No demand. Mobile devices and net competition killed on-air digital radio
The public broadcaster Radio & Television Hong Kong will terminate its five channels digital audio broadcasting (DAB+) in about six months. The decision was made after the Executive Council approved the complete discontinuation of DAB in Hong Kong due to weak market demand. Thus HK government is pulling the plug of the only remaining DAB+ broadcasting by RTHK.
Public broadcaster admits DAB+ is not quality improvement. A widespread myth about DAB is now killed.
Recent arguments against DAB+ is that the sound quality not as good as FM. The magazine Stereo + has now tested the sound quality using professional equipment at the public broadcaster NRK. They tested DAB+ with different bit rates 24-128 kbps. With 128 kbps AAC good results in relation to the reference CD quality 192 kbps MP2. However, noticeable difference in that which is most common in the DAB network 96 kbps AAC SBR with deterioration. It will also send 48 and 32 kbps, but it does not work for music.
The public broadcaster will find it difficult to escape a major flop. - Norwegian truck drivers experience downgraded reception with DAB.
On January 11th there was a big fuss as Nordland was the first fylke (county) to turn off the FM network for nationwide radio - and this is the first time a fylke was able to listen to public broadcaster NRK only via DAB+. This has now led to dramatic consequences. Before FM switch-off listened 74 percent of the inhabitants of Nordland on the radio. After switch-off only 64 percent. Almost each seventh listeners thus have stopped listening to the radio with DAB as the only option.
Norwegian motorist organization warns that well-established in-car radio function now missing
Just a few of the DAB adapters allow traffic messages to interrupt in-car listening warns motorist organization NAF. This is a well-known feature of FM radio. No matter what radio station you are listening to, listening to different music through the car stereo, or even have turned down the volume traffic information gets through if Traffic Announcement (TA) is turned on, says NAF communications consultant Nils Sødal. A dedicated traffic DAB channel is just a halfway solution.
DAB lobby arguments about the lack of broadcasting space now forgotten
The telecom agency PTS has now informed about industry efforts to develop new FM frequencies for commercial radio. The priority for the agency was to open frequencies for at least three national networks. This project has now succeed and PTS will now continue to develop regional and local frequency spectra for FM radio. The idea of a transition from FM to DAB in Sweden seems to be a dead issue by now.
