Parliament Proposal in Norway: FM Radio For Another Ten Years

Increased listening engages politicians for local radio in Norway.
While the DAB-only national channels are still on cathastrophic listening levels the Center party (Sp) has submitted a proposal to Stortinget that local radio should be allowed to continue on FM until 2031 in parallel with the current DAB permits. I promote the proposal because, as a Center party and media person, I am very concerned that it is time for us to give our important local radio an opportunity to grow and develop to become even more important; for media diversity, for local democracy and for radio as a medium, says Åslaug Sem-Jacobsen, who is behind the proposal together with colleagues.

DAB Radio Setback for Bauer Media in Norway

Oslo rumours: Radio 1 closure, staff cuts.
In recent months, the low listening figures for most of the national commercial radio channels stay on. One of the two players hardest hit Bauer Media with its eight DAB channels has a 9.7% national radio market share versus the P4 seven channels total of 22.3%. Now rumours reveal extensive staff cuts in Bauer's Norwegian operations and that the Radio 1 channel with only a 0,3% market share will be shut down after just one year of operation.  - Since 2017 Bauer and P4 no longer broadcast on FM.

Norwegian Government's War Against Local FM Radio in the Capital

Fines, fees and debt collection hit FM stations.
Waking memories from the War and 1943.
With only half of the car park DAB radio installed, many people continue to listen to FM on local radio. Also reception problems for DAB, listening to Radio Metro and other local stations on FM have significantly increased. This is a problem for the two major commercial actors and the government: There is a decision that there should be no commercial broadcasts in Oslo, says John-Eivind Velure, manager of spectrum at the National Communications Authority (Nkom). Nkom argues that radio entrepreneur Svein Larsen is operating illegal broadcasts in the Oslo area and has now announced sanctions.

The DAB Radio Flop in Norway: A Return to FM Rejected by Culture Minister

             Picture: Opplands Arbeiderblad

But political support for local FM radio retained beyond 2021.
Today less than half of the population in Norway listen to national radio only on DAB since switching off FM last year. In a Stortinget (parliament) debate the Center Party representative Åslaug Sem-Jacobsen wants to restore the public broadcaster NRK’s FM network for the main channel P1. Culture Minister Trine Skei Grande (Liberals) believes, however, that this is not serious. According to Sem-Jacobsen NRK in emergency preparedness has a mission to reach the whole population.

FM Radio Position Still Strong In Sweden Says Authority

DAB system is questioned in public broadcasting consultation.
In view of technological developments and consumption patterns, the public service committee proposal for the forthcoming license period of eight or ten years is too long. This in particular to the requirement that public service companies are bound to broadcast via the terrestrial networks. Post- och telestyrelsen (PTS) - the telecom authority - points to lack a discussion that internet distribution can be done both by wire and wireless and in time.- PTS challenges continued temporary DAB broadcasting and broadcast provider Teracom AB welcomes the continued focus on FM network investments in Sweden.

Commercial Radio in Sweden Activates 2014 DAB Permit

Media company takes strategic step, but few will listen IRL
NENT Nordic Entertainment Group (formerly MTG) has noticed the Swedish Press, Radio and Television Authority their intention to start the digital radio DAB+ broadcasting from January 1, 2019. According to the license terms, broadcasts must reach 35 percent of the population already April 1, 2019. However, there are no political plans in Sweden to replace FM with DAB as in neighbouring Norway. Rather, there are strategic corporate reasons behind this announcement.

European Authority Closes Complaint Case Concerning DAB in Norway

Ministry of Culture submitted a completely misleading document to the EFTA Surveillance Authority. 
Norway's migration to DAB does not breach EEA rules was the conclusion of the EFTA Surveillance Authority (ESA) in Brussels, which Oct.10 2018 closed a complaint case concerning the coordinated switchover to digital radio in Norway. However, the Norwegian Radio Listeners Association (NRLF) regrets this decision and is also critical to how the Ministry has informed and misled the Authority.

Digital Radio to Complement Analogue in South Africa

Two digital standards are officially recommended
The government has invited for comments regarding introduction of terrestrial digital radio in South Africa. Two digital standards DRM and DAB are recommended; in order to be complement to analogue broadcasting. A future closure of FM in the republic is not envisaged.

High Power 5G Radio Test in Germany

Will 5G become a threat to DAB?
The new 5G network standard offers great potential for an efficient distribution of media content. As part of a research project, LTE 5G field tests for radio is currently under way in the vicinity of Munich in Bavaria. Large-scale TV transmissions will use the broadcasting mode FeMBMS from a transmitter location Wendelstein (1828 m above sea level) with an output power of 100 kilowatt ERP.

 The field test significantly promotes the further technical development in this area and prepares for a link between broadcasting and mobile radio (unicast).

FM Switch-off in the UK Would Be a Risk

BBC:  Beware of the Norwegian experience  
Many younger audiences rely on FM services, so removing them would risk losing more young audiences to non-UK streaming services, says the BBC's Chief Technology Officer Matthew Postgate appealing against switching off FM, because of the risk of users migrating to switching to music services such as Amazon Music and Spotify. Analogue radio, strongly driven by FM, remains the UK’s most popular, universal and reliable method of listening to radio. It accounts for 50% of time spent listening to radio in the UK, and is used by 70% of the population.

Dramatic Cuts for the Public Broadcaster in Denmark

Another blow to a continued DAB radio introduction
The new public service contract between Danmarks Radio and the government set a 20% reduction of its budget for five years. Around 400 positions will be axed. DR’s six television channels will be reduced to three and three of eight radio channels will be closed.  The radio channels to be closed are DAB-only channels (P6 Beat, P7 Mix and P8 Jazz). DR Radio will continue with five channels on both FM and DAB+

5G Public Broadcasting Is On Trial in Six European Countries

Essential also for radio but not in Norway.
Next year, next generation mobile broadband 5G will be introduced globally. The transmission capacity will be about 10-20 times higher than with 4G. Ten European 5G test projects connected to public broadcasting in Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Norway and the U.K. In Norway trials of LTE Broadcast (LTE-B) technology is ongoing in Selje in Sogn og Fjordane county since beginning of 2017 as reported by the EBU.