Sweden - Current situation - History
19.08.2010
Following lengthy trials by the public broadcaster, Sveriges Radio, DAB radio in Sweden is moving to DAB+.
Sveriges Radio, has been operating a DAB multipex since the mid 1990s, covering about 35% of the population but in 2005 the Swedish government halted digital radio investment due to low consumer takeup. The radio industry, however, remained committed to a digital future for Sweden and blamed the lack of consumer response on the fact that commercial radio operators were denied by law the opportunity to broadcast on DAB, thus limiting consumer choice. Both public and private broadcasters continued to lobby the government for a change of heart.
A new Radio and TV Act came into effect in August 2010 which, for the first time, allows commerical radio companies to apply for digital licences. This paves the way for a radio industry united behind DAB+, something for which both public and commercial services have been lobbying for some time.
In 2009, network operator Teracom began conducting tests of DAB, DAB+ and T-DMB which included programming from commercial, community and public service broadcasters, reaching two million people around Stockholm, Uppsala and Gavle.
The existing DAB multiplex remains on air, but with the country turning to DAB+ for future launches, it remains to be seen if Sveriges Radio with switch this mux to DAB+.
09.08.2010
The Swedish national publicly funded broadcaster, Sveriges Radio, has been operating a DAB multipex since the mid 1990s, covering about 35% of the population.
In 2005, the Swedish government halted digital radio investment due to low consumer takeup. However, the radio industry remained committed to a digital future for Sweden and blamed the lack of consumer response on the fact that commercial radio operators were denied by law the opportunity to broadcast on DAB, thus limiting consumer choice. Both public and private broadcasters continued to lobby the government for a change of heart.
A new Radio and TV Act came into effect in August 2010 which, for the first time, allows commerical radio companies to apply for digital licences.
In 2009, network operator Teracom began conducting tests of DAB, DAB+ and T-DMB which included programming from commercial, community and public service broadcasters, reaching two million people around Stockholm, Uppsala and Gavle.
The existing DAB multiplex remains on air, but with the country turning to DAB+ for future launches, it remains to be seen if Sveriges Radio with switch this mux to DAB+.
03.09.2008
Radio is the most popular medium in Sweden. On an average day, just over 6 million Swedes aged between 9-79 years listen to the radio. The average radio use per day is 100 minutes. This makes radio more popular than television and the internet.
The future for digital radio in Sweden is currently looking positive. A report by the Swedish Radio and TV Authority for the Swedish government shows an unbiased review of various technology choices and gives a clear conclusion that DAB+ is the preferred choice for the Swedish market. This will be considered when the Swedish government reviews the terms for the coming analogue licensing period starting in January 2010. Not least because all major Swedish broadcasters have declared that digital radio should be a part of the future radio landscape and that the coming licenses should cover both digital and analogue radio.