France
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.
Read more on the Arcom website.
Download the English-language summary.
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
- National multiplexes: 2 Regular
- Regional multiplexes: 37 Regular
- Local multiplexes: 65 Regular
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
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.
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
French radio market goes digital
16.01.2019 -
- France 
(WorldDAB) Read more
Radio in France headed towards a digital future
10.01.2019 -
- France
(WorldDAB) Read more
European Radio Show to be broadcast live on DAB+
10.01.2019 - France
(La Lettre Pro ) Read more
WorldDAB's Jean-Marc Dubreuil to present at annual Indés Radios meeting
09.01.2019 - France
(La Lettre Pro) Read more
French radio groups prudently moving towards DAB+
07.01.2019 - France
(Challenges) Read more
Over fourty new radio stations available in DAB+ in the French regions of Alsace and Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
07.01.2019 - France
(Digitalni Radio) Read more
SIRTI publishes practical guide for DAB+
28.12.2018 - France
(SIRTi) Read more
Capsao radio to be available across France via DAB+
21.12.2018 - France
(La Lettre Pro) Read more
Paneda and towerCast sign agreement for DAB in France
20.12.2018 - Paneda WorldDAB Member - France
(Paneda.no) Read more
List of 40 radio stations for French national DAB+ now published
20.12.2018 - France
(Legifrance) Read more
Key Information
| Status: | regular |
| Population: | 65.2 million |
| Population coverage: | |
| Services: | 460 DAB+ |
| Line-fit automotive sales (cumulative): | 6,346,000 devices |
| New cars with DAB/DAB+ as standard: | |
| Total Sales (cumulative): | 8,394,000 devices |
| Penetration by household: | |
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Last update: 18.07.2024
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Useful Links
Ensemble pour le DAB+DAB+ services on air in France
Annuaire des radios Françaises en AM, FM et RNT
Regulator - ARCOM
Call for application for 2 multiplexes covering main roads
DAB+ in France - interactive map
DAB+ regulation in France
DABplus.fr