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.

Swiss Community Radio Cannot Afford DAB Radio

Picture: zVg

Government subsidies for the FM-DAB transition to be discontinued.

Community radio station Country Radio Switzerland will drop DAB broadcasting at the end of the year because state funding will gradually be reduced starting 2020. This is DAB death, says CEO David Bolli. Prior to the  (communications authority) Bakom grant, only a few stations could be received on DAB +. It was a shock that we were not informed by either Bakom or our DAB supplier that the subsidies would be phased out, says David Bolli, to persoenlich.com.  

DAB Radio Sales Fiasco in Norway

The electronics industry missed on its own forecasts in spite of FM switch-off.  Read our analysis.

Today, the Norwegian Electronics Industry Foundation presented sales figures for 2019 for television sets radio receivers, mobile phones and other electronics products. While turnover increases overall, there are several types of products Norwegians bought less of during the year. Most notable decline is DAB receivers. According to the Electronics industry's own forecasts from 2017, the Norwegians would buy a total of over 1.1 million DAB radios in 2019, distributed on portabel radios, car equipment and integrated tuners in other equipment. 

India and Pakistan Are Leading Their Way to Terrestrial Digital Radio

We might now discern the end of DAB outside Europe

Broadcasters are trying to establish a digital terrestrial radio platform as a future alternative to radio via Internet. Main contenders are the HD Radio, DAB and DRM systems.  While DAB is leading in Europe and HD Radio in North America the DRM system is clearly the choice for large area countries in Asia (including Russia), Africa and South America. India and Pakistan are all set for DRM (Digital Radio Mondiale) with heavy investments. India is now also manufacturing stand-alone and car receivers for DRM.

Medium Wave Radio Come-Back in Denmark

New opportunities with more effective coverage for terrestrial radio in Northern Europe. The AM band being further developed globally.

Radio 208 in Copenhagen is a new radio station focusing on oldies from the period 1964-1984 with the emphasis on the 70s and rock. "The Rock of Copenhagen - Progressive Rock 1964-1984". Radio 208 broadcasts around the clock at a wavelength of 208 meters (1440 kHz), a frequency that many people in Denmark - at least music fans over 50 years - know; the legendary European radio channel Radio Luxembourg until 1991, says the founder Stig Hartvig Nielsen.