Digital Radio: EBU welcomes new radio channel for Polish youngsters

Polskie Radio launched a new radio channel called "Polskie Radio for Children" on 1 April 2015. Programmes will feature characters already familiar to the young audience but will also introduce new ones.

There will also be broadcasts on music and education with the aim of encouraging and developing creative thinking and artistic skills in young listeners. Polskie Radio for Children will also include programmes for parents and is being transmitted via digital terrestrial radio (DAB ) and internet.

Polskie Radio has continued the expansion of digital radio coverage in Poland since the beginning of the month. More major centres of population like Bialystok, Koszalin, Lublin, Olsztyn, Rzesz w and Zielona G ra are now DAB areas.

The President and Director General of Polskie Radio Andrzej Siezieniewski said: "The aim of Polskie Radio is to reach the widest possible audience at the lowest cost. To optimise this process, Polskie Radio has started to expand the digital radio network in the largest cities in the country, which are also the bases of regional radio stations."

According to Polskie Radio, the crucial phase of the project of bringing all Polish citizens into the DAB coverage area will begin in 2017. The aim is to cover the entire territory of Poland with the digital signal within the next five to ten years.

EBU Head of Radio Christian Vogg hailed the launch of the Polish digital children s radio: "Radio is a habit best learned when young. For many of us, our first memories include programmes we listened to on the radio." Starting special interest channels on DAB like Polskie Radio did initally with a news station is also a strategic move, he added. "We are seeing this trend of using new digital channels for selected audiences with other EBU Members. This is an excellent development and the EBU hopes to see more of this kind of initiative in the future."

"Furthermore, through the expansion of DAB , we expect the launch of hybrid radio services as well. These will combine digital radio with personalized internet features."

Polish Radio launched its DAB broadcast service on 1 October 2013. So far, digital radio covers 30% of Polish territory and reaches 51.2% of the population.

LINK:	http://www3.ebu.ch/contents/news/2015/04/digital-radio-ebu-welcomes-ne...
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