Hongkong DAB Broadcaster Can't Compete With FM - Signs Off

Government will not support closing analogue radio

Digital Broadcasting Corporation is going off-air and has applied to return its license to the government, citing “unsatisfactory” developments in the digital radio industry. Job losses will total 113. DBC boss Loh Chan said the move was not due to immediate financial difficulties, but a lack of prospects in digital broadcasting and government policies that failed to help digital radio reach a wider audience, causing difficulties in attracting advertising.

Norwegians Reject Transition from FM to DAB

"Peoples' Revolt Against DAB"

Overwhelming majority is strongly opposed to a closure of the FM network and a transition to DAB. 

The politicians are not in tune with the electorate 

The public radio channels and the commercial channels in major cities will close their FM broadcasts next year. A survey by Ipsos for the daily Dagbladet reveals that an overwhelming majority are strongly opposed to a closure of the FM network and transition to DAB radio. The question: It is decided that the FM network will be switched-off 1 January 2017. After that time must have DAB radio to listen to the radio. Should the FM network be switched-off and radio signals moved from FM to DAB, or are you against it?  The results of the survey show that 65 percent opposed a transition, 16 percent positive and 19 percent undecided.

DAB Promoters Push For FM Sales Ban in Austria

Government study regarding a digital transition released.

Private radio want transition subsidies and sales ban on FM receivers. Public service not onboard. Community radio: DAB is an outdated technology.

Because the market outlook for terrestrial digital radio in Austria is bad, private radio companies want drastic measures: The sale of non-digital radios should be banned, and DAB+ should be mandatory for all new cars. However, in a study released last week the Austrian regulator RTR gives little hope for a viable development of the digital radio market: In the currently existing framework there are no prerequisites for a profitable business case, according to the document. 

FM Switch-off in Norway Might Violate European Free Trade Rules

Government again questioned by the surveillance authority about DAB.

The EFTA surveillance authority ESA is not satisfied with the answers they so far have received from the Ministry of Culture regarding DAB. Now there is another ESA letter with several critical issues. Earlier the Norwegian Local Radio Association (NLR) has appealed to ESA because NLR fear that the major players in the radio market, as NRK, P4 and Radio Norway are favored. NLR believes government policy is contrary to EU competition laws. Presently, ESA is handling three different cases regarding the FM to DAB transition in Norway.

SmartCast Project Using DRM for Long-Range Broadcasting

French broadcast provider TDF aims at maritime and international broadcasting markets

TDF has launched a two-year joint project called SmartCAST that aims to study and build a long-range broadcast system, with potential interactivity. Transmission of data, including audio, will be based on the Digital Radio Mondiale standard.

The Illusions of the DAB Radio World Are Worrying

The credibility of the European public broadcasting at risk

During two decades there has been heavy lobbying for the DAB technology created for and by the public broadcasting sector. But is there any market for DAB when the world goes on-line? Are the politicians presented with a distorted picture of an outdated technology? Is the credibility of the public broadcasting sector at risk?
These are some of the questions asked in a critical memorandum The Illusions of The DAB Radio World today released by the Public Service Council (PSR) in Sweden.