FM Radio Mandatory for New Cars in Finland

DAB broadcasting is not on the agenda

The Finnish parliament has approved the reform of the Electronic Communications Services Act and related laws. The amendment to the Vehicle Act secures the possibility for Finns to listen to domestic FM radio channels in the car also in the future.

The position of FM radio in new cars in Finland will receive a new kind of security with the change in the law. Article 25 of the revised Vehicle Act, which will enter into force already on December 21, stipulates that the radio receivers of new cars sold in Finland must be able to receive FM radio.

Digital Radio Trial on the FM Band in Copenhagen

Also to be received in Southern Sweden. 

On 31 August 2020, the Danish Radio and Television Board granted Open Channel Aps in Copenhagen to conduct trial operations with digital radio DRM + on the FM band for the next 12 months, but can be extended twice more for 12 months. 

The broadcasts are planned to start during the last quarter of this year on the frequency 86.5 MHz, 500 Watt ERP and with a bandwidth of 200 kHz, which makes room for two DRM + channels. Each DRM + channel has a capacity of 186.4 kbps with space for three digital radio channels with a slideshow, a total of six digital radio stations can thus be broadcast here. There are ambitions to involve the Öresund region and possibly collaborate with another FM station on the Swedish side.

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.