EBU.CH :: 2009_03_24

New Age of European Digital Radio Sets Moves Closer

Geneva, 19/03/09 - In Geneva this week, all sectors of the European digital radio receiver industry came together for a digital radio summit.

Radio, the world's most trusted medium, was heading for an expensive and fragmented future. The future is 'digital radio', but with European nations using or testing different digital radio technical systems, both consumers and set-makers were going to lose out. Recently the European radio industry agreed a standard set of digital radio forms (termed 'profiles') that will work all across the continent and in some other parts of the world too. This will make life easier for broadcasters, and bring security of purchase, greater choice and lower costs to listeners. The Profiles will allow exciting new features as well. Technical details of the profiles are given in the Annex.

At the summit this week in Geneva, broadcasters and manufacturers worked together on timetables for making radios with the profiles available, and discussed when services will be transmitted.

The meeting was hosted by EBU TECHNICAL* (tech.ebu.ch), in conjunction with DIGITALEUROPE*** (formerly EICTA) (www.eicta.org) and WorldDMB**** (www.worlddab.org).

The Digital Radio Receiver profiles***** group together 'features' such as text display or multimedia display. This helps broadcasters understand their market, and helps the listener to understand what to expect from their equipment and service providers. The Summit recognized that these profiles were essential for a clear public radio offer.

There are three profiles: Standard Receiver (including DAB/DAB+/T-DMB audio), Rich Media Receiver, and a Multimedia Receiver. Manufacturers are targeting the launch of Profile 1 receivers for Christmas 2009.

Many countries already have profile elements DAB and DAB+ services on trial or in commercial service, so the advent of receivers incorporating the profiles is a welcome move for them.

"EBU TECHNICAL is delighted to host a summit which brings together key elements of the digital radio industry. Digital Radio is a most important element of EBU members offerings, and a co-ordinated approach to the launch of services is key to ensuring success. We welcome the hard work by broadcasters and manufacturers and look forward to a bright future for digital radio stated Lieven Vermaele, EBU TECHNICAL director.

Note to editors:

* EBU TECHNICAL is the technical department of the EBU. Together with EBU Members it represents a unique and influential network in the media world. EBU TECHNICAL monitors, analyses and assesses technological developments. It promotes a media world based on open standards, with interoperability across the value chain and neutral access to all services on all significant platforms. It enables the sharing of best practices, expertise and experiences and drives and harmonises media technology and innovation for the benefit of our Members.

**European Broadcasting Union (EBU) is the largest association of national broadcasters in the world (125 broadcasters). The EBU helps public service broadcasters to deliver unique high quality programming to their audiences. It offers Members technical, operational and legal services, and coordinates a growing supply of quality content for radio, television and new platforms. It provides Members with information and analysis on media trends, and training designed to meet their needs. The EBU works to secure recognition of the crucial role of public service broadcasters in the digital audiovisual landscape.

***DIGITALEUROPE, founded in 1999, is the voice of the European digital technology industry, which includes large and small companies in the Information and Communications Technology and Consumer Electronics Industry sectors. It is composed of 61 major multinational companies and 39 national associations from 28 European countries. In all, DIGITALEUROPE represents more than 10,000 companies all over Europe with more than 2 million employees and over EUR 1,000 billion in revenues.

**** WorldDMB is an international, non-governmental organisation with a mandate to promote the awareness, adoption and implementation of Eureka 147 based technologies worldwide. The organisation’s name refers to ‘digital multimedia broadcasting’ including radio, mobile TV and broadcast new media services. Its members include public and commercial broadcasters, receiver manufacturers and other companies and bodies committed to the promotion of services and equipment based on the Eureka 147 family of standards.

***** Digital Radio Receiver Profiles: The World DMB Digital Radio Receiver Profiles are designed to help create a vibrant digital radio market across Europe and the world by defining minimum functionality for different classes of digital radio receivers based on the Eureka 147 based DAB system. The Profiles were developed in 2008 by World DMB the EBU, and EICTA and with the aid of experts representing silicon manufacturers, consumer device manufacturers, radio broadcasters and other representatives from across the industry. Products designed to meet the World DMB Receiver Profiles will decode all audio services, along with other features depending on the complexity of the receiver and markets may select any of the audio and multimedia capabilities of the Eureka 147 family of standards to meet their specific needs whilst those already broadcasting are able to plan the introduction of more advanced features. The World DMB Digital Radio Receiver Profiles define the minimum functionality requirements of products within each profile. Manufacturers may offer additional features in order to differentiate their product from others.