Forward into the digital fog

Michael Hedges July 28, 2008

From small to large national media markets are being sprinkled with new digital multiplexes. It’s more channels that matter to broadcasters…even regulators. Obscured, though, are those listeners.

Malta’s regulator unveiled (July 10) the four-dozen channels to be offered on its DAB+ multiplex. Three-dozen of the channels will be international channels (BBC World Service, Voice of America, Vatican Radio, Deutsche Welle, RAI) and a variety of Italian and UK stations. Eleven Maltese channels will be simulcast. And there will be one distinctly digital-only channel. Regular service will all channels offered is expected October 1st. The government approved new regulations for digital radio service in October 2007.

Hungary’s transmission services company Antenna Hungaria (AH) was awarded national digital radio and TV licenses (July 25). The Parliamentary approval requires AH to have digital terrestrial television (DTT) up an running by the end of this year. The 12 year licenses were granted after a competitive tender. Hungarian public radio Magyar Radio also bid on the digital radio multiplex. AH and Magyer Radio have conducted DAB tests in Budapest. The national digital radio multiplex may contain a mix of DAB and DAB+ channels.

Analogue TV will switch-off in Hungary in 2011, meeting the European commission deadline. Reuters reported a possible analogue radio switch-off by 2014, unconfirmed by sources at media regulator ORTT currently on holiday. 

Sweden’s media regulator is giving digital radio another chance. At the end of June the Swedish Radio and TV Authority (RTVV) expressed a preference for DAB+ should the government decide to restart digital radio licensing. A ”Future of Radio” report, released in July, received the whole-hearted endorsement of major broadcasters, public broadcaster Sveriges Radio (SR), public educational broadcaster Utbildningsradio (UR) and, functionally, the remaining commercial radio broadcasters MTG Group and SBS. The RTVV report emphasized a need for more radio channels, DAB+ being the best means of getting there.

At the end of 2005 DAB was dead and buried in Sweden when the Culture Minister Leif Pagrotsky shut off further funding for expansion by public broadcaster SR. He said DAB was too expensive. SR launched DAB channels in major cities in 1995, hoping to expand and, perhaps, entice commercial broadcasters. DAB in Sweden passed into history with a Parliamentary vote. Apparently, a new moment has arrived.

“To meet current and future demands for content and interactivity a transition to digital radio is very central,” said MTG radio program director Christer Modig in the joint statement. Public and private broadcasters are ”now united,” said SR CEO Kerstin Brunnberg. “We have a common ambition to develop the radio medium to give listeners a wider and better content,” she explained.

“The important thing, “ said SBS (Sweden) CEO Staffan Rosell, “is that broadcasters be in a position to develop and listeners across the country have access to more radio stations.” Rosell also said the specific technology matters not to listeners.

But the loudest buzz on digital radio at the moment is from Australia where broadcasters are clamoring for tests to end and DAB+ channels opening up all over the country.  

“The entire radio industry supports the rollout of the digital radio over the next few years,” said Commercial Radio Australia (CRA) CEO Joan Warner to iT News (July 16). “It is the natural evolution for radio in a time when the industry is being challenged by new platforms and technologies.”

CRA plans a March 2009 launch for DAB+ channels, at least some of them. “We will have a coordinated launch event with all the (radio) stars doing something,” said Warner, maybe even “an official digital radio day.” CRA also plans a major pre-Christmas push on receiver sales.

Less excited are potential investors in additional Swiss digital radio multiplexes. Swiss authorities (July 22) extended the deadline for applicants interested in the second DAB block for the French-speaking region. The original tender for eight DAB+ licenses was issued at the end of April. Public broadcaster SSR-SRG operates DAB multiplexes in each linguistic region. A second DAB multiplex for the Swiss German-speaking region has been authorized but has not built.

In the UK, where there’s raging either for or at the current digital radio service, the most recent audience figures show a slow but ever increasing share of listening to digital services. Year on year listening to radio via any one of the various digital platforms increased to 17.9% from 12.8%, according to the RAJAR Q2 2008 (April through June) survey figures (July 24). Quarter to quarter gain was negligible. The DAB-only share of radio listening increased to 11% from 7% while DAB receiver ownership is estimated at over a quarter of the UK households.

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