Germany - Regulation and Spectrum - History
16.02.2018
Key features of regulation for digital radio in Germany are:
- DAB+ was selected to secure the future of digital radio in Germany in 2009
- Licences on the national multiplex were awarded on a beauty contest basis
- Digital radio services are broadcast on Band III (Channels 5 – 12)
- Due to the federal structure of Germany, spectrum is assigned on both regional and national basis
- There are two types of licences:
- Telecommunication licence, awarded from the National Federal Network Agency (BnetzA) to the network operator to run the network
- Media licence, awarded from the media authority of the Bundesländer to the broadcasters
- Media licences are assigned on state (Länder) level by the 16 media authorities (Medienanstalten)
- In terms of the national multiplex, one of these media authorities was in charge of the allocation of the licences
- There is ongoing regulatory discussion to renew FM licences only when broadcasting also via DAB+
Digitisation Report 2017 carried out by TNS Infratest
Download the Digitisation Report 2017 carried out by TNS Infratest (German) (English).
German Ministry for Digital Infrastructure: DAB+ broadcast is the successor to FM
With its first meeting in June 2015, the German Federal Ministry of Transport and Digital Infrastructure (BMVI) is the host of a high-level Digital Radio Board for Germany which has the task to create the framework for a roadmap regarding a smooth transition from FM to DAB+ as soon as possible considering that the switch from analogue to digital radio in Germany is necessary and inevitable.
The Digital Radio Board currently comprises 15 high-level representatives of BMVI and federal states, ARD, Deutschlandradio, commercial broadcasters, regional media authorities, radio set and car manufacturers and the federal network agency.
By common accord between its members, the board is heading to create a specific timetable within a year's time for the switch from the analogue to digital terrestrial radio.
Read the BMVI press release.
The Prime Minister of Rhineland-Palatinate has announced support for an initiative outlining that all radio devices should have digital capability. This can be seen as a very important initiative for the development of digital radio in Germany and across the rest of Europe. http://ow.ly/5ihn303Ilcm
Useful Documents
Fact-sheet by ARD-Generalsekretatiat Dr. Susanne Pfab
Statement by the head of production- and technology (PTKO) Dr. Ulrich Liebenow
Digital Radio Action Plan
German Minister Dorothee Bär published in February 2017 the Digital Radio Action Plan on the BMVI (Federal Ministry of Traffic and Transport) website: http://www.bmvi.de/SharedDocs/DE/Artikel/DG/aktionsplan-digitalradio.html.
The plan was passed by a majority of the Board, with the exception of VPRT (one of the two associations which represent private broadcasters) who opposed the plan and have now left the Board. Nonetheless, the rollout of the plan will continue and the remaining partners on the Board are now obliged to follow the eight measures written in the roadmap. There will now be a series of discussions with the individual states (Länder), led by Rhineland-Palatinate (Heike Raab) and BMVI (Dorothee Bär). The Digital Radio Board is headed by State Secretary Bär and includes representatives from the individual states, broadcasters, the federal network agency and industry.
The plan is available in English here.
08.02.2018
Key features of regulation for digital radio in Germany are:
- DAB+ was selected to secure the future of digital radio in Germany in 2009
- Licences on the national multiplex were awarded on a beauty contest basis
- Digital radio services are broadcast on Band III (Channels 5 – 12)
- Due to the federal structure of Germany, spectrum is assigned on both regional and national basis
- There are two types of licences:
- Telecommunication licence, awarded from the National Federal Network Agency (BnetzA) to the network operator to run the network
- Media licence, awarded from the media authority of the Bundesländer to the broadcasters
- Media licences are assigned on state (Länder) level by the 16 media authorities (Medienanstalten)
- In terms of the national multiplex, one of these media authorities was in charge of the allocation of the licences
- There is ongoing regulatory discussion to renew FM licences only when broadcasting also via DAB+
Digitisation Report 2017 carried out by TNS Infratest
The latest Digitisation Report includes data up to September 2016. Download the Digitisation Report 2017 carried out by TNS Infratest (German) (English).
German Ministry for Digital Infrastructure: DAB+ broadcast is the successor to FM
With its first meeting in June 2015, the German Federal Ministry of Transport and Digital Infrastructure (BMVI) is the host of a high-level Digital Radio Board for Germany which has the task to create the framework for a roadmap regarding a smooth transition from FM to DAB+ as soon as possible considering that the switch from analogue to digital radio in Germany is necessary and inevitable.
The Digital Radio Board currently comprises 15 high-level representatives of BMVI and federal states, ARD, Deutschlandradio, commercial broadcasters, regional media authorities, radio set and car manufacturers and the federal network agency.
By common accord between its members, the board is heading to create a specific timetable within a year's time for the switch from the analogue to digital terrestrial radio.
Read the BMVI press release.
The Prime Minister of Rhineland-Palatinate has announced support for an initiative outlining that all radio devices should have digital capability. This can be seen as a very important initiative for the development of digital radio in Germany and across the rest of Europe. http://ow.ly/5ihn303Ilcm
Useful Documents
Fact-sheet by ARD-Generalsekretatiat Dr. Susanne Pfab
Statement by the head of production- and technology (PTKO) Dr. Ulrich Liebenow
Digital Radio Action Plan
German Minister Dorothee Bär published in February 2017 the Digital Radio Action Plan on the BMVI (Federal Ministry of Traffic and Transport) website: http://www.bmvi.de/SharedDocs/DE/Artikel/DG/aktionsplan-digitalradio.html.
The plan was passed by a majority of the Board, with the exception of VPRT (one of the two associations which represent private broadcasters) who opposed the plan and have now left the Board. Nonetheless, the rollout of the plan will continue and the remaining partners on the Board are now obliged to follow the eight measures written in the roadmap. There will now be a series of discussions with the individual states (Länder), led by Rhineland-Palatinate (Heike Raab) and BMVI (Dorothee Bär). The Digital Radio Board is headed by State Secretary Bär and includes representatives from the individual states, broadcasters, the federal network agency and industry.
The plan is available in English here.
08.09.2014
Key features of regulation for digital radio in Germany are:
- DAB+ was selected to secure the future of digital radio in Germany in 2009
- Licences on the national multiplex were awarded on a beauty contest basis
- Digital radio services are broadcast on Band III (Channels 5 – 12)
- Due to the federal structure of Germany, spectrum is assigned on both regional and national basis
- There are two types of licences:
- Telecommunication licence, awarded from the National Federal Network Agency (BnetzA) to the network operator to run the network
- Media licence, awarded from the media authority of the Bundesländer to the broadcasters
- Media licences are assigned on state (Länder) level by the 16 media authorities (Medienanstalten)
- In terms of the national multiplex, one of these media authorities was in charge of the allocation of the licences
- There is ongoing regulatory discussion to renew FM licences only when broadcasting also via DAB+