The EBU has welcomed the adoption of a common European specification for digital radio receivers, saying it will ensure radio remains indispensable in a world of converging media.

The common specification, agreed by a group of major broadcasters from Germany, the UK, the Netherlands, Italy and Poland at the 2015 Radiodays Europe Conference in Italy, encompasses FM, DAB and DAB+ and includes minimum receiver sensitivity criteria to support expanding digital coverage. It was also confirmed that major manufacturers including Panasonic, Philips, Roberts Radio and Pure have agreed to build to this specification.

EBU Media Director Annika Nyberg Frankenhaeuser says content production will also benefit:  “The common digital radio specification encourages broadcasters all over Europe to offer more hybrid content to their audience. This ensures that radio stays indispensable in our converging media world. This pan-European collaboration also fits into the long-term plan of the EBU experts group working on hybrid radio applications."

Laurence Harrison of Digital Radio UK says the specification represents a major step forward in the development of digital radio across Europe: “This common European specification for digital radio is great news for car manufacturers and radio manufacturers, as it means their products will be accepted with confidence across the European market.”