New Digital Radio Receivers For Consumer Market in India

Terrestrial broadcast DRM + is now also available in the FM band. A global challenge for DAB.

Chinese Gospell, Swiss StarWaves (including "TukTuk Radio"), and Indian Avion have launched new models of DRM standalone and car radio sets. Unlike before, most receivers have now also been adapted for DRM for all broadcast bands; medium wave (MF), short wave (HF), VHF band I-III including the FM band (DRM +).

An article in the radio industry magazine Radio World indicates that it will be possible to adapt current analogue FM receivers also in mobile phones to DRM + without any extra hardware. This is particularly interesting for India where a very large proportion of the population listens to radio in their mobile phones and smartphones; online or on FM.

Terrestrial Digital Radio To Complement AM and FM in South Africa

A pyrrhic victory for the DAB lobby. Analogue switch-off not on the agenda

The South African Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies, Stella Tembisa Ndabeni-Abrahams, has issued policy direction regarding the introduction of digital sound broadcasting in South Africa which recommends both DRM (for AM and FM bands) and DAB+. This decision represents a first for digital terrestrial broadcasting anywhere, as it brings together in one policy the two ITU recommended open digital radio standards, DRM and DAB+.

The aim of the directive is to provide a licensing framework and optimum allocation of radio frequencies for the South African three-tier system of public, commercial and community broadcasting services. This will stimulate, where economically feasible, the South African industry in the manufacturing of digital receivers and ancillary gadgets and encourage investment in the broadcasting sector.

British Commercial Radio Will Continue On FM At Least Until 2032.

A major setback for the promoters of the DAB system

Listeners of popular radio stations, such as Classic FM and TalkSport, will be able to access their favorite shows for another ten years despite rapid changes in technology and radio listening. Media Minister John Whittingdale has now decided how commercial radio will be licensed in the coming decade.

Almost 60 percent of all radio listening is now done digitally (DAB, the digital TV network, satellite and Internet), but analogue stations on the FM and AM-band are still important for millions of listeners. Another FM switch-off delay is regarded as a major setback for the promoters of the DAB system. 

Smartphone Now The No. 1 Media Platform In Sweden

Good news for audio media, not so good news for radio set business.

The fact that almost everyone now has a smartphone that can be used for both linear and streaming radio and television is evident as reported by the Nordicom Media Barometer 2019.

The report shows that the population is well equipped with regard to access to media technology in 2019. During the year, 94% had access to a smartphone, 92% to a television and 86% to a laptop. Media players, such as Apple TV, for 55 percent. Radio receiver ownership continues to decline and is now down to 65%. Nevertheless, audio media accounts for the largest proportion of total media usage.

New EBU Tech Report on 5G for Broadcasters

5G Mobile Broadband and 5G Broadcast should be combined

The European Broadcasting Union has published a comprehensive report which emphasizes that, technically, 5G may be able to meet the distribution requirements of both public service and commercial media providers if a combination of 5G Mobile Broadband and 5G Broadcast is used.

Media organizations have evolved their distribution to include IP-based services with linear as well as nonlinear and catch-up content. Portable and mobile devices such as smartphone and tablets play an increasing role for the consumption of media content and services in the home, as well as on the move. This report elaborates on the potential of 5G to facilitate the distribution of the whole range of public service media services to portable and mobile devices.

Will Digitalization Be the Downfall of Radio in Russia?

New government argument against DAB radio

Russian media writes that the Ministry of Communications and Mass Media is categorically opposed to digitalization of radio. This could mean the end of the radio industry, says  deputy minister Maxut Shadayev. 

If you digitize the radio in Russia, new radio stations will emerge as mushrooms. This has a huge impact on the advertising market, which is already limited and divided between existing radio stations whose revenues are not very lucrative today, according to the minister.

But Voice of Russia has been on DRM for years - on shortwave.