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EBU backs digital radio switch over across Europe

Thu, 11 Nov 2010 16:19

At the EBU’s Digital Radio Conference in Belfast in the first week of November, more than 150 delegates from 60 organisations overwhelmingly endorsed an European Broadcasting Uunion (EBU) New Radio Group (NRG) plan of action designed to accelerate moves towards a secure digital future for radio.

Jψrn Jensen, President of WorldDMB however called for the EBU to lead the European move to make radio digital, saying: “It’s time to stop talking about less mature standards, EBU needs to promote the Eureka 147 family of standards as the only option for the future of digital terrestrial broadcasting. If digital radio is to succeed, then the EBU must show their support for the DAB family, the only technology platform chosen by Germany, UK, France, Italy, Spain and the Nordic countries  as the future of digital radio. We have seen here today that internet radio is an integral part of radio’s future however it cannot offer the mass market, free-to-air benefits which DAB, DAB+ and DMB can offer. The launch of the DRM platform also depends on the success of DAB roll out in Europe”. 

The EBU’s New Radio Group’s strategic objectives over the next 12 months are designed to push the digitalisation of radio in Europe. The objectives which were set out at the conference are:

  • To persuade the European Union to champion switch-over policies at European level and to ensure that sufficient spectrum is allocated to safeguard radio’s future
  • To advance partnerships between public and private broadcasters to develop original digital content and support public campaigns to make the case for digital radio
  • To foster effective partnerships between broadcasters and the automotive sector

The plan, which includes marketing and lobbying efforts aimed at European Union regulators and car manufacturers, will for the first time, involve bodies representing the three major digital radio standards in Europe.  At the conference, WorldDMB, the DRM Consortium and the Internet Media Device Alliance (IMDA) threw their combined weight behind the EBU NRG.  The move was described as “like a shot of adrenaline for digital radio.”

This was the second conference in as many days (following the WorldDMB General Assembly) at which the international digital radio community came together with energy and passion not seen in many years.  It heralds a renewed commitment to digital radio in Europe and reflects a new “can do” attitude from broadcasters.



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