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Car manufacturers, regulators and broadcasters came together at the Brussels Motor Show to raise awareness on the EECC directive, which came into force on 20 December 2018 and will see all new car radios sold within the EU required to include digital terrestrial capabilities.

As part of the Brussels Motor show, manufacturers, regulators and broadcasters came together to highlight the EECC directive which was recently introduced by the European Commission. The directive requires all new car radios to be capable of receiving digital terrestrial radio, with a period of two years granted to EU member countries for them to transpose the code into national legislation.

The popularity of radio has grown significantly in Australia with radio audiences expanding by 12% over the past five years, and by 22% over the past decade. More than 4.2 million Australians listened to radio via a DAB+ digital radio each week (up from 3.6 million in 2017).

Policy makers, broadcasters and car makers gathered at the Brussels Motor Show to raise awareness of the EECC directive requiring all new car radios to be capable of receiving digital terrestrial radio within two years. The directive entered into force on 20 December 2018, and EU Member States have two years from this date to transpose the code into national legislation.

Policy makers, broadcasters and car makers gathered at the ongoing Brussels Motor Show on Friday to raise awareness of new EU rules requiring all new car radios to be capable of receiving digital terrestrial radio within two years. The European Electronic Communications Code (EECC) entered into force on 20 December 2018. EU Member States have two years from this date to transpose the code into national legislation.

Politicians and broadcasters from Belgium and beyond attended a press event held at the Brussels Motor Show in order to show their support for the newly introduced EECC directive. Attendees included Minister of Culture, Youth and Media Sven Gatz and Jos de Groot, Director Digital Economy at the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy.

The number of Dutch people who listen to radio digitally is set to increase substantially in coming years as car manufacturers prepare to include DAB+ capabilities in all in new cars following the European Commission's introduction of the EECC legislation.

Speaking at the press event held at the Brussels Motor Show, Walloon Minister of Media Jean-Claude Marcourt stated that DAB+ presents numerous advantages, including but not limited to better listening quality and a higher number of radio stations to choose from.

All new cars in Europe are to be equipped with a radio receiver compatible with DAB+, the digital radio which is due to gradually succeed FM broadcasting. The green light, under the European Electronic Communications Code, was officially given on Friday during the Brussels Motor Show press conference, which brought together several industry leaders to highlight the EU's directive.

Political decision-makers, broadcasters and car manufacturers met at the Brussels Motor Show on 18 January to draw attention to new EU rules requiring all new car stereos to receive digital terrestrial radio within two years.