Radio History in the Making with WorldDAB Industry Insight

The IBC Conference will feature on Monday 12 September a WorldDAB-driven session titled Looking to the Digital Future: Digital Switchover Progress and Plans'. The significant issues to be addressed in this session are the status of digital radio broadcasting in various countries as the DAB platform continues to spread across Europe, and specifically the commencement now of the switch-off of analogue FM radio - rather than the continued simulcasting of both analogue and digital services.

"2017 sees radio history in the making as Norway becomes the first country to switch off its analogue FM radio network, to go fully digital with DAB+," says Patrick Hannon, President of WorldDAB and Vice President Corporate Development Frontier Silicon, who will moderate the IBC Industry Insight session. "DAB will offer listeners in Norway a wider range of radio channel content along with improved functionality and audio quality."

Switzerland is next in line with switchover planned for 2020-2024. Several other markets, including the UK, Germany, Netherlands, Flanders and Denmark are also considering potential switchover scenarios.

"The recent improvements in coverage for DAB networks in countries around the world, and the development of multi-platform and hybrid digital radio receivers, are the tipping points which herald the beginning of the end for FM radio," said Professor David Crawford, a UK University lecturer in Digital Multimedia and Broadcasting.

This IBC session looks at what the digital radio future of Europe looks like and how it is likely to develop. Broadcasters at all stages of digitising radio speak on the future of their markets and the radio business generally. An opening overview, Digital Radio in Europe, will be presented by Graham Dixon, Head of Radio, European Broadcasting Union.

The ARD and Deutschland Radio are the public broadcasters in Germany. A four-year plan proposed by KEF (public broadcasting funding body) would see a tripling of spending on DAB+. A presentation by Deutschland Radio will set out the broadcasters' plans for digital radio and how they are working together to achieve this future.

What is the digital future for commercial radio broadcasters? One of the largest commercial radio groups in Europe will set out their roadmap, which has DAB at its core. In times of increased competition digital radio is another platform on which commercial broadcasters can distinguish themselves. In a market that has traditionally struggled to find a place in the digital landscape, Bauer is moving forward with impressive results and can show that going digital benefits commercial broadcasters, their listeners and most importantly their business strategy.

SRG SSR will take the IBC audience through the presentation How switching from DAB to DAB+ makes Switzerland a leader in switchover', and a representative from NPO will explain why the launch of digital radio in the Netherlands has been fast and efficient. Having applied the lessons learned from other digital radio countries, the Dutch launch of digital radio provides an excellent case study for other emerging markets - and the Dutch industry is now discussing a possible DSO.

This session is free for all IBC2016 pass holders. Registration for IBC2016 is now open at IBC.org/register with complimentary exhibition passes available until 15 July.

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