Another Swiss Radio Station Leaving DAB

Zurich station my105 withdraws from DAB + 

The Swiss radio station my105 in Zurich decided for strategic reasons to completely rely on online and thus to dispense with the terrestrial broadcasting via DAB + in the German-speaking Switzerland. Many discussions, experience and surveys of recent months have shown that "DAB-proliferation is overrated". In the case of my105 still would mean that DAB+ is not useful for the radio station with its 10 channel multi-channel strategy. At least three commercial radio stations have now abandoned DAB+ since 2014.

Also read: Swiss Commercial Radio Station Leaving DAB+

New Smartphone A Lifebuoy for DAB

A paradox: Can a smartphone online get five-to-twelve-rescue for DAB?

The first smartphone that can also receive DAB radio in addition to FM and online was presented at the Radio Days conference in Paris launched its first. LG Stylus 2 is really a "phaplet"- which in size is something between a mobile and a plate. On this one you should be able to listen seamlessly to hybrid radio - a radio channel that automatically switches between DAB + or FM and Internet depending on varying reception conditions. But experts are wondering whether there is a sufficient market for this because DAB is only in operation in few countries on a global scale.

Public Service in Austria Rejects DAB Radio

A move may jeopardize the medium of radio says the the director general

Photo: derStandard.at

Public service company ORF has no interest in DAB + according to the media authority KommAustria. If we cannot increase program output DAB is useless to us, says ORF Director-General Alexander Wrabetz. ORF With current legal regulations ORF will not be able to establish more channels, DAB+ has not been successful in any European country, and the technology behind DAB+ is 30 years old. There are 15.5 million FM receivers in Austria, making a transition difficult and a forced solution can compromise the radio medium. This was the basic criticism Wrabetz has submitted to KommAustria. Further for ORF, a transition cost for parallel operation DAB+ and FM another EUR 50 million per year, says the public service boss.

Historic U.S. Radio Division Up For Sale

A recognition that terrestrial radio is no longer a growth industry

CBS plans to sell one of its legacy brand CBS Radio. We will begin to explore strategic options, CBS Chairman and CEO Leslie Moonves announced today during the company's investor day. The move represents a recognition that terrestrial radio is no longer a growth industry, particularly as major advertisers shift their spending to digital platforms according to Los Angeles Times. 

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.

   World Radio Day 2016

Dead and Buried - Parliament Confirms Rejection of DAB Radio in Sweden

Public radio continues on FM and will push for extending its remit to include digital radio online.

The Constitutional Standing Committee (KU) in Riksdagen (the Parliament) has processed the government missive regarding the 2015 National Audit review of digital radio in which the proposal for a transition from FM to DAB+ in 2017-2022 was rejected. After a short debate and without objection from any of the eight political parties Riksdagen today appended the missive to the protocol. This marks the end of 24 years of efforts to replace FM with DAB in Sweden.