A milestone in the European digital radio programme was reached on Monday (1 August), as Germany for the first time launched a nationwide DAB+ multiplex.

Of the 14 stations to have signed up for Monday’s rollout, three come from the public-service broadcaster Deutschland Radio (Deutschlandfunk, Deutschlandradio Kultur and DRadio Wissen) and eleven are from the commercial sector, including some – such as the football radio station 90elf – which were previously only available via internet streaming.

27 transmitter sites will cover 70% of Germany’s considerable territory, making the service bouquet available to some 38 million potential listeners. Some 120 receivers from a wide range of manufacturers are to be sold by mainstream electronics retailers, with prices starting at €20 (USB device) or € 40 (kitchen radio).

The country’s Digital Radio Project Office - based at the offices of regional public-service broadcaster Südwestrundfunk in Baden-Baden - is a joint venture between public-service operators and commercial broadcasters. Director Michael Reichert said, “This is a key moment in the implementation of the German digital radio strategy. We see the national DAB+ multiplex as an integral part of a multiplatform offer which also includes regional multiplexes and hybrid multimedia services – an important step in our vision of future radio based on content and brands more than on distribution technologies. ”

Germany was seen by many as a key territory for the European digital radio project, was an early adopter of the technology, and has been running local and regional digital multiplexes for a number of years.

Mr. Reichert will discuss the launch and the vision for digital radio in Germany at the EBU Digital Radio Conference to be held at the European Parliament in Brussels on 11-12 October.

Click on the link for more information on the German DAB+ multiplex.

Click on the link for more information about the EBU Digital Radio Conference.