STARWAVES Launches Full-Featured Dual-Standard Android SoftRadio App for DRM & DAB+ at IBC 2025

STARWAVES Launches Full-Featured Dual-Standard Android SoftRadio App for DRM & DAB+ at IBC 2025

STARWAVES has launched the DRM-DAB+ dual-standard version of its popular SoftRadio App for Android. This unique solution enables full-featured reception of both digital radio standards in a single app – ideal for markets where DRM and DAB+ coexist, such as South Africa, Indonesia, or Australia, or for listeners in Europe who want access to both local DAB+ services and international DRM broadcasts like Radio Romania International.

Just like the existing DRM-only version, this app version supports DRM in all broadcast bands including the AM bands (LW, MW, SW) as well as the VHF Bands I, II (FM-Band) and III – depending on the capabilities of the USB-attached tuner dongle.

The app is now available on the Google Play Store for around 13 €

Here's the link for Google Play Store :

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.starwaves.drmdabsoftradio

Connect FM leaves DAB due to price increase

Connect FM has disappeared from its local DAB multiplex because of a "very substantial price increase" from Arqiva, the station has told RadioToday.

The station, owned by Adventure Radio, has been on DAB for five years, having been a launch partner when the Northampton multiplex launched in 2013. Connect FM also joined DAB in Peterborough, and Herts, Beds and Bucks. More recently its sister station Radio Essex joined the Southend/Chelmsford mux.

Read the RadioToday story at :

https://radiotoday.co.uk/2018/01/connect-fm-leaves-dab-due-to-price-increase/

Government announces discontinuation of digital audio broadcasting services in Hong Kong

The Chief Executive in Council, after considering the report of the Review of the Development of Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB) in Hong Kong (the Review), decided on March 28, 2017 that DAB services should be discontinued in Hong Kong, and DAB services provided by Radio Television Hong Kong (RTHK) be terminated within six months, or as soon as practicable thereafter.

A spokesman for the Commerce and Economic Development Bureau said, "In accordance with the market-led approach, DAB services were introduced in Hong Kong in 2010 to address the then local market interest in the development of the services and to cope with the trend of broadcasting technology development in the world.

"We have all along been maintaining this approach. The same approach is used in reaching the decision for discontinuance of the DAB services in Hong Kong."

The spokesman said that in response to local market interest and taking into account the development of DAB services overseas at the time, the Government granted licences in 2011 to three commercial operators. However, the retreat of the three commercial DAB operators in a short period of time due to difficulties in their operation and the lack of a critical mass of audience demonstrated the exhaustion of interest in the services. Currently, RTHK is the only operator providing DAB services as the public service broadcaster in Hong Kong, running a total of five DAB channels.

On the future of the DAB services provided by RTHK, the Review pointed out that in the absence of participation of commercial operators, it would not be realistic from a policy perspective to rely solely on RTHK to operate alone on the DAB platform, or to task RTHK to develop a critical mass of audience on its own.

The Review also mentioned that the fast development of the Internet and mobile applications have replaced traditional sound broadcasting services to a certain extent. The wider environment is not conducive to a revival of the DAB market. In fact, since the 1990s, there have been mixed results in the development of DAB services overseas. There has been stable development in some overseas countries, but there are also examples of termination of DAB services after launch.

     

The spokesman noted that upon the decision of the termination of DAB services provided by RTHK, the Director of Broadcasting will consult the relevant stakeholders to formulate detailed plans for programming changes so as to accommodate programmes currently broadcast on RTHK's DAB channels on its AM/FM analogue platform, and to ensure that RTHK continues to adhere to the programming objectives as stipulated in the Charter of RTHK, and that RTHK's public purposes and mission as a public service broadcaster are properly fulfilled.

The spokesman said it is estimated that RTHK will be able to complete its programming change and terminate its DAB services in about six months' time.

(Press Release)

Norway to switch off FM radio in risky, unpopular shift to digital

Norway is set to become the first nation to start switching off its FM radio network next week, in a risky and unpopular leap to digital technology that will be closely watched by other countries considering whether to follow suit.

Critics say the government is rushing the move and many people may miss warnings on emergencies that have until now been broadcast via the radio. Of particular concern are the 2 million cars on Norway's roads that are not equipped with Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB) receivers, they say.

Source & full story at : http://www.reuters.com/article/us-norway-radio-idUSKBN14P1TH

Digital radio switchover 'will not be complete until 2019'

Head of expert group says digital take-up has been slower than many in the industry hoped.....

Read the full story here :
http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2011/nov/30/digital-radio-switchover

BBC to Fund Further Expansion of DAB Across UK

London - Oct 18, 2011 - The BBC will pay for the rollout of DAB for more than 97 percent of the nation, and every town with a population greater than 5,000 in the UK will have DAB coverage indoors. This is according to the Guardian UK.

Full story at : http://radiomagonline.com/digital_radio/bbc_fund_expansion_dab_UK_1019/

European Broadcasters committed to digital radio

Calls for a single European market for digital radio

London, September 8th, 2011 Europe?s biggest consumer electronics trade fair, IFA, was all about digital radio this year. Held in Berlin, September 2 - 7, the show came just one month after Germany, Europe?s biggest radio market, launched its first national digital radio services. So, its no surprise that Europe?s broadcasters were out in force to support the growing move to digital radio that?s sweeping across the continent.
The main event was a "Digital Radio Day" on Monday 5th September hosted by WorldDMB and the German Digital Radio Project Office, the ARD and DRD. Broadcasters from the UK, France, Italy, Belgium, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland and, of course, Germany, called for a single, European market for digital radio and listened to speaker after speaker voice their country's commitment to rolling out the digital radio standard of choice.
The affirmative pan-European pro-digital radio message was clearly emphasised by Helmut Bauer of Digital Radio Deutschland who opened the event saying: "We did it ! Digital radio been on-air in Germany since August 1, 2011. It?s good to be part of the worldwide digital radio family!"
Thomas Saner of Switzerland?s SSR SRG told the conference "DAB+ in Switzerland is no longer the radio of the future but the radio of today," adding, "The launch of DAB+ in Germany is the trigger for a pan-European solution for digital radio. Let's support Germany !"
For the UK's BBC, Lindsey Mack highlighted the Corporation?s commitment to DAB as a broadcast platform and underlined the importance of collaboration with manufacturers and retailers across digital radio planning. This was followed by an update by Antoine Baudel of Radio FG on the positive developments in France where a demonstration in Lyon continues to impress broadcasters. He said: "Digital radio is for those broadcasters who are visionaries." And in Italy, where 65% of listening is in-car, the digital radio industry has prioritised working closely with the auto industry, said Rai Way's Giuseppe Braccini.
The final part of the session saw the Director Gerneral of RTBF Radio, Francis Goffin state that "Radio over IP is not a complete solution.switching to digital radio has many benefits for radio and society in general including reduced power consumption". He added that DAB+ roll out in French speaking Belgium will be based on close cooperation between public and private broadcasters, with the public authorities and the industry. This was followed by the Norwegian representative Ole Jørgen Torvmark of Digitalradio NORGE who highlighted news relating to the work being carried out in preparation for the FM switch off, with the keys to success so far having been "co-operation, long-term perspective and clarity". Meanwhile its neighbour Sweden is optimistic about its own digital radio future, confirmed by Swedish Radio's Mats Akerlund.
The digital radio theme continued elsewhere at IFA with press events, on-stand consumer promotions, retailer focused training, the latest digital devices from major manufacturers and examples of radio content currently broadcasting on Germany?s national multiplex.
The event showed that there is renewed confidence and optimism amongst Europe?s broadcasters that radio?s future is, and can only be digital. With so many voices present at the "Digital Radio Day? from the European market calling for unity, the WorldDMB President Jørn Jensen took the opportunity to urge broadcasters to unite to strongly recommend that their own national administrations draw up a digital radio roadmap which will enable Europe to bring radio into the digital age.

About WorldDMB
WorldDMB is an international, non-governmental organisation with a mandate to promote the awareness, adoption and implementation of Eureka 147 based technologies worldwide. 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.

The DAB family is the most successful set of digital radio standards in the world. Created for mobile and portable reception of audio. multimedia and video services. the family includes the compatible standards DAB, DAB+ and DMB digital radio and DMB mobile TV. Collectively these are the Eureka 147 Family of Standards, having originated as an EU funded Eureka project. The system is on-air in nearly 40 countries across Europe, Australia and the Far East. More than 500 million people are within range of DAB, DAB+ or DMB services, with over 1,000 services on-air. The world's first DMB mobile TV services launched in South Korea in 2005 and is now one of the most successful markets in the world. In 2008 the industry body responsible for the Eureka 147 family of standards, the WorldDMB Forum, created the 'Digital Radio Receiver Profiles' which specify a set of minimum requirements and features for different types of consumer digital radio receivers. The Receiver Profiles ensure interoperability of new receivers
and services between countries whose broadcasters may be using different combinations of DAB, DAB+ or DMB and creates a harmonised digital radio and multimedia market across the world.

Fraunhofer launches multimedia player to deliver unprecedented digital radio offerings

Enabling more than just music, Fraunhofer Multimedia Player software uniquely delivers MPEG Surround and enhanced data services for digital radio. Fraunhofer IIS, the world's renowned source for audio and multimedia technologies, today announced the availability of the Fraunhofer MultimediaPlayer for digital radio standards Digital Radio Mondiale (DRM30/DRM+) and DAB (DAB Classic/DAB+). The software enables device manufacturers of PC-based receiver solutions and smartphones to seamlessly integrate playback of digital radio programs, as well as the variety of data services offered by digital radio.
The Fraunhofer MultimediaPlayer software is the first in the industry to include MPEG Surround, which enables an immersive, high-quality surround audio experience to consumers at stereo bit-rates. The software also incorporates data services such as the advanced text service for news, sports results, local weather forecasts, or background information on the current show. Program accompanying information adds song titles, station information and graphics, for example weather maps or cover art. In addition, radio stations can offer a simple multimedia download service. The software also makes Hybrid services a reality by linking the added-value offerings of the Digital Radio broadcast platform with individual communication media such as the Internet, telephony, or navigation, available at the listener's fingertips. All of these services are displayed in a clearly arranged user interface.
The NOXON DAB Stick by Terratec, released in August 2011, is one of the first commercially available receivers with MultimediaPlayer software to play back digital radio in 5.1 surround sound based on MPEG Surround. It is also the first DAB receiver solution worldwide that displays Journaline, the international advanced text information standard for highquality, up-to-date news over digital broadcast systems.
"With all of the entertainment options available in the industry, high-quality solutions that add true value to the listener experience are key to staying competitive," said Alexander Zink, digital radio expert and project manager at Fraunhofer IIS. "Fraunhofer's MultimediaPlayer software is a flexible and easy-to-integrate solution that provides manufacturers with the technology needed to enable the best possible audio experiences along with all of the features digital radio has to offer."
The Fraunhofer MultimediaPlayer software is currently available for a variety of platforms, including Windows, Mac, and Linux. There are also plans to support mobile platforms in the future. The user interface is based on HTML, CSS and JavaScript, and can therefore easily be adapted to the customer's platforms and existing product designs. The software is available as a desktop and a server version. While the desktop version is suitable for integration into devices, the server version supports remote access through a regular web browser to the full user interface including audio playback. Thus, it is ideally suited for professional monitoring and archival solutions, for example.
Fraunhofer will showcase the MultimediaPlayer at IFA Berlin Sept. 2–7 at the Fraunhofer booth in hall 11.1 and at IBC in Amsterdam Sept. 9 – 13, at the Fraunhofer booth in hall 8, B80.
More information at http://www.iis.fraunhofer.de/

(Press Release)

BBC engineers see PLT knocking out DAB

Radios go silent as the data flows

 

Recent experiments carried out by the BBC demonstrate how power-line networking can interfere with FM radio and knock out DAB entirely, but only for those who get a decent data rate.

 

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2011/04/13/bbc_plt/

 

 

Blow to digital radio switchover as DAB listenership stalls

Plans for a mandatory switchover to digital radio have suffered another blow, with new figures showing that the share of listening achieved by DAB broadcasts has stalled for the last nine months.

More at : http://tinyurl.com/6g5c5az

Northern Ireland Hosts Major DAB Conferences

Belfast in Northern Ireland will host three major events on the international future of digital radio this October.

The WorldDMB General Assembly on October 27 at the Europa Hotel in Belfast brings together WorldDMB members from Europe and around the world. On the agenda is the development of the DAB family of standards, including DAB, DAB+ and DMB, and the future of digital radio broadcasting on an international scale.

The same week sees the EBU Digital Radio Conference, also held at the Europa Hotel. On October 28/29, European Broadcasting Union delegates will meet to discuss how best to chart a digital future for radio on multi-platforms. The conference will consider a practical assessment of the conditions for the successful and profitable future of radio in all its digital formats.

To accompany the EBU Digital Radio Conference, BBC Northern Ireland and RTE will present 'Making Connections – a Festival of Radio'. The large-scale public event will celebrate radio and its connection with people and cultures at a local, national and international level. The free event will showcase new technologies and exhibits from the BBC's local and network radio services. Visitors can also watch live radio programmes and get involved with interactive experiences. The Festival of Radio takes place in BBC Blackstaff House in Belfast between 28 and 30 October.

Digital radio in Northern Ireland is quite widespread with much of the Province within range of a regional multiplex and the BBC's national mux. In the ROI, RTE broadcasts to 36% of the population, rising to 52% by the end of 2010. The "noise" created by these three almost simultaneous events in Belfast will raise the public profile and awareness of digital radio broadcasting across Ireland.

Letty Zambrano, WorldDMB Project Director says: "Each event's agenda is complementary to the other two, and many of the same people will no doubt attend both the WorldDMB and EBU conferences. The BBC/RTE event is more consumer focused and will balance the two conferences by talking directly to listeners through free public events, demonstrations of how digital radio works etc."

ENDS

For more information contact Rosemary Smith, WorldDMB on +44 20 3206 7847 or email Rosemary.Smith@worlddab.org

www.worlddab.org

Notes to Editors: The DAB family is the most successful set of digital radio standards in the world today. Created from the outset for mobile and portable reception of audio services, the standard has been developed to offer multimedia and video with DAB+ and DMB digital radio and DMB mobile TV. Collectively these are often referred to as the Eureka 147 Family of Standards, having originated as an EU funded Eureka project. The system is on-air in nearly 40 countries across Europe, Australia and the Far East. More than 500 million people are within range of DAB, DAB+ or DMB services, with over 1,000 services on-air. In Europe, digital radio is available in the UK, Denmark, Malta, Norway, Belgium, Germany, Switzerland and Spain with digital radio launches planned for France, Ireland, Hungary, Italy, the Netherlands and Czech Republic. The world's first DMB mobile TV services launched in South Korea in 2005 and is now one of the most successful markets in the world. DAB is also on-air in China as the only industrial standard for digital radio with DMB successfully used for mobile TV during the 2008 Olympics. Other DMB mobile TV services and trials are planned for Norway, Vietnam, Malaysia, Taiwan, and Indonesia. In 2008 the industry body responsible for the Eureka 147 family of standards, the WorldDMB Forum, created the 'Digital Radio Receiver Profiles' which specify a set of minimum requirements and features for different types of consumer digital radio receivers. The
Receiver Profiles ensure interoperability of new receivers and services between countries whose broadcasters may be using different combinations of DAB, DAB+ or DMB and creates a harmonised digital radio and multimedia market across the world.

About WorldDMB
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.

Changing the Dial

http://www.techcentral.co.za/changing-the-dial/14313/

Radio lobby 'hides' 2m analogue receiver sales

Mysterious boost for DAB

By Andrew Orlowski
29th March 2010 11:48 GMT

Maybe the Great Digital Switchover won't be so difficult, after all. The UK's digital radio lobby group has redefined what an analogue radio is, giving DAB a stunning boost in market share.

Read the full story here :
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2010/03/29/analogue_radio_is_hiding/

Digital radio to boost presence

GLENN MULCASTER
March 26, 2010
DIGITAL radio will become a more compelling choice for listeners in Melbourne by the middle of the year when there will be 49 radio stations broadcasting in the DAB+ digital format.
Source: The Age

Read the full article here :

http://www.smh.com.au/business/digital-radio-to-boost-presence-20100325-qzyw.html

BBC reveals plans to expand digital radio coverage

More than a million additional people will soon be able to receive BBC national digital radio services under plans for a further expansion of the digital radio transmission network.The BBC is investing in a further 60 digital radio transmitters as part of its commitment to reach 90% of the UK population during this Charter period. This is the final part of a planned roll-out which started in 2008 and has which already resulted in more than 50 additional transmitters being added to the network.

Listeners in the areas will be able to tune in to the BBC's portfolio of digital-only stations as well as the BBC's existing national radio stations, and enjoy the benefits of digital audio broadcasting (DAB) with more choice and improved sound quality.Transmitters will be added both to bring coverage to areas without reception and to improve and reinforce reception where necessary. It is hoped to complete the roll-out by the end of 2011, with the first of the new transmitters coming on-air in the summer.

The plan includes:

- fifteen new transmitters for Scotland - including improvements in coverage for Glasgow and Dundee, and bringing coverage to both Shetland and the Western Isles for the first time

- ten new transmitters for Wales extending coverage through mid-Wales to Llandrindod Wells, across north Wales in Colwyn Bay, and improving coverage in south-west Wales to listeners in Pembroke and Carmarthen

- seven new transmitters for Northern Ireland - bringing digital radio to both Enniskillen and the North Antrim coast, as well as improving coverage in Belfast

- three new transmitters for Greater London and the Home Counties - boosting reception across the capital and providing - coverage to the Kent weald, as well as providing coverage to High Wycombe, Stevenage and Welwyn Garden City

- nine new transmitters for the south west - including extensions of digital radio to Newquay and Bodmin, Tiverton and Teignmouth

- two new transmitters for Derbyshire, including one for Derby itself, and further new transmitters for Saffron Walden, Shaftesbury, Stroud, and Sunderland

The transmitters will come on-air as project work completes at each one. Local announcements will be made as transmitters are switched on, with the BBC keeping its list of transmitters on-air up-to-date at bbc.co.uk/reception . The industry-wide DAB digital radio postcode checker will also be regularly updated to reflect new launches.

Tim Davie, the BBC's director of audio and music, said: "The BBC is fully committed to digital radio I'm delighted that we are now in a position to deliver on the BBC Trust's target to bring digital radio to 90% of the UK."

The BBC has five digital-only radio networks, all launched in 2002:

1Xtra - the best in new black music

5 Live sports extra - the home of live sport with exclusive coverage of live events

6 Music - the best of contemporary and classic rock and pop

Radio 7 - the best of BBC comedy, drama and books from the archive

Asian Network - news and music from the British Asian scene

- Listeners can also receive Radios 1 to 5 Live on DAB, along with more than 30 of the BBC's English local radio and nations services.

- The BBC's national digital radio coverage currently stands at around 86% of the UK population.- There are now more than 10 million DAB sets in the UK (GFK).

- Digital radios are available that offer users the opportunity to record and rewind their favourite programmes. Some DAB radios also offer an EPG letting users select and record their favourite programmes when they want.

- Digital radio offers improved reception and does not suffer from the interference and fading that can happen with AM and FM radio.

- Digital radio is a more efficient means of broadcasting. More networks can be transmitted, offering more choice for listeners.

- Digital radio can transmit text and data with the audio signal. A small screen on digital radios carries rolling text telling listeners what music they're listening to, who's being interviewed, and giving phone numbers and e-mail and website addresses.

- Digital radios are available from over 8,000 retail outlets across the UK and can also be bought on the internet.DAB digital radios are available from £25.

- Digital radio can also be received via digital television (satellite, cable and Freeview) and the Internet.

(Press Release)

Trans World Radio to launch on DAB

Trans World Radio (TWR) is set to launch on DAB digital radio on 1 April. The Christian broadcaster will be available to DAB listeners in the North West of England as they launch on the MXR multiplex, covering an area stretching from Nantwich in the south past Windermere in the north.

More at :

http://www.christiantoday.com/article/trans.world.radio.to.launch.dab/25203.htm

Sweden resumes DAB interest

by Mirza Zametica, 01.21.2010

STOCKHOLM, Sweden - The Swedish government halted digital radio investments in 2005 due to low consumer response. However, interest in digital radio remains.Network operator Teracom has been conducting tests of DAB, DAB+ and T-DMB. The tests include programming from commercial, community and public service broadcasters.

Read the Radio World story here ...

http://www.rwonline.com/article/93472

Pure Sensia DAB / WiFi radio gains touchscreen, streaming and Facebook

Ah, convergence. Pure Digital -- DAB and WiFi radio extraordinaire -- has just made live a product portal for its forthcoming Sensia, which looks to be a serious leap forward in terms of features and design.

Picture & full report at :
http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/20/pure-sensia-dab-wifi-radio-gains-touchscreen-streaming-and-fa/

Australians 'hesitant' over price of digital radio

Australian consumers want to make the switch to digital radio but are hesitant over the price, a survey says.An online survey of almost 8,000 shoppers nationally by electronics retailer Dick Smith found 77 percent of those polled would be likely to move to digital radio, news.com.au reports.But 67 percent also said they were only willing to spend less than A$150 (US$120) on the receiver - the current starting price of an entry level model.

Read the full story at :

http://www.abu.org.my/abu/index.cfm/elementid/53260/Australians-hesitant-over-price-of-digital-radio

DRM response to Digital Britain report

London, 6th July 2009: The DRM Consortium Steering Board, which represents almost 100 members, affiliates and supporters, has welcomed the publication of the British Government’s strategic vision encompassed in the Digital Britain Report but has asked DRM to be made part of the digital radio framework for the UK. In a letter sent to Department of Culture Media and Sport (DCMS), which published the report recently, the Consortium’s top decision-making body has pointed out that the Digital Britain report could miss out the opportunity to truly digitise Britain, especially in some rural and sparsely populated areas, by overlooking the valuable and economic solution offered by the Digital Radio Mondiale technology. Furthermore the Consortium has stated that a combination of DRM and DAB (which are complimentary technologies) would help deliver the goal of Digital Britain in a more complete manner for the radio market. The report has already identified DRM as a unique solution for Medium Wave digital transfer, and the DRM Consortium recommends its use on 26 MHz and of DRM+ (up to 174 MHz) as the solution for local radio, ultra local radio and small or specialised communities.

Ruxandra Obreja, Chairman of the DRM Consortium says on behalf of the Steering Board “The UK has made significant contributions to the development of both these digital broadcasting systems. Once radio is in the digital domain delivering the extra features the Digital Britain report presents so eloquently, it should not matter to the listener by which method they receive the full complement of channels and services no matter where they live in Britain. If the government recommends both DRM and DAB as the way forward, it will have the complete solution for comprehensive digital radio coverage of the UK."

(DRM Consortium Press Release)