News

The UK media regulator Ofcom is seeking views on proposed changes to its digital television and digital radio technical codes. These codes define a common minimum set of technical standards for the way that terrestrial TV and radio signals are transmitted in the UK. There are separate technical code documents for TV and DAB services. Ofcom says: "We routinely update these Codes to ensure our rules remain relevant as the digital broadcasting environment develops. Following separate incidents affecting the operations of the Bilsdale TV and radio transmitter and a broadcast centre in London, a number of our proposed changes seek to strengthen our requirements relating to network resilience and disaster recovery."

Carmakers say electromagnetic interference causes static and noise on AM transmissions, annoying customers. Broadcasters say they could lose a connection to their core listeners, who rely on the radio for emergencies.

On 9 January, Business AM launches the first Flemish radio station with business news, to be heard daily via DAB+ and online. "Business AM brings Talk Radio for the digital content seeker. We extract relevant news and insights from today's complex international business environment and bring local and global stories that touch people and influence our society. We are there for progressive professionals, entrepreneurs and creatives, among others. This target group will find specific content related to our 4 pillars of technology, economy, politics and business", explains Peter Van Oostende, Chief Radio Editor.

The operator of the transmitters confirms that the demand for broadcasts is limited, however it is interested in operating a national multiplex. Towercom already has DAB+ digital radio coverage of 50 per cent of the population and announces that the signal will be rolled out from other locations. It is also currently negotiating a new contract with the public broadcaster, which relates specifically to radio.

On Thursday, 8 December, Czech Radio presented the technological development of the public service broadcaster in the coming years on the floor of the Senate. The project is simply called Strategy 27. DAB+ will be the main distribution platform for the next period, until 2027, and will continue to expand its coverage. In the case of linear terrestrial distribution, Czech Radio is building on VHF (FM) broadcasting, but this can no longer be strengthened. In the coming period, the focus for public institutions will be on improving the reception of DAB+ digital broadcasts, especially indoors. It has already implemented the first of its steps in this direction at the end of November.

Graham Dixon writes: "Occasionally, stepping back from bite-size reports that encourage quick decision-making and taking a broader view makes perfect sense, and that exactly is what Rai has done. The introduction of new devices and attendant innovation is accelerating at a bewildering pace. Specifically, Rai asks what the response of public media should be to this new “ecosystem” — questions that seem relevant to the whole radio/audio industry. The report first looks in detail at the Italian audio market, including the adoption of devices, the presence of the tech giants, the rise of podcasting and future perspectives. It then opens the window to the wider world to examine Europe and North America, drawing together the latest research from different sources. Finally, it looks at what this may mean for the Italian public service; naturally, those challenges are not unique."

"Radio is and remains an indispensable component of an overall warning system for the population, but there is still a lot to do." This is the conclusion of today's warning day from the perspective of the broadcasting network operators "Milling Broadcast Services GmbH" and "RegionalRadioBW". Both tested the warning functionalities of the digital radio standard DAB+ today in parts of Rhineland-Palatinate (Bad Kreuznach region), Baden-Württemberg (Heilbronn-Stuttgart) and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania (Rostock).

On the nationwide warning day, DAB+ digital terrestrial broadcasting proved to be an important, robust and reliable channel for transmitting messages in the event of a crisis. The alerting via the so-called "MoWaS" system of the federal government, the transmitting equipment and signal paths worked flawlessly as expected. Public and private stations participated editorially and in some cases with test and active alarm messages.

Media DAB, the Italian consortium of local radio stations and WorldDAB member, is carrying out an advertising campaign for the month of December to thank the more than 100 radio stations that have joined their consortium. Full colour pages will be published in the national daily newspaper 'Milano Finanza' (leader in financial and economic information) and banners in online broadcast periodicals including newslinet.it and fm-world.it.

Südwestrundfunk (SWR) has improved DAB+ reception on the Moselle. The new Traben-Trarbach transmitter improves the indoor coverage of the multiplex on channel 11A. The private radio stations RPR.1, bigFM and Rockland Radio also benefit from the expansion.