News

According to today's announcement from Digital Radio UK, in March 2015, 64.9% of new car registrations had digital radio as standard, up from 50.7% the previous March (CAP/SMMT 2015). An additional 10% of cars also have digital radio available as a cost option, meaning that three-quarters (75%) of new cars in the UK now have digital radio available as standard or as an option.

80s radio station Free Radio 80s is expanding its DAB digital radio coverage in May, with listeners in Herefordshire and Worcestershire able to listen to the station on their local DAB multiplex.

Recently it was reported that Norway would shut off FM radio beginning in 2017. DAB allows for more programming to be encoded and transmitted than standard FM. In a press release, the government of Norway said, “Whereas the FM system only had space for five national channels, DAB already offers 22, and there is capacity for almost 20 more. In addition, more than half the population already has access to local radio on DAB, and there is considerable potential for further local channels.”

The Norwegian Ministry of Culture recently announced that the country will be completing its transition from traditional FM radio stations to Digital Audio Broadcasting, or DAB, by 2017. Aside from Norway, other European countries are contemplating a similar move. Both Sweden and Denmark estimate the switchover to happen by 2022, while the United Kingdom is considering a progressive switch-off between 2017 and 2022.

MDR-director Karola Wille welcomes the collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Transport and digital infrastructure (BVMI) on the transition to a digital radio. Wille says "Laying the ground for the digital future of terrestrial broadcasting now, can only succeed in broad consensus."

The Phoenix FM team hopes Brentwood is one of ten pilot areas licensed by radio regulator Ofcom to trial small scale DAB digital radio services. If successful in their application, transmissions could start as soon as this summer.

As of 2017, analog broadcasting on FM will give way to digital terrestrial radio (RNT) in Norway. "This had never been done before, it's a pretty scary prospect for everyone," said the British consultant James Cridland, which presents itself as a "futurist radio". "All eyes are on Norway."

The CSA (regulator) announced in its report submitted on January 21 that it wants to continue the deployment of DAB+ in France in the border areas, where the FM offer is poor. Les Indés Radios ask for continued commitment, which areas and how many will be selected, and the timetable for the call for applications.

The ability of FM to cope with the demands of future developments were questioned during an event organised by the Federal Ministry of Transport and Digital Infrastructure in Berlin on 16 April.

By deciding to convert all of its radio stations to digital broadcasting by 2017, Norway has pioneered. Yet it is not the only country to pay close attention to digital broadcasting.