Digital Radio Given Green Light in Germany
26.03.2009
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- Germany 
Digital Radio Given Green Light in Germany
The 16 German regional governments have agreed to start the roll out of nationwide digital radio services, using DAB+, at the beginning of 2010.
Berlin, 26 March 2009
At a meeting on 25th March, the German Commission of broadcasting policies (Rundfunkkommission), headed by Mr. Stadlmeier announced its decision by all 16 Lander to approve a nationwide multiplex able to transmit between 10 and 15 radio stations. Deutschland Radio, the national public radio broadcaster of Germany, will have access to one third of the national digital network capacity, and two thirds will be made available to private radio operators, which allows them to broadcast national radio services for the first time. The BNetzA, the frequency authority of Germany, now has the task of assigning frequencies and choosing the network operator for the planned large single frequency network.
The national digital channels will be supplemented by two or three multiplexes in each of the 16 regions to provide regional and local radio from public service ARD stations and private broadcasters. ARD stations in each region will also be allowed to broadcast an additional digital only service to add to their five existing programmes in each area. Between 30 and 40 digital radio stations will become available in every region of Germany, offering a mix of local and nationwide, private and public radio stations.
Quentin Howard, President of WorldDMB, said, "This decision is great news for digital radio in Germany and for the whole of Europe. The largest countries in Europe - Germany, France and the UK - have all committed to the same family of digital radio standards, making it easier for other countries to follow suit. Digital radios will become even cheaper and more readily available, and with new models able to work in any country the barriers to a universal digital radio system for the whole of Europe have been removed."
DAB+ is an updated version of DAB, used in Switzerland today and by Australia for their digital radio services which launch later this summer. In addition to DAB+, German broadcasters may continue with existing DAB services and could introduce DMB at some future stage. New digital radios able to receive DAB, DAB+ and DMB are in production now and will become available during 2009, in time for the launch of Germany's new services.
ENDS
For more information contact Kelly Griffiths, WorldDMB on +44 20 7306 2531 or email Kelly.Griffiths@worlddab.org www.worlddab.org
Notes to Editors: The DAB family is the most successful set of digital radio standards in the world today. Created from the outset for mobile and portable reception of audio services, the standard has been developed to offer multimedia and video with DAB+ and DMB digital radio and DMB mobile TV. Collectively these are often referred to as the Eureka 147 Family of Standards, having originated as an EU funded Eureka project. The system is on-air in nearly 40 countries across Europe, Australia and the Far East. More than 500 million people are within range of DAB, DAB+ or DMB services, with over 1,000 services on-air. In Europe, digital radio is available in the UK, Denmark, Malta, Norway, Belgium, Germany, Switzerland and Spain with digital radio launches planned for France, Ireland, Hungary, Italy, the Netherlands and Czech Republic. The world’s first DMB mobile TV services launched in South Korea in 2005 and is now one of the most successful markets in the world. DAB is also on-air in China as the only industrial standard for digital radio with DMB successfully used for mobile TV during the 2008 Olympics. Other DMB mobile TV services and trials are planned for Norway, Vietnam, Malaysia, Chinese Taipei, and Indonesia. In 2008 the industry body responsible for the Eureka 147 family of standards, the WorldDMB Forum, created the ‘Digital Radio Receiver Profiles’ which specify a set of minimum requirements and features for different types of consumer digital radio receivers. The Receiver Profiles ensure interoperability of new receivers and services between countries whose broadcasters may be using different combinations of DAB, DAB+ or DMB and creates a harmonised digital radio and multimedia market across the world.
About WorldDMB
WorldDMB is an international, non-governmental organisation with a mandate to promote the awareness, adoption and implementation of Eureka 147 based technologies worldwide. The organisation’s name refers to ‘digital multimedia broadcasting’ including radio, mobile TV and broadcast new media services. Its members include public and commercial broadcasters, receiver manufacturers and other companies and bodies committed to the promotion of services and equipment based on the Eureka 147 family of standards.