News

Vienna - Aug 21, 2013 - DAB+ test transmission is currently slated to begin in the Austrian capital before Christmas 2013, according to Gernot Fischer of the Digital Radio Club of Austria. Two transmitters will operate as a single frequency network, with one transmitting a 10kW signal. This test mode is scheduled to last a year, with the possibility of an extension in to 2015.

The current issue covers topics such as IFA where more focus will be placed on digital radios than ever before. Other topics covered is also the Bundestag election in 2013 and the different media policies by the parties.

'Initiative Digitalradio Deutschland' are seeking a retail surpervisor for Northern Germany to coordinate all tasks related to the establishment of digital radio in Germany.

The MXR regional digital radio multiplex for the West Midlands is being turned off today, after 12 years on-air. The decision to remove these radio stations was made by MXR owners Global Radio and Arqiva last year when they announced they weren’t renewing the licence to operate the services, following consultation with service providers and in light of the industry’s decision to focus on the development and build out of the national and local networks of DAB transmitters.

The ACMA has extended the DAB+ digital radio trial licences in Canberra and Darwin for a further 12 months.

Norkring has activated DAB+ transmitters for Møre og Romsdal, a region in Norway to the north and west of Oslo. The company has installed 44 transmitters in just more than one year. The first installations of DAB+ transmitters were made in Gamlemsveten, near Alesund, in May 2012. Reinsfjell was put in to trial operation in July 2012.

Commercial Radio Australia and Sony Australia have joined forces to take advantage of the upcoming Australian Father’s Day holiday, which takes place on Sept. 1 this year. Sony is offering a deal on its DAB+ products, throwing in a free pair of headphones with every purchase.

Harald A. Nissen, a politician representing "The Environment Party The Greens" (Miljøpartiet De Grønne) claims that DAB is not environmentally friendly and called for distribution via DAB to be replaced by distribution via mobile internet. (Norway's election is on September 9). Gunnar Garfors, President of IDAG and Advisor at NRK takes the challenge to find out how long a mobile phone battery will last when comparing listening to the radio via streaming vs. via broadcasting.

Commercial Radio Australia (CRA) today welcomed the decision by the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) to extend the DAB+ digital radio trial licences in Canberra and Darwin for a further 12 months.

German firm 2wcom will unveil the FMC01 codec at IBC2013. 2wcom is also showing the FlexDSR02+/FlexDSR04+ IRD for audio contribution via satellite and IP, which features a combination of capabilities in just 1U as well as the FlexNsert/FlexXtract for DAB+ distribution via satellite.