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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

DAB+: deployment in Europe continues

06.09.2022 - France - Switzerland - Germany - Sweden

While regional deployments are continuing in France and Switzerland is preparing to abandon FM for good in favour of digital radio, even though digital radio now accounts for more than half of all car radio listening there, several European countries are stepping up their initiatives... In Germany, a study shows that the DAB+ audience is younger on average than the radio audience. This is good news for the rejuvenation of the radio audience. In Sweden, the country has just transposed the European directive on DAB+ (obligation to integrate DAB+ into car receivers). Sweden was one of the last countries not to have transposed the directive in the EU.

(La Lettre Pro de la Radio) Read more

Radio J now on DAB+ in Île-de-France

26.08.2022 - France

"Since Monday morning, your radio station, Radio J, has been available on DAB+ 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. A new high-quality standard now complements FM and Internet broadcasts. Since August 22, Radio-J has been broadcasting its programmes in Île-de-France on DAB+, 24/24 and 7/7, the new digital terrestrial radio broadcasting standard whose deployment in France and around the world is experiencing a strong acceleration. DAB+ technology allows better coverage without interference or crackling, and increased digital sound quality." Radio J is a Jewish community radio station in Paris.

(Radio J) Read more

AirZen Radio is dedicated to well-being on DAB+

22.08.2022 - towerCast WorldDAB Member - TDF WorldDAB Member - France

AirZen, the first “100% positive” radio station dedicated to wellness, and the only new national French radio station licensed by the CSA in 20 years, launched on Oct. 12, 2021. It was the brainchild of Mediameeting Group founders, Anne-Marie de Couvreur, Frédéric Courtine and Jean-Louis Simonet, as an incentive to help French people live better. AirZen set up its main facility in Bordeaux to broadcast on the DAB+ M1 Multiplex that covers the area from Paris to Nice, including Dijon, Lyon, Marseille and Avignon. Towercast and TDF are its broadcast operators, and it also streams via the web. For its DAB+ broadcasting, the encoding starts from the offices in Bordeaux and is sent via optical fiber by Towercast to the Paris headend.

(RedTech) Read more

Hits 1 now broadcast on DAB+

26.07.2022 - France

Since July 1st, the internet radio station Hits 1 is now available on DAB+ on the Côte d'Azur. Hits 1 calls itself "an independent radio station based in Toulouse and Saintes... The format of Hits 1 chooses brief information and a minimum of breaks between the hits."

(La Lettre Pro de la Radio) Read more

Le Figaro to launch on DAB+

21.07.2022 - France

Le Figaro announces that three DAB+ radio services will be launched in the second half of 2022, while a TNT (DTT) channel in Ile-de-France will be created by the end of the year. Laurence de Charette, who led the editorial staff of lefigaro.fr, will now be in charge of all of the group's audiovisual activities - existing (Le Figaro Live) or in the development phase (TNT and DAB), in conjunction with SECOM, the audiovisual partner of the Figaro Group. She will be responsible for developing the editorial offer of Le Figaro on social networks as well as the offer of audiovisual programmes (podcasts and documentaries).

(Offremedia) Read more

Premium Radio celebrates its first anniversary

19.07.2022 - France

Launched on 1 July 2021, the Premium Radio project is already celebrating its first anniversary. Premium Radio is a radio station broadcasting on DAB+ from Monaco throughout the Côte d'Azur which offers many sequences around business, personal development, the stock market, cryptocurrencies, health or even marketing...

(La Lettre Pro de la Radio) Read more

DAB+: BFMTV is available in an enhanced version on BFM Radio

19.07.2022 - France

BFMTV is now available in an enhanced radio version on BFM Radio. The channel can be listened to live in digital quality with DAB+ technology, but also on the BFMTV application and the bfmradio.com website, with the channel live and additional audio content. Viewers can find all BFMTV programmes thanks to BFM Radio, which also offers enriched content specially dedicated to audio: traffic information, weather forecasts, the stock market as well as several podcasts.

(La Lettre Pro de la Radio) Read more

TDF and Digidia expand DAB+ in France

08.07.2022 - TDF WorldDAB Member - DIGIDIA WorldDAB Member - France

Paris-based transmission services provider, TDF has added eight Digidia FlexiDAB multiplexers and more than 50 encoders to its digital transmission headend. According to Digidia, this brings the total number of multiplexers to over 30 with more than 150 encoders in place.

(RedTech) Read more

DAB+ takes off in France with new launches in south west

06.07.2022 - France

DAB+ launched last week in the southwest of France bringing more choice and better sound quality to radio listeners. The emergence of less well known stations such as Capsao, Swigg and Crooner Radio is also one of the advantages of DAB+, particularly given that FM frequencies are saturated.

(Le 7 info) Read more

Radio Orient on DAB+ in Poitiers

30.06.2022 - France

Since June 27, Radio Orient has also been broadcasting its programs in DAB+ in Poitiers. The company thus adds a new important sector to its network which continues to expand at a sustained pace... This new launch brings the number of areas covered by Radio Orient to 34 sectors in DAB+ and 11 on the FM band. The station is one of the largest DAB+ networks currently deployed in France. Other important new areas will be launched in 2022.

(La Lettre Pro de la Radio) 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