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

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.

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

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

Terrestrial Digital Radio: "The law was passed, the work has been done"
06.10.2014 - France France
Philippe Gault, President of SIRTI, specified that "this law was passed, the CSA organized a call for nominations, licenses have been issued, we took our responsibilities and publisher’s risks, and we expect a very simple thing, which is that the law that was passed be applied without waiting for further changes."

Read more


Already 98 radio stations broadcast on DAB+ digital radio in France
01.10.2014 - France France
According to SIRTI (Syndicat Interprofessionnel des Radios et Télévisions Indépendantes): "100 days after the official launch of DAB+ digital radio in France, 98 radio stations are already on air in Paris, Marseille and Nice". There are now 46 programmes in Paris, 31 in Marseille and 21 in Nice. SIRTI calls for a national rollout of DAB+ across France.

(La Lettre Pro) Read more


President of Oüi FM, Emmanuel Rials, highlights the competitive imbalance on FM and cites new methods of distribution such as DAB+
01.10.2014 - France France
In his letter to Minister for Culture, Fleur Pellerin, he says: "...it is urgent to create equal access to frequencies by attributing remaining FM spectrum to independent radio stations, by deploying free to air broadcast digital radio across the country and by bringing together all broadcast radio stations on a single player as a service to the public.”

(La Lettre Pro) Read more


V-Traffic and Continental demonstrate the benefits of in-car digital radio in France
30.09.2014 - France France
Mediamobile, is offering proof of concept of its latest range of V-Traffic services on DAB by taking part in a pilot project for digital radio launched by automotive manufacturer Continental. The joint objective of this partnership – also involving the broadcaster VDL, Radio France, and local radios – is to deliver a practical illustration of the many advantages of DAB radio for the French automotive industry.

(Media Mobile) Read more


France: Government Quiet on Digital
30.09.2014 - France France
Although France launched DAB multiplexes in Paris, Marseille and Nice last June, the government and the Conseil supérieur de l'audiovisuel, appear to have gone silent on the subject of digital radio, which currently covers 20 percent of the population.

(Radio World) Read more


SNRL asks the CSA and government to make a move on RNT
24.09.2014 - France France
While nearly 20% of the population is covered by a DAB+ signal, the silence of the Conseil Supérieur de l'Audiovisuel (CSA) and the government on the matter has become deafening, according to the Syndicat National des Radios Libres (SNRL).

(La Lettre.Pro Radio & medias) Read more


Two new DAB+ stations launch in France
24.09.2014 - France France
Oüi Collector and Radio Life are the latest DAB+ stations to launch in France. Oüi Collector will offer rock, pop, disco, funk, reggae of French and International variety while Radio Life will be aimed at an adult audience, broadcasting international news, national politics, culture and sports.

(La Lettre. Pro Radio & medias) Read more


Global boom in Digital Terrestrial Radio
23.09.2014 - WorldDAB News - France France
In Germany, the threshold of no return seems now reached. While Sweden is planning a transition from FM to DAB by 2022, Germany should follow logically 2025. Elsewhere in Europe, the coverage rates are sky high and sale of digital receivers now in the wind stern.

(La Lettre.Pro & Medias) Read more


Infographic: WorldDMB shows digital radio progress
16.09.2014 - United Kingdom United Kingdom - Australia Australia - Norway Norway - France France - Switzerland Switzerland - Denmark Denmark - Germany Germany - Italy Italy - Netherlands Netherlands
Infographics developed by WorldDMB report that from 2008 - 2013; over 1.6 million DAB+ receivers have sold in Australia; 1.5 million in Switzerland; nearly 1.2 milion in Norway, but over 20 million throughout the U.K.

(Telematics News) Read more


WorldDMB: World boom in digital radio
14.09.2014 - Australia Australia - United Kingdom United Kingdom - Germany Germany - Netherlands Netherlands - Denmark Denmark - Italy Italy - Switzerland Switzerland - France France - Norway Norway
Digital radio network coverage has continued to expand throughout Europe over the past year, according to a new report launched at IBC by WorldDMB, a global industry forum for digital radio promoting DAB, DAB+ and DMB. Many countries are already experiencing almost complete penetration of digital radio; it is now at 99% in Switzerland, 98% in Denmark, 95% in Netherlands, 94% in the UK and 91% in Germany. Although in pre-launch phase, Italy has already reached 65% population coverage.

(TVB Europe) Read more


Select Country:

Key Information

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

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