Germany - Services on Air - History
08.03.2013
A wide variety of programmes are available: 13 national,more than 80 regional (both public and commercial) andmore than 20 local radio programmes can be receiveddigitally. In total more than 100 radio stations can bereceived digitally across the 16 German Bundesländer.
The vast majority of radio programmes are equipped withaccompanying data services such as Dynamic Label (plus),Slideshows, EPG and TPEG. Journaline and RadioDNSservices are also being broadcast.
The ARD broadcastersare currently working on the implementation of categorisedSlideshow, which has already been showcased at IFA 2012,as well as FileCollector.
National Multiplex :
Population: 82,000,000
Total coverage: 72.9%
The coverage of the national multiplex was extended in 2012 with 19 new transmitters. In 2013 six additional transmitters are going to be added to the existing network, allowing a reception of nearly 55% of Germany.
Regional Multiplexes
More than 60 radio programmes from nine ARD-broadcasters are available. The majority of these are ARD’s well-known FM-brands aswell as various new digital only stations. All ARD-programmes are equipped with an ARD-wide identical (and mandatory) set of dataservices to accompany the live audio. The network coverage was increased in 2012, allowing reception of the ARD-muxes for fairly83 % of the German population.
Besides the public broadcasters, various commercial broadcasters launched their programmes in 2012 either together with ARDbroadcastersin mixed multiplexes or in separate commercial-only multiplexes operated by Media Broadcast.
Baden-Württemberg
Population: 10,800,000
Total coverage: 89.5%
Two networks, one mixed multiplex for public and commercialprogrammes, the second with public programmes only to fillthe white spots. The goal is to increase the network coverageto separate the two multiplexes into a commercial and apublic-only multiplex by end of 2014.
Bayern (Bavaria)
Population: 12.600,000
Total coverage: 94.3%
Two networks, one for public programmes, the second withcommercial programmes. Additional local networks in major Bavarian cities such as Munich or Nürnberg. Together with thenational multiplex up to 45 radio programmes are available insome regions.
Berlin
Population: 3,500,000
Total coverage: 100%
Two networks, one for public programmes, the second withboth public and commercial programmes, are fully covering Berlin and the surrounding area.
Brandenburg
Population: 2,500,000
Total coverage: 64.0%
Brandenburg is currently covered by the multiplexes which arebeing broadcast in Berlin. The majority of the Brandenburgpopulation is living in the wider area around Berlin. Thenetwork expansion in the rural areas of Brandenburg is underconsideration.
Bremen
Population: 700,000
Total coverage: 91.3%
Radio Bremen will launch its own digital radio multiplex inFebruary 2013. Currently the area of Bremen is coveredby NDR’s Niedersachsen multiplex as well as the national multiplex.
Hamburg
Population: 1,800,000
Total coverage: 100%
One multiplex for public programmes, operated by NDR, fullycovers the area around Hamburg since August 2011.
HessenPopulation: 6,100,000T otal coverage: 89.6%Two networks, one for public programmes, the second withcommercial programmes are covering the metropolitan areaaround Frankfurt and Wiesbaden. The public Hessischer Rundfunk (hr) mux also covers the rural areas as well as theimportant transit routes in northern Hesse.
Mecklenbur g-Vorpommern
Population: 1,600,000
Total coverage: 19.3%
One multiplex for public programmes, operated by NDR,covers the metropolitan area around the capital Schwerin.
Niedersac hsenb (Lower Saxony)
Population: 7,900,000
Total coverage: 81.9%
One multiplex for public programmes, operated by NDR,covers the main transit routes as well as highly populated andrural areas.
Nordrhein-Westfalen (North Rhine-Westphalia)
Population: 17,800,00
Total coverage: 96.4%
One mixed multiplex for public and commercial programmes,operated by WDR, covers the most populated federal state inGermany, including the so called Ruhr region.
Rheinland-Pfalz (Rhineland-Palatinate)
Population: 4,000,000
Total coverage: 88.9%
One mixed multiplex for public and commercial programmescovers the metropolitan area in the Rhein-Main region as wellas rural areas and the important transit routes.
Saarland
Population: 1,000,000
Total coverage: 98.4%
One mixed multiplex for public and commercial programmesreaches nearly full coverage of Germany‘s smallest area state.
Sachsen (Saxony)
Population: 4,100,000
Total coverage: 72.8%
One mixed multiplex for public and commercial programmes,which has already been on air before the digital radio launchin 2011, covers the majority of Saxony. Additionally publicbroadcaster MDR establishes new networks in the metropolitanareas of Saxony which include ARD’s mandatory minimal setdigital of radio services.
Sachsen-Anhalt (Saxony-Anhalt)
Population: 2,300,000
Total coverage: 94.0%
One mixed multiplex for public and commercial programmes,which has already been on air before the digital radio launchin 2011, covers the majority of Saxony-Anhalt. Additionallypublic broadcaster MDR establishes new networks in themetropolitan areas of Saxony-Anhalt which include ARD’smandatory minimal set digital radio services.
Schleswig-Holstein
Population: 2,800,000
Total coverage: 74.9 %
One multiplex for public programmes, operated by NDR,covers the main transit routes as well as the capital Kiel.
Thüringen (Thuringia)
Population: 2,000,000
Total coverage: 71.5%
One mixed multiplex for public and commercial programmes,which has already been on air before the digital radio launchin 2011, covers the majority of Thuringia. Additionally publicbroadcaster MDR establishes new networks in the metropolitanareas of Thuringia which include ARD’s mandatory minimal setdigital of radio services.
29.01.2013
A wide variety of programmes are available: 13 national,more than 80 regional (both public and commercial) andmore than 20 local radio programmes can be receiveddigitally. In total more than 100 radio stations can bereceived digitally across the 16 German Bundesländer.
The vast majority of radio programmes are equipped withaccompanying data services such as Dynamic Label (plus),Slideshows, EPG and TPEG. Journaline and RadioDNSservices are also being broadcast.
The ARD broadcastersare currently working on the implementation of categorisedSlideshow, which has already been showcased at IFA 2012,as well as FileCollector.
National Multiplex :
Population: 82,000,000
Total coverage: 72.9%
The coverage of the national multiplex was extended in 2012 with 19 new transmitters. In 2013 six additional transmitters are goingto be added to the existing network, allowing a reception of nearly 55% of Germany.Regional MultiplexesMore than 60 radio programmes from nine ARD-broadcasters are available. The majority of these are ARD’s well-known FM-brands aswell as various new digital only stations. All ARD-programmes are equipped with an ARD-wide identical (and mandatory) set of dataservices to accompany the live audio. The network coverage was increased in 2012, allowing reception of the ARD-muxes for fairly83 % of the German population.
Besides the public broadcasters, various commercial broadcasters launched their programmes in 2012 either together with ARDbroadcastersin mixed multiplexes or in separate commercial-only multiplexes operated by Media Broadcast.
Baden-Württemberg
Population: 10,800,000
Total coverage: 89.5%
Two networks, one mixed multiplex for public and commercialprogrammes, the second with public programmes only to fillthe white spots. The goal is to increase the network coverageto separate the two multiplexes into a commercial and apublic-only multiplex by end of 2014.
Bayern (Bavaria)
Population: 12.600,000
Total coverage: 94.3%
Two networks, one for public programmes, the second withcommercial programmes. Additional local networks in major Bavarian cities such as Munich or Nürnberg. Together with thenational multiplex up to 45 radio programmes are available insome regions.
Berlin
Population: 3,500,000
Total coverage: 100%
Two networks, one for public programmes, the second withboth public and commercial programmes, are fully covering Berlin and the surrounding area.
Brandenburg
Population: 2,500,000
Total coverage: 64.0%
Brandenburg is currently covered by the multiplexes which arebeing broadcast in Berlin. The majority of the Brandenburgpopulation is living in the wider area around Berlin. Thenetwork expansion in the rural areas of Brandenburg is underconsideration.
Bremen
Population: 700,000
Total coverage: 91.3%
Radio Bremen will launch its own digital radio multiplex inFebruary 2013. Currently the area of Bremen is coveredby NDR’s Niedersachsen multiplex as well as the national multiplex.
Hamburg
Population: 1,800,000
Total coverage: 100%
One multiplex for public programmes, operated by NDR, fullycovers the area around Hamburg since August 2011.
HessenPopulation: 6,100,000T otal coverage: 89.6%Two networks, one for public programmes, the second withcommercial programmes are covering the metropolitan areaaround Frankfurt and Wiesbaden. The public Hessischer Rundfunk (hr) mux also covers the rural areas as well as theimportant transit routes in northern Hesse.
Mecklenbur g-Vorpommern
Population: 1,600,000
Total coverage: 19.3%
One multiplex for public programmes, operated by NDR,covers the metropolitan area around the capital Schwerin.
Niedersac hsenb (Lower Saxony)
Population: 7,900,000
Total coverage: 81.9%
One multiplex for public programmes, operated by NDR,covers the main transit routes as well as highly populated andrural areas.
Nordrhein-Westfalen (North Rhine-Westphalia)
Population: 17,800,00
Total coverage: 96.4%
One mixed multiplex for public and commercial programmes,operated by WDR, covers the most populated federal state inGermany, including the so called Ruhr region.
Rheinland-Pfalz (Rhineland-Palatinate)
Population: 4,000,000
Total coverage: 88.9%
One mixed multiplex for public and commercial programmescovers the metropolitan area in the Rhein-Main region as wellas rural areas and the important transit routes.
Saarland
Population: 1,000,000
Total coverage: 98.4%
One mixed multiplex for public and commercial programmesreaches nearly full coverage of Germany‘s smallest area state.
Sachsen (Saxony)
Population: 4,100,000
Total coverage: 72.8%
One mixed multiplex for public and commercial programmes,which has already been on air before the digital radio launchin 2011, covers the majority of Saxony. Additionally publicbroadcaster MDR establishes new networks in the metropolitanareas of Saxony which include ARD’s mandatory minimal setdigital of radio services.
Sachsen-Anhalt (Saxony-Anhalt)
Population: 2,300,000
Total coverage: 94.0%
One mixed multiplex for public and commercial programmes,which has already been on air before the digital radio launchin 2011, covers the majority of Saxony-Anhalt. Additionallypublic broadcaster MDR establishes new networks in themetropolitan areas of Saxony-Anhalt which include ARD’smandatory minimal set digital radio services.
Schleswig-Holstein
Population: 2,800,000
Total coverage: 74.9 %
One multiplex for public programmes, operated by NDR,covers the main transit routes as well as the capital Kiel.
Thüringen (Thuringia)
Population: 2,000,000
Total coverage: 71.5%
One mixed multiplex for public and commercial programmes,which has already been on air before the digital radio launchin 2011, covers the majority of Thuringia. Additionally publicbroadcaster MDR establishes new networks in the metropolitanareas of Thuringia which include ARD’s mandatory minimal setdigital of radio services.
12.12.2012
For a full list of which programmes are available in which market please go to: http://www.bayerndigitalradio.de/digitalradio/programm/programmsuche/programme/
Digital Radio Multiplex
15 stations will be on air from 9 radio groups;
Deutschlandradio (Deutschlandfunk, Deutschlandradio Kultur, Dradio Wissen)
REGIOCAST DIGITAL (90elf-Das Fußballradio, Sunshine live, Radio BOB!)
Die Neue Welle, (Absolut radio)
ERF (ERF radio, ERF pop)
Entspannungsradio (Lounge FM)
NRJ (ENERGY)o Klassik Radio (Klassikradio)
NWZ/FOM (kiss fm)o Radio Horeb (Radio Horeb)
Deutschlandradio and the commercial broadcasters on the nationwide multiplex have released the following list of audio and additional services:
Audio: 10 new live audio services (brands) with additional services. Deutschlandradio will broadcast 2 brands in DAB (MPEG‐ 1 Layer II), one digital only brand in DAB+ as well as one special brand/channel. A separate data channel will be also an available on the national multiplex.
Data: Dynamic Label (DLS), Dynamic Label Plus (DLS+), TMC (TPEG), EPG, Jornaline, SLS, MPEG Surround Sound other services being considered are Broadcast Website, RadioVis & File collecto
Media Broadcast will retain space on the multiplex for data services
Regional Multiplexes
The regional Public broadcasters in Germany are represented by the ARD group and Deutschlandradio. The ARD group is the association of regional public broadcasters consisting of nine affiliates providing radio through the 16 German states ("Länder").
Deutschlandradio is the national public radio broadcaster in Germany with three radio brands. The public broadcasters have launched or will be re-launching their regional digital radio networks in the next six to nine months.
Broadcasters & Stations: There are nine regional public broadcasters in Germany represented by ARD: NDR, WDR, BR, SWR, Radio Bremmen, HR, RBB, SR & MDR. Audio bitrates will differ in the regional muxes. Exact bitrates are not yet specified.
Regional commercial broadcasters: The following commercial broadcasters are due to launch on DAB+:
Region: Bavaria
The BLM Media Council on 19 July 2012 approved the distribution of ANTENNE BAYERN, the most successful state-wide radio service (1.3 million listeners per hour) as well as a total 13 different local radio channels via DAB+. They are scheduled to start transmission in DAB+ in September 2012.
The BLM Media Council has approved the broadcast of new programs in DAB + running to 30/04/2015. Licensed for Radio Energy Munich, Radio Arabella, 95.5 Radio Charivari, Lora, radio public works, Net.FM, Christian Radio Munich and afk M94, 5 Munich. These channels will be on air by November 2012.
BLM has also issued the following licenses for digital radio (DAB+) running until 04/30/2015: Hit Radio N1, R Radio, Jazz Time Nuremberg, Nuremberg Gong Radio, Radio Charivari, StarFM, Z and Radio afk max. The licenses of Energy and Nuremberg VilRadio have also been extended accordingly.
Region: North Rhine Wesphalia
Six companies have applied for DAB+ licenses in North Rhine-Westphalia; Culture Shocker (rmc media + creative consult GmbH, Wuppertal), Domradio (education center for the Archdiocese of Cologne eV, Cologne), TopDABRadio (Pleximedia GmbH, Berlin), MEGA RADIO (MEGA Radio Bayern GmbH, Augsburg), absolute relax (The New wave radio mbH & Co.KG, Nuernberg), 3 programs, each with different music formats (REGIOCAST DIGITAL GmbH, Leipzig).
Audio & Data: The ARD and its members have released the following list of stations and additional services to go on-air: Audio; 60 FM licenses are split amongst the nine regional public broadcasters, German regulation does not allow for more services to be assigned it is planned therefore that these 60 stations will be simulcast on regional digital muxes
Data: Public broadcasters have agreed that they will add value to their services using data services. Mandatory services include; Dynamic Label (DLS), Dynamic Label Plus (DLS+), TMC (TPEG), EPG, Jornaline, Slideshow (SLS) other services being considered are Broadcast Website (BWS), Categorised Slideshow (SLS), MPEG Surround Sound and RadioTag & File collector
Network: Public broadcasters are currently negotiating the setup of regional multiplexes with the commercial broadcasters in their region. Mixed ensembles with MPEG1 L2 and DAB+ services are currently planned in some states. There will be different frequency allocations in each of the 16 states (Länder) due to media laws/authorities/etc. In some states two DAB ensembles will be operated in parallel. Service following from ‘DAB to DAB’ as well as ‘DAB to FM’ and vice versa is a crucial requirement.