Prime Minister clears the way for digital radio in Germany

02.11.2009 - Germany

Prime Minister clear the way for Digital Radio [Mainz] At their annual conference the Governments of the Bundesländer set the course for Digital Radio. Unanimously, the Prime Minister decided on the allocation of transmission capacity for Digital Radio on the national multiplex. The public radio station Deutschlandradio receives one third and the the state media authorities for commercial broadcasters two thirds of the available frequencies of the nationwide transmission capacity. At the same time the Prime Minister agreed, that each ARD institution is allowed to operate one additional programme, that will be exclusively broadcasted via DAB+. Prime Minister Beck said "With this decision the media policy created the framework for the launch of Digital Radio plus. It is now important that innovative new content will be created." This also means that economically sustainable approaches are necessary for the commercial broadcasters. Only with a joint action by all parties DAB+ could become a success.