Marseille, DAB+ is now seen as critical to contribute to the future of radio and to address the saturation of FM. It is a means to preserve diversity and plurality. As DAB+ is reaching a turning point, the regulator, Arcom, is launching in 2023 a consultation with the radio industry which will include the switchover from FM to DAB+ both in the metropolitan area and overseas. The economics of radio are a key element of the expected white paper, as well as the potential acceleration of the deployment.

Deployment of DAB+

On 12 October 2021, France launched two new national multiplexes broadcasting 26 DAB+ stations, including national services from Radio France, leading private broadcasters and four new national services. The new multiplexes are broadcast along the major motorway corridors of Paris-Lyon-Marseille. The 26 services include four new DAB+ only stations and 22 stations that are also broadcast in FM. Extension to more main roads and highly populated areas is planned for the end of 2023. These 26 radios are in addition to the hundreds of radio stations already available regionally and locally on DAB+

The CSA rollout plan, the so-called "nodes and arcs strategy" described in 2017, which also includes continued regional and local rollouts alongside the launch of national services, was updated in 2021.

Arcom says that "In total, it is expected that 17 multiplexes, extended or local, will have started broadcasting during the summer of 2023. At the end of these start-ups, the coverage of the metropolitan population by DAB+ will exceed 50%."

French DAB+ Broadcast Networks Factsheet

A new factsheet on DAB+ digital radio in France has been produced for automotive manufacturers, as the country achieves over 50% DAB+ population coverage.

The factsheet from WorldDAB - the global industry forum for DAB digital radio - was produced as part of the work of its Automotive Working Group, in partnership with network operator TDF, and RadioDNS which promotes hybrid radio.

France DAB+ Broadcast Networks

Receiver legislation

Older pieces of legislation in France related to DAB+ in cars have been superseded by the transposition in November 2020 of the EECC into French legislation. This law passed the last stage and was made official in December 2020, with the transposition of the EECC into French law officially published on 28 May 2021. Domestic receivers, for which the reception function of radio services broadcast is not purely incidental, and have an alphanumeric screen, must be capable of receiving digital terrestrial radio. Discussions are ongoing to make DAB+ mandatory in all receivers.

Last update: 22.09.2023 - older versions

DAB+ digital terrestrial radio continues to roll out across France. With its arrival in towns such as Bayonne, Besançon, Brest, Clermont-Ferrand, Metz, Nancy and Pau, this summer DAB+ passed the symbolic milestone of covering 50% of the French population. A trial has also been underway in Martinique since January. With the continued roll-out of national antennas between October 2023 and March 2024, more than 60% of the population will be covered by DAB+ by early 2024.

In December 2021, the French media regulator CSA, published an updated DAB+ roadmap highlighting DAB+ developments plans for the 2022-2024 period.

According to the new roadmap, calls for applications will be launched for 50 local allotments in that period of time – these primarily concerned the cities of Dijon, Lyon, Marseille, Rennes, Caen, Nancy, Paris, Bordeaux, Clermont-Ferrand, Poitiers and Toulouse. An overseas trial has also been licensed in Martinique.

Last update: 22.09.2023 - older versions

In this country there are

on air.

French DAB+ Broadcast Networks Factsheet

A new factsheet on DAB+ digital radio in France has been produced for automotive manufacturers, as the country achieves over 50% DAB+ population coverage.

France DAB+ Broadcast Networks

Please note:

(a) These web pages are updated regularly to reflect current services on air, however they may not be exactly up to date.

(b) The logos shown on these pages are for illustrative purposes only – manufacturers and broadcasters are directed here for information on implementing station logos.

An interactive map showing all services currently on air in France, as well as those licensed to go on air, can be found at: Ma radio DAB Plus - CSA - Conseil supérieur de l’audiovisuel.

	Simulcast on AM / FM	Exclusive on digital	Total of services
DAB+ programmes	358	102	460

Last update: 18.07.2024 - older versions

In France, as of H2 2023, 98% of new cars sold are equipped with DAB+ as standard (Source: JATO Dynamics 2023).

Last update: 05.02.2021 - older versions

Receiver legislation

In December 2018 DAB+ coverage reached 21.3% of the French population, which triggered a law requiring that all radio receivers (including in-car) sold in France be compatible with the broadcasting standards (ie DAB+). This 2018 law was amended in June 2020 to align with the EECC deadline of 20 December 2020.

In November 2020, the French parliament voted in favour of a law to transpose the EECC into French legislation. This law passed the last stage and was made official in December 2020, enabling the government to take a final decree which is expected by early 2021. The decree will confirm that new passenger cars in France will be required to include digital terrestrial radio from 20 December 2020, in line with the EECC. Additional obligations regarding consumer receivers have yet to be agreed and may also be included in that decree enacting the EECC.

More detailed information is in the WorldDAB EECC Factsheet.

Last update: 04.07.2024 - older versions

La Réunion: Arcom has authorised two trials of DAB+ radio broadcasting in Saint-Denis from March 1, 2024.
La Martinique: trial authorised since January 2023 ; three sites in Martinique and 11 stations: Radio Fusion, Fusion 100 % Infos, Fusion Compas, Fusion Salsa Kl@moson, Fusion Gold, Maknet Jazz, Mixx FM Martinique, Radio Évangile Martinique, Radio Actif Martinique, Identité Radio and Martinique La 1ère.

Last update: 04.07.2024 - older versions

DAB+ regulation in France is outlined on the French Media regulator's website.

Arcom's annual report

Arcom's White Paper on the future of radio

Last update: 04.07.2024 - older versions

Ensemble pour le DAB+

“Ensemble pour le DAB+” is an association created in 2022 on the instigation of the Bureau de la Radio, Radio France and SIRTI, with the aim of setting up and coordinating communication and marketing actions around the development of DAB+, both nationally and locally. The French Ministry of Culture is a partner of the Association.

The first global campaign took place in January 2024. The objective was to raise awareness of DAB+; the reach was 70% of the French population over 13 years old with a 1000 audio spots played during a week. It was completed by a social media campaign and a billboard campaign in the Paris metro, outdoors in the Ile-de-France region and in Nantes, Strasbourg, Lyon and Lille.

DABplus.fr

The website DABplus.fr was set up to summarise the deployment of DAB+ in France. It is paid by and for stakeholders of DAB+ in France. www.DABplus.fr

Chair of Arcom visits Corsica: "applications in DAB+ in 2024."

09.06.2023 - France

"Arcom is gradually extending DAB+ coverage. It plans to launch a call for DAB+ applications for Corsica in 2024," said Chair of Arcom, Roch-Olivier Maistre. Are any stations in Corsica going to switch to DAB, such as RCFM, Radio France's local station? "Radio France is very committed to DAB+ and the government has already made known its request for "pre-emption" in favour of RCFM. Generally speaking, the plan for the transition to DAB+ provides for public and private FM broadcasters who so request to benefit from the advantages of this new technology."

(Corse Matin) Read more

Arcom publishes consultation ahead of DAB tender 10

08.06.2023 - France

Arcom has published the "Public consultation and impact study prior to call for local DAB+ applications No. 10". The French regulator said: "In accordance with its roadmap, with a view to the launch of a call for DAB+ applications in nineteen areas, Arcom is launching a public consultation and impact study on the DAB+ areas of Agen, Angoulême, Blois, Bourges, Châteauroux, Chaumont, Cherbourg-en-Cotentin, Épinal, Forbach, Mont-de-Marsan, Nevers, Niort, Saintes, Vesoul and Vichy."

(Arcom) Read more

Arcom spotlights digital radio at "Fête de la Radio"

01.06.2023 - France

The "Fête de la Radio" is back for a third edition on Thursday 15 and Friday 16 June 2023. As in the first two editions, these two days will be an opportunity for radio stations and listeners alike to rally round this medium, which plays a key role in the daily lives of the French. This year DAB+ will be in the spotlight for Arcom, with the aim of raising awareness of all the advantages of digital radio. Following its deployment in cities such as Paris, Marseille, Tours and La Roche-sur-Yon, DAB+ will pass the symbolic milestone of covering 50% of the French population this summer. A trial is also underway in the French overseas territories.

(Arcom) Read more

Replay News broadcasts on DAB+ on the Côte d'Azur

26.05.2023 - France

Replay News, "France's 24/7 news radio station," is continuing its expansion by now offering its terrestrial broadcast on DAB+ in Monaco and several towns on the Côte d'Azur. This new initiative marks an important step in the development of Replay News, which has established itself since its creation in 2018 "as one of the strong players in the French radio landscape". With its slogan "La radio de l'info toutes les 5 minutes", Replay News, published by Public Santé, has become one of the most listened-to radio stations in France.

(La Lettre Pro de la Radio) Read more

Nantes: Sun hosts DAB+ training

11.05.2023 - France

FRAP (Fédération des radios associatives en Pays de la Loire) is offering a two-day training course to understand the technical and strategic challenges of DAB+ on 15 and 16 June 2023 in Nantes. At the end of the course, trainees will be able to define a development strategy for their radio station using digital broadcasting tools. Pierre Boucard is the founder and director of SUN, an association radio station operating on six FM/DAB+ frequencies in the Pays de la Loire region. Pierre has spent the last twenty years developing DAB+ in France.

(La Lettre Pro de la Radio) Read more

Draft French broadcast bill: DAB+ in all new receivers

04.05.2023 - France

Laurent Lafon, the centrist chairman of the Senate's culture committee, detailed on Tuesday a bill on "the reform of public broadcasting and audiovisual sovereignty". Article 15 is concerned with making it compulsory for radio sets to receive digital terrestrial radio using the DAB+ standard, and with providing that all new vehicles must also be able to receive digital terrestrial radio using the same standard. The text supported by the Senate majority should be put on the Senate agenda for first reading in the week of 12 June, said Mr Lafon.

(CB News) Read more

Draft broadcasting law: SIRTI welcomes bill, calls for measures to protect radio in digital world

03.05.2023 - France

Laurent Lafon, Senator and President of the Senate's Committee on Culture, Education and Communication, has tabled a bill on the reform of public broadcasting and audiovisual sovereignty. SIRTI welcomes the integration of measures that it has long supported concerning terrestrial radio, whether analogue or digital, which is recognised as an essential factor of sovereignty. Article 15 of the bill requires the integration of the DAB+ standard alongside FM in all radios marketed within 12 months of the law's promulgation. The bill also makes it compulsory for new cars to have an FM/DAB+ radio receiver. This is an important step forward, as almost half of all radio listening is done in the car.

(SIRTI) Read more

Radio Laser goes DAB+ in Guichen

26.04.2023 - France

Digital terrestrial radio is gradually being rolled out in France with DAB+ and Radio Laser is embarking on the digital adventure. Radio Laser broadcasts using FM within a 40 km radius of Guichen. However, some areas of Rennes are poorly served, due to the large number of buildings. "With DAB+, the whole of the urban area will be able to receive our programmes with good quality," explains Sylvain Delfau, director of Radio Laser.

(Ouest-France) Read more

A new radio festival in June

25.04.2023 - France

For two days, Thursday 15 and Friday 16 June, radio stations and listeners will celebrate the medium. The French stations will allow listeners to discover all the facets of radio, from its broadcasting to its reception, whether it is analogue or digital, live or recorded. On the occasion of the third edition of the Fête de la Radio, Arcom will organise a morning of discussions on the challenges facing the radio medium on Friday 16 June from 08:30 to 12:30 with Roch-Olivier Maistre, President of Arcom, and Hervé Godechot, President of the Arcom "Radio and Digital Audio" working group.

(La Lettre Pro de la Radio) Read more

Three new DAB+ transmitters for the Pyrenees

18.04.2023 - France

French regional broadcaster - Pyrénées FM - this week celebrated its arrival on DAB+ in the Pyrénées-Orientales at a reception organised in the Palais des Congrès in Perpignan. In his speech, the founding president Jean Clergue expressed his interest in the development of DAB radio and affirmed his desire to promote this new technology. Pyrénées FM, already on air on DAB+ in the cities of Toulouse and Perpignan, will soon launch two additional transmitters in Pau and Bayonne.

(La Lettre Pro) Read more

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Key Information

Status:	regular
Population:	65.2 million
Population coverage:	54.8%
Services:	460 DAB+
Line-fit automotive sales (cumulative):	6,346,000 devices
New cars with DAB/DAB+ as standard:	98%
Total Sales (cumulative):	8,394,000 devices
Penetration by household:	13.7%
Last update: 18.07.2024