European Competition Authority Opens Two DAB Radio Cases in Norway

Government decision on transition from FM to DAB reviewed by ESA in Brussels

Within a week the Norwegian government is questioned in two ESA cases regarding the

digital radio transition. Norway is not member of the European Union, but an EEA member (European Agreement) and needs to follow the articles and laws that EU/EEA requires. It started with the Norwegian Local Radio Association (NLF) letter to the Ministry of Culture asking for an answer on a basic question: Is the Norwegian FM switch-off decision legal with respect to our EEA agreement? 

Also the Ministry of Industry & Fishing now has received the case regarding a complaint on unlawful state support to the private DAB promoting company Digitalradio Norge AS.

The Truth Behind the DAB Radio Failure in Sweden

Heavy lobbying disinformation tackled in memorandum

There has been a lot of disinformation about why Sweden finally has rejected the 2014 DAB+ proposal. Major sources for slanted or incorrect information are the interest organization European Broadcasting Union, its member Sveriges Radio and and the lobbying group WorldDAB. 

In order to check the disinformation the Swedish Public Service Council (PSR) today has presented a memorandum listing all the arguments behind the government's decision as well as around 30 other facts and arguments in the consultation round and in the public debate in Sweden.

Unscrupulous DAB Introduction Will Kill Local Radio in Norway

Sharply reduced state aid to local radio, community and minority radio.

The poor must give to the rich. A successful initiative by the DAB lobby.

Despite strong protests from the local radio community, the rules for state aid to local radio changed dramatically by a decision of the Ministry of Culture. Half of the aid that previously earmarked for program production and minority radio will now be earmarked for a transition to DAB radio. Also state support to the local radio federation has been reduced by two thirds.

First Digital Radio Station in Arab Emirates

Reach out to expat Indians in the Gulf States

The world’s first Malayalam-language digital radio station is now broadcasting from United Arab Emirates. Pravasi Bharathi 810 AM is also the first digital radio station in the Middle East and North Africa region.

Mobile market surpasses 1 billion subscriptions in India

Increasing mobile broadband will change radio listening

Towards the end of 2015, India reached 1 billion mobile subscriptions, joining its neighbor China by becoming only the second member of the 1 billion club, according to global analyst firm Ovum. In a new forecast report it was found that comparisons were inevitable, though China reached this milestone almost three years ago. 

Sharp Increase for Online Radio by Smartphones

9 out of 10 young smartphone owners listen online in the U.S.

The stand-alone radio receiver will fade away. Smartphones are increasingly changing the way U.S. consumers access information and entertainment. The share of smartphone users who utilize their device to listen to online radio has increased by double-digits in recent years.  According to a recent Pew Research Center survey listening to music and shopping on the go are especially popular among smartphone owners ages 18-29:  

87% have listened to an online radio or music service on their phone, compared with 41% of those 50+, while 73% have shopped online through their mobile device vs. 44% of older users.