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ftm Radio Page - November 11, 2016

Heels dug in on digital transition
rules are, well, rules

Along the path to digital transition for radio broadcasting are more than a few the occasional trap. Some in Europe are fully engaged in DAB or its upgrade DAB+. Some like web streaming and mobile apps. Others like a combination of it all. A few aren’t excited about any of it.

“For us, the decision has been made,” said Austrian public broadcaster ORF chief executive Alexander Wrabetz, quoted by Der Standard (November 10). ORF will not be participating in yet-to-be built national DAB+ multiplex. Dr. Wrabetz prefers web streaming and mobile apps as a digital solution.

It wasn’t always this blunt. Last year the ORF wanted to offer a new brand extension to national youth channel O3 on the temporary test DAB multiplex covering Vienna. Complaints from private broadcasters to regulator KommAustria led to a ruling that ORF could not offer any new channels on any broadcast platform. KommAustria also prohibited ORF from developing a web-based channel, also an O3 brand extension, offering music videos. Well, we’ll take our ball and go home. (See more about digital radio here)

The reticence of ORF to now engage with this proposed DAB+ multiplex makes a “difficult situation” for platform provider ORS. ORF’s financial participation would be rather substantial for that operation, not to minimize ORF’s radio market clout. Without ORF on-board, “foreign suppliers would automatically enter the market.” Perish the thought!

The venue for Dr. Wrabetz clarification was the WorldDab Forum assembly in Vienna, which highlighted DAB/DAB+ success stories. Ouch! In response, DigitalRadio Austria deputy chairman Wolfgang Struber said ORF wants to dominate platforms it uses and "obviously rely on disruptive Silicon Valley technologies,” reported horizont.at (November 10). Ouch, again!

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