DAB Is The Final Stop For Radio

Norwegian media personality slaughtered the DAB project at the government's cultural conference 
The Minister of Culture and the Parliament was written on the noses by the Norwegian astrophysicist, author and future researcher Eirik Newth at the government's cultural conference May 3 in Oslo. He delivered very gloomy predictions about the Norwegian radio industry. DAB is one of the most stupid projects the authorities has implemented and represents the final stop for radio. What we did was to build a terminus, instead of just a road stop which we could travel on from, Newth said.

Successful National Launch of Digital Radio in India

After rejecting DAB India now demonstrates full capabilities of DRM
Recently the public broadcaster All India Radio successfully completed phase-I of the national DRM digital radio roll-out – the installation of 37 DRM transmitters, now operational, throughout the country. As part of Phase II of the DRM introduction in the country, All India Radio is demonstrating the full complement of services which are part of the DRM30 standard using the AM band (Mediumwave).

FM Radio Retained in Norway - Also After 2022

No political decision to force local radio to go DAB.  Major losses for commercial networks after transition but local radio are winners
The authorities have now confirmed that there are no plans to close down the FM network 2022 according to the Norwegian Local Radio Federation. Only national channels will close their FM transmitter 2017, while most local radio stations have permits to broadcast on FM until 2022. It has been unclear if the local radio will continue on FM after that date. In a letter from the Ministry of Culture to the EFTA Surveillance Authority ESA, it is clear that there is no decision on what will happen to FM radio after 2022.

National channels closing 2000 transmitters in Norway. What's happening to the FM band?

Besides local radio and Swedish broadcasting no other demands today. 
Not much happens yet with the FM band, according to chief engineer Tore Lunestad at the Telecom authority Nkom lecturing at the National Local Radio Federation's conference in Stavanger. When the national channels close their FM transmitter in 2017, many available frequency resources are released in Norway. Among other things, public radio NRK has almost 1200 transmitters and private Radio Norge almost 700. All of these and some more will free new frequencies for, among other things, local radio. And the Swedes are keen to get a slice of the cake.

Proposed Mandatory Digital Interface in New Radios in Germany

A setback for the DAB lobby wet dream

Federal Ministry of Economics and Energy (BMWi) is working to promote digital radio services by mandating certain features in new radios. The draft recommendation suggests that high-quality radio receivers may only be sold if they are suitable for the reception of standards-appropriate digital signals. Whether that interface is DAB + or Internet does not matter. Smartphones will not be affected as online radio listening is already digital.

BBC Radio 3 Delivering Concert Sound on the Net

Listeners able to receive studio quality signal via web browser
Last week, BBC Radio 3 and BBC R&D launched what they believed is another world-first for a classical music radio network: audio delivered directly to your web browser with completely lossless compression. Together various technologies including MPEG DASH, FLAC compression, HTML5 and the Media Source Extensions offer a bit-perfect representation of Radio 3's live output, exactly as it left the studio. Radio 3 makes considerable investment in music performance and technical excellence, and this pilot enables the most transparent listening experience possible according to the BBC.

Continued Slanted News About DAB Developments

Lobby organisation is trolling on the net according to think tank.
WorldDAB has published the latest version of its infographic featuring DAB receiver sales, coverage and household penetration for markets in Europe and Asia Pacific up to the end of 2016. TheWorldDAB presentations have a catchy layout and look reliable. But the Swedish think tank Public Service Council (PSR) warns readers to beware as crucial facts are often omitted. A total of 50 million units sold should also be presented with a consideration that it is long way to go before DAB+ will come even close to the figures for the two major global radio listening platforms. There are an estimated 6 billions of FM receivers in the world and 2,5 billions of smartphones.

DAB Broadcasting Gets the Axe in Hong Kong

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. 

Not A Better Sound With DAB Technology in Norway

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.

Radio Listening in Norway Plummeting when FM Network Is Closed

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.

With DAB Adapters No Traffic Alert Breaks

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.

80 New FM Frequencies for Commercial Radio in Sweden

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.