News

Plans to extend local digital radio coverage moved a step closer today as Government, the BBC and commercial operators signed a joint agreement, establishing the framework for up to £21 million of new investment in radio infrastructure.

At the end of June SRG SSR, in collaboration with the Federal Office of Communications (OFCOM), the Federal Roads Office (FEDRO), SwissMediaCast and a number of manufacturers, will begin digital radio tunnel tests. The findings will also benefit Switzerland’s international neighbours. The programme will be testing the latest technical digital radio equipment, including the facility to interrupt broadcasts with important emergency travel information, as required by ASTRA. MCDT has been able to engage importers of Audis, BMWs and Minis to participate in the tests by providing cars fitted with the latest DAB+ car radios.

OFCOM has green-lit a new DAB+ transmitter network in German-speaking Switzerland. Both private and SRG SSR radio stations will now be able to expand their offerings at the regional level. In the future, SRG’s regional news magazine programmes will be broadcast in DAB+. The third network in German-speaking Switzerland covers seven reception areas, which are being built up gradually. The first, covering the Zurich-Aargau-Glarus-Schaffhausen region, will go live in December 2012.

MCDT held the 10th Swiss Digital Radio Workshop in Zurich on 26 June. The Workshop is regarded as the principal digital radio event in Switzerland, because it offers a platform for exchange between all of the key B2B partners – manufacturers, importers, specialist retailers, consumer electronics outlets – and representatives from the authorities, SRG SSR, SwissMediaCast and private radio stations. MCDT offered a review of the first half of 2012 and the outlook for the second half, as it explained its marketing, communications and promotional activities. Other topics included the move from DAB to DAB+ and the ongoing expansion of digital radio.

Commercial radio groups, including Bauer Media, UTV Media and Global Radio, along with the BBC and the Government, have committed to invest at least £21m in local DAB infrastructure, with a decision on final digital switchover date promised in 2013.

Reportedly, the government is about to make a trade-reaching consequences for the recovery of terrestrial digital radio (DAB). Its has decided not to preempt frequency for Radio France in calls for applications for the cities of Paris, Marseille and Nice, which have been boosted by the Higher Audiovisual Council (CSA).

At the invitation of MCDT, all Swiss auto importers met at the Radiostudio in Zurich on 22 June for a wide-ranging information event on DAB+ digital radio. The workshop took an in-depth look specifically at the changeover from DAB to DAB+, plug-in DAB+ adapters for cars, the service in tunnels, the latest aerial technology, surround-sound and the TPEG travel information system, which is to be launched in Switzerland from 2013 onwards

Local Vauxhall dealer, Drive Vauxhall, is looking to the future of in-car radios by offering all its customers the option to upgrade their AM/FM radio to brand new digital radio technology with Vauxhall's high quality, fully integrated DAB upgrade kit.

Digital radio is on course for success. How did digital radio grow in Switzerland in 2011? How did MCDT support its promotion? Answers to these questions and further information can be found in the first MCDT Ltd annual report, which has been published as an interactive flip-book.

Join Bayerische Landeszentrale für neue Medien (BLM) for a conference on digital radio on 17th July 2012 in Munich. The event will provide an update on DAB + roll out in the German market and current marketing initiatives.