EBU Member broadcaster Polish Radio launches its digital broadcasting services (1 October). All programs are now available on DAB+, including Radio One, Two, Three and Four, Polish Radio External Services and the online news radio PR 24.

The national public radio also reveals its new music radio station, Radio Rytm, exclusive to DAB+, and says it plans to open more digital radio channels soon.

Poland is one of the first countries in Central and Eastern Europe to embrace digital radio. It joins a number of other European nations that have already adopted digital broadcasting (Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Spain, Netherlands, Ireland, Malta, Monaco, Germany, Norway, Switzerland, Sweden, Great Britain and Italy).

With the digital signal, Polish Radio now covers more of its national territory - up to 97% - compared with its FM frequencies. Presently, Radio One and Three can be accessed from an area that covers roughly 94% the country. Radio Two spans about 60% of Poland, while Radio Four only 17%. More info on the projected DAB+ coverage in Poland from 2013 to 2020, can be found in this PowerPoint presentation provided by Polish Radio.

According to the broadcaster, with full implemation of the digitalization process and parallel broadcasting, the analog signal could be switched off within a couple of years, resulting in cost savings of about 40%.

Andrzej Siezieniewski, President of the Board of Polish Radio, said he is proud to launch the new broadcasting technology.

“DAB+ is a technology recommended by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU). It has been successfully implemented in a number of countries, including Germany, the UK and in Scandinavia. Polish Radio is keen to be the leader of digital change, not just in Poland, but also in the Central and Eastern Europe region. As a public medium, we feel obliged to create new possibilities for our listeners and to offer fresh, unique content. Being present in Poland’s first multiplex will allow us to add new themed channels. In the long run, the signal will cover the whole country, which is not possible in the case of analogue technology.”

More information can be found on the website www.dabplus.polskieradio.pl.