DRM Framework to be integrated into the ATSC 3.0 Digital TV Platform

Fraunhofer IIS, primary developer of the xHE-AAC audio codec, the DRM Consortium, and Sinclair Broadcast Group (Nasdaq: SBGI), a leading provider of local sports and news in the U.S., are joining forces to bring the best possible digital radio experience based on DRM to ATSC 3.0 digital TV

platform users on all platforms including mobiles.

This collaboration aims at establishing the seamless transport of DRM based services with all their advanced digital radio features on the ATSC 3.0 TV platform. This allows DRM broadcasters to create the DRM content once and then distribute it simultaneously and terrestrially via dedicated digital AM/FM transmissions and on the digital TV platform. Listeners can enjoy a full-featured digital radio experience across all broadcast platforms using any reception device – from stand-alone radio and TV sets to mobile phones and in-car receivers.

"Both the ATSC 3.0 digital TV and the DRM digital radio standards are really gaining momentum all over the world. With the recently started rollout in the US, the ATSC 3.0 TV standard has proven to be a success. It also receives growing attention in more and more countries worldwide including India. The same holds true for DRM digital radio, which is adopted in a steadily growing number of countries all over the world. Bringing the rich digital radio experience of DRM to the innovative ATSC TV platform is a perfect win-win situation for users and broadcasters alike," says Alexander Zink, Senior Business Development Manager for Broadcast Applications at Fraunhofer IIS.

Sinclair Broadcast Group and Fraunhofer IIS have identified immense potential resulting from this tight technology integration, which deploys DRM as the common digital radio solution across multiple transmission platforms. A demonstration is currently in preparation to prove the easy transmission of existing DRM based digital radio services over ATSC 3.0, and to showcase the easy integration of DRM reception on ATSC 3.0 receivers, including mobile phones.

This joint project is expected to open the door to close collaboration between the respective standard bodies, the ultimate goal being the adoption of both standards worldwide for the benefit of broadcasters and listeners alike.

Press Release :

Fraunhofer and Sinclair to Collaborate Towards Integrating Digital Radio Mondiale Framework into the ATSC 3.0 Digital TV Platform

https://www.audioblog.iis.fraunhofer.com/sinclair-drm

DRM India Trial proves to be the ideal digital radio standard also in the FM band

Digital Radio Mondiale – DRM India Trial proves to be the ideal digital radio standard also in the FM band

The international, not-for-profit DRM Consortium has just concluded the demonstration and trial of the DRM digital radio standard in the FM band (VHF band-II) in New Delhi and Jaipur on March 22nd.  It was highly successful and generated a lot of interest.

The overwhelming success of the trial, which had started on February 24th, was registered in all the aspects required by Prasar Bharati (All India Radio): extensive features allowing radio innovation for broadcasters and listeners, excellent coverage, flexibility, spectrum and power efficiency, and proven CTI spectrum compliance.

In Delhi, the trial demonstrated excellent results when transmitting a single DRM signal, multiple pure digital DRM signals side-by-side from the same transmitter ("Multi-DRM" configuration), and also using DRM's simulcast option by putting on air both an analogue FM and a digital DRM signal from a single transmitter.

The Multi-DRM option proves DRM's highly economic potential when it comes to frequency and equipment upgrades: A single FM-band transmitter with a bandwidth of 600 kHz can transmit 6 independent DRM signals (blocks) carrying up to 24 DRM services, e.g. 18 audio and 6 multimedia services. These can represent up to 6 independent broadcasters who remain in full control over their individual content and signal configuration.

In Jaipur, the DRM Consortium showed on a separate antenna on the same tower for the first time in a live on-air environment, how Multi-DRM configurations with 4 and even 5 DRM blocks (each capable of carrying up to 3 audio services and one multimedia service like Journaline), can perfectly and efficiently use the white-spaces in-between two existing analogue FM services, while not affecting the reception of those ongoing FM services at all.

DRM services can be broadcast from the same 'Common Technical Platform' (CTI) in use today, housing multiple FM transmitters with a shared site and antenna. However, DRM takes this concept a step further by also turning the FM-band transmitter itself into a shared resource. This approach, ideal for the quickest introduction of digital services in the FM band without affecting the existing analogue services, not only minimises the one-time equipment investment for broadcasters in addition to the significant power cost savings. It also opens the door, for example, for public broadcasters to provide many regional services across the country from every local transmitter site by installing a single FM-band transmitter.

The trial in India proved the excellent expertise, cooperation and support of the DRM Consortium, whose 100 members' aim is to promote the only digital radio standard to upgrade existing AM and FM band services while maintaining established industry business models and regulatory aspects. Key Indian and international companies giving their full support to the trial included: Fraunhofer IIS, Nautel, NXP, RFmondial, Technomedia, BECIL and the DRM Indian Platform, along with various receiver manufacturers and automotive Tier-1s.

During the demonstration, DRM clearly showcased that the DRM standard, used in the FM band is backward compatible and receiver ecosystem for both AM and FM band services, is ready for India's mass market, based in the in-country know-how build-up and chipset design and production over the past years, which in turn is enabled by DRM being an open standard with all specifications published. Even DRM receiver models made in China today are based on Indian technology and DRM chipsets.

The DRM receivers in operation during the trial all supported DRM in both AM and FM bands. They comprised car receivers (line-fit and customer installed receiver upgrades), DRM reception on mobile phones and tablets, portable and desktop radios, as well as professional monitoring receivers.

With regards to car receivers, the trial was supported by companies like Mobis (Hyundai demo car), Harman (Maruti-Suzuki demo car), Starwaves' "India CarBox Radio" (customer installed car radio upgrade solution) and the whole DRM Automotive India Group. The DRM Automotive India Group, a recently launched industry representation body to help with the DRM roll-out, has already requested Prasar Bharati, All India Radio (AIR) and the government to support DRM in-car radios for both AM and FM band services, as the upgrade of existing car receivers to support DRM in FM band is a mere firmware upgrade without requiring redesigns or hardware changes. Therefore, DRM is perfectly positioned to quickly roll-out FM-band support by building on the over 2.5 million cars already deployed in India with DRM fitted receivers today.

Also proven was DRM's capability to being received on off-the-shelf Android phones deployed in India today by the billions, thanks to the Fraunhofer DRM MultimediaPlayer Radio App. DRM made the point that existing phone owners can easily upgrade their devices without the need to immediately buying new models, simply by attaching an external off-the-shelf dongle. The same dongle can also be used with tablets, laptops and desktop PCs to receive radio services, in all broadcast bands, not only in analogue but in DRM digital. too. The user-friendly radio handling, low battery consumption and stellar reception sensitivity of such solutions was demonstrated.

For the future deployment in India, native support of DRM FM-band reception is easily possible on all phones supporting analogue FM reception today by way of a simple firmware upgrade, without requiring manufacturers to add hardware components or carry out costly re‑designs. In addition, the superior xHE-AAC audio codec in use by DRM is already a default feature of all major mobile phone platforms, saving manufacturers IP royalty payments.

In both Delhi and Jaipur, a variety of portable and mobile DRM receivers checked the excellent performance of DRM in all configurations and at impressive distances from the transmitter. The broad variety of receiver types included a range of models of the Gospell 216 and the GR-22x series, the Starwaves DRM Stereo Radio Receiver W293, as well as multiple RFmondial RF-SE professional monitoring receivers.

Today, DRM has been adopted in India for successfully digitizing the AM bands. Extending the same global, open, non-proprietary DRM standard to the FM-band will not only save manufacturers enormous cost (as there is NO additional IP royalties) and lead to more affordable receivers for India. It will also create new revenue opportunities for commercial broadcasters, thanks to the option for multiple audio programmes and the Journaline advanced and interactive text feature. DRM in the FM band will also bring significant distribution and energy cost savings for better coverage, given that a single DRM transmitter can broadcast the DRM signals of multiple broadcasters and thus become a part of the cost-shared CTI infrastructure. In addition, DRM proved it can be introduced in the otherwise unusable frequency gaps between existing analogue FM services, while not affecting those FM services or their coverage at all.

The DRM Consortium is thankful for their great cooperation to All India Radio experts and staff and to all those who have made this highly successful, high-tech and ultra-efficient trial possible. It urges the Indian government to extend the use of the single DRM standard as the common solution for all radio bands in India: for maximum manufacturing efficiency and receiver penetration, for best-in-class features and coverage efficiency, for full support of the Indian automotive industry, and for building on the DRM know-how, expertise and manufacturing industries built-up in India over the past years for a speedy digitisation of the FM band.

For more information on DRM and how to get involved in the work of the Platform please go to: www.drm.org.

5x Multi-DRM signal as shown in Jaipur in-between two high-power analogue FM services

Basic DRM transmission with 3 audio services +Jounaline and slideshow (with station logos and Unicode support)

                                     DRM provides drivers with traffic and travel information

 

Fraunhofer IIS brings comprehensive MPEG audio codec suite to NXP Semiconductors

Erlangen, Germany: Fraunhofer Institute for Integrated Circuits IIS, inventor of mp3 and primary developer of the xHE-AAC and MPEG-H Audio standards, announced that NXP® Semiconductors will leverage Fraunhofer's MPEG audio SDK. This software package covers four generations of audio codecs: legacy MPEG Layer-1/2/3 as well as the next-generation MPEG-H 3D Audio standard and the AAC codec family, including xHE-AAC. NXP will incorporate these codecs into its multimedia system solutions, which raise the bar for audio quality in home entertainment products, such as set-top boxes, soundbars or smart speakers.

Fraunhofer IIS has more than 30 years of experience in the development and optimization of audio codecs and has already licensed its software to over 1000 companies. "NXP's SoC products provide a compelling platform for Fraunhofer's MPEG audio decoder SDKs and will drive the rapid market adoption of our audio solutions by the leading consumer electronics manufacturers," said Dr. Nikolaus Färber, Head of Audio for Embedded Systems department of Fraunhofer IIS.

"The MPEG audio codecs from Fraunhofer IIS are an excellent fit for our high-quality multimedia systems solutions," said Rob Oshana, Vice President of Software Engineering R&D from NXP. "We plan to fully integrate MPEG-H 3D Audio, xHE-AAC and the legacy codecs into our Immersiv3D™ audio solution for i.MX 8M SoCs."

NXP also plans to leverage the Fraunhofer MPEG-H Audio System Trademark Program to test its MPEG-H decoder implementation. This will indicate to manufacturers that NXP's decoder implementation fulfills all mandatory requirements of Fraunhofer's MPEG-H Audio System trademark program.

About MPEG-H Audio

MPEG-H Audio, substantially developed by Fraunhofer IIS, is the industry's most advanced audio system for UHD-TV and streaming. It supports both immersive sound and the ability for users to adjust elements in the audio to their preferences. MPEG-H has been on the air since 2017 on all TV networks in South Korea under the new ATSC 3.0 standard. It has also been selected for new broadcast standards to be launched in China and Brazil and is the distribution format of the new immersive music streaming service 360 Reality Audio. Fraunhofer offers MPEG-H software implementations for many popular CPU, SoC and DSP platforms. It is widely deployed today in TV sets, premium soundbars and high-end smart speakers.

About xHE-AAC

xHE-AAC is the ideal solution for digital radio broadcasting and for adaptive audio and video streaming services over the Internet, thanks to its coding efficiency (with a bit rate range from 12 kbit/s to 500 kbit/s and above for stereo services) combined with seamless bit rate switching over DASH and HLS as well as mandatory MPEG-D DRC loudness and dynamic range control. The codec is natively supported by the Android 9 and 10 operating systems, as well as iOS 13 and Amazon Fire OS 7.

(Press Release)

DRM at IBC 2019 - Going from Strength to Strength

DRM Highlights 'Smart Radio for All' at IBC 2019

Under the overarching theme "DRM – Smart Radio for All" the DRM Consortium had two interactive sessions looking at the practical implementation of DRM in various parts of the world. The sessions also focused on new receivers and enhancements to DRM equipment.

The first event on Friday 13th September hosted by Gospell under the title "The Gospell Receiver – End to End Solution for Your Needs", highlighted great developments in digital DRM roll-out in China and new upgrades, multi-feature and multi-standard receivers (such as the GR22) and receiver solutions from the company.   Gospell announced three DRM products; an affordable DRM receiver, car adapter and a professional measurement receiver.

On Saturday the 14th,  during an interactive sess

ion, held at the Nautel booth a panel of digital radio experts from the Consortium, answered questions on the latest implementation of DRM across the world (India, China, South Africa, Russia).

Fraunhofer IIS provided more details on the latest major release of the new DRM ContentServer R7 head-end technology for Digital Radio DRM (and DAB+). The DRM ContentServer R7 enables broadcasters to ensure consistent loudness within one programme and between programmes and builds resilience with backup audio coding to get over any interruption.

During the Nautel event RFmondial also demonstrated its advanced multiplexed DRM modulation for the FM band, that allows broadcasters to transmit multiple DRM channels on one physical transmitter.

Participants were also able to see and ask questions about the new all-band receiver, the result of the cooperation between Nedis, the Dutch consumer goods company and STARWAVES (an innovative technology radio solution company).  

On the panel were: Ruxandra Obreja (Chair, DRM Consortium), Wendell Lonergan (Nautel), Alexander Zink(Fraunhofer IIS), Haochun Liu (Gospell), Thembeka Khaka (Thembeka Khaka & Associates) and Jan Hein Knip (Nedis).

Ruxandra Obreja, the Consortium Chairman, says that: "IBC 2019 was great for DRM.  New roll out programmes and demos in India, China, several other Asian countries, Russia, Africa and Europe.  New receiver solutions, a new car adapter and improved transmitters and content servers.  DRM is going from strength to strength."

Consortium members at the IBC exhibition included: BBC, Encompass Digital, JVCKenwood, NXP, RFmondial and Sony.

From R to L - Haochun Liu (Gospell), Ruxandra Obreja (DRM, Chair,) Wendell Lonergan (Nautel), Alexander Zink (Fraunhofer IIS), Thembeka Khaka (Thembeka Khaka & Associates), Jan Hein Knip (Nedis)

(Press Release)

Digital Radio Mondiale at IBC 2018: ‘DRM Drives Forward’

Digital Radio Mondiale (DRM) is gearing up for an exciting presence and new announcements at this year's International Broadcasting Convention (IBC) in Amsterdam 14th—19th September. IBC is the leading global tradeshow for broadcasters and media professionals and attracts over 1700 exhibitors from all over the world.

Under the overarching theme "DRM Drives Forward" the DRM Consortium has arranged a series of events aimed at giving a full picture of the many DRM global developments that have taken place in the last 12 months, with relevant announcements for the future. At all DRM events participants will be able to receive the latest updates on market developments in India and the rest of Asia, Africa, Europe and attend demonstrations of all the latest and this time also new DRM broadcast equipment and receivers. The DRM series will be kicked-off with an exciting event hosted by Fraunhofer IIS. This event will focus on one African country and how DRM can deliver for a lot of large countries with diverse communities and needs. A good opportunity to bring you some breaking and exciting news from India, too.

All those interested are invited to meet DRM experts, broadcasters and manufacturers: Fraunhofer IIS and several members of the DRM Consortium on Friday 14th September (Hall 8 B80 from 1500 to 1630), Nautel on September the 15th between 1530 and 1700 (Hall 8 C49). And Sunday 16th September Ampegon is inviting all those interested to a special event from 1100 to 1300 (Hall 8 E62).

Ruxandra Obreja, the Consortium Chairman, says that: "The Consortium members want to give those attending a concise view of DRM across the globe and discuss, based on real experiences, the practical ways of implementing DRM. New broadcast and receiver equipment on display will give everyone interested in the digital future of radio the confidence that DRM can be used now to deliver full country coverage and enhanced services to all listeners. DRM makes possible an immediate digital future for all broadcasters large or small, offering more programme choice to listeners, extra multimedia services, emergency warning functionality with increased energy savings and spectrum efficiency."

If you want to attend the DRM events, please contact: projectoffice@drm.org

(Press Release)

License Programme for DRM’s Audio Codec MPEG xHE-AAC Announced

San Francisco, April 18, 2016—Via Licensing Corporation announced today that a patent pool license for Extended High Efficiency AAC (xHE-AAC) is in the final stage of development.

 

xHE-AAC is the most recent update to the Advanced Audio Coding (AAC) family of technologies standardized by ISO MPEG. xHE-AAC combines an optimized speech coder with a high-performance general audio coder resulting in a single audio coding system capable of achieving exceptional results at low bit rates with any type of audio content, whether speech, music, or ambient sounds.

 

xHE-AAC is ideally suited for radio broadcast, which combines a variety of content from talk radio to voice over music or sound-effects to purely musical program content. For this reason, xHE-AAC has been selected as the audio coding format for Digital Radio Mondiale (DRM), a digital radio system designed to work over existing analog radio broadcast infrastructure, including shortwave. Apart from radio broadcast, xHE-AAC is well suited for radio streaming services, especially over congested networks. Due to its coding efficiency and scalability, with stereo bit rates as low as 12 kilobits per second xHE-AAC enables streaming services over 2G networks such as those found in emerging markets, and it can save bandwidth costs for service providers and consumers even on 3G and 4G LTE networks.

 

A number of xHE-AAC essential patent owners have been working to establish the patent pool with Via Licensing, including Dolby Laboratories, Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute (ETRI), Fraunhofer IIS, Koninklijke Philips N.V., Orange S.A., Sony Corporation, and VoiceAge Corporation. 

 

Royalties for the xHE-AAC license are expected to be as follows:

 

Volume  (per unit/annual reset)        Per-Unit Fee*

 

For the first 1 to 500,000 units           $1.08

For 500,001 to 1,000,000 units          $0.88

For 1,000,001 to 2,000,000 units       $0.78

For 2,000,001 to 5,000,000 units       $0.70

For 5,000,001 to 10,000,000 units     $0.67

For 10,000,001 to 20,000,000 units   $0.47

For 20,000,001 to 50,000,000 units   $0.45

For 50,000,001 to 75,000,000 units   $0.40

For 75,000,001 and more units          $0.35

 

* Preliminary; subject to change, pending availability of the license

 

The xHE-AAC program is designed to make it easy for current and future AAC pool licensees to add a license grant for xHE-AAC to an existing AAC license agreement. Similarly, reporting a mix of both AAC and xHE-AAC products is streamlined for AAC licensees. The license fees presented above are inclusive of the underlying AAC patents. In other words, xHE-AAC licensees will not be paying twice for the patents that are granted under the AAC Patent License Agreement.

 

"We are very pleased that the xHE-AAC patent pool is nearing launch," said Joseph Siino, President of Via. "Via and its licensors have supported the Digital Radio Mondiale initiative for many years. As the format evolves, just as the AAC codec family itself evolves, it is important for us to aid commercialization of the technology by simplifying access to the essential patent rights for manufacturers and developers worldwide."

 

The xHE-AAC patent pool is expected to launch in the second quarter of 2016.

 

About Via Licensing Corporation

 

Via Licensing Corporation is a wholly owned subsidiary of Dolby Laboratories, Inc., a company with more than 50 years of experience in innovation and technology licensing. Via is dedicated to the development and administration of licensing programs for mandated, de facto, and emerging standards on behalf of innovative technology companies in the audio, broadcast, wireless, and automotive markets. For more information about Via, please visit vialicensing.com. 

(Press Release)

Digital Radio Mondiale™ (DRM) holds successful General Assembly at Fraunhofer IIS Headquarters in Germany, April 5-6 2016

The 2016 General Assembly of the DRM Consortium took place on 5th and 6th of April at the headquarters of Fraunhofer IIS in Erlangen, near Nuremberg (Germany).  The theme for this year's event was "Digital Radio Mondiale – Smart Radio for Everyone".

This event held in conjunction with the DRM European Workshop gave an opportunity to Consortium members and invited guests to get together and exchange exclusive information on DRM in one of the most innovative research institutes in the world.  During the General Assembly the participants reviewed the excellent progress made in India, the interest shown in some of the Asian countries and the planned DRM+ trial in South Africa. The commercial launch of the full-feature DRM Indian receiver, of the line-fit car receiver in a top Indian car model, the traffic information demonstration for cars, the multimedia player and the software defined radio receiver were practical examples of DRM progressing significantly in the past 12 months. The DRM members welcomed the decision of Hungary to recommend DRM alongside DAB for its digitisation and encourage therefore the production of analogue/DRM/DAB receivers.

Besides the country updates the company updates, including that from its newest member, Panasonic, were the highlights of the event.

The DRM General Assembly elected its Steering Board and Ruxandra Obreja as Chairman. It also welcomed representatives of the PBC (Pakistan Broadcasting Corporation) and RRI (Radio Republik Indonesia) as observer members of the Steering Board.

The General Assembly approved the future strategy focused on getting DRM receivers so that digitisation can be enjoyed by all broadcasters large or small for the benefit of their listeners.

Ruxandra Obreja, DRM Chairman said: "DRM is digital radio for all as became so evident during the presentations and discussions on these two days and during the following European workshop. With effort, dedication and open mind DRM can now turn promise into reality."

The DRM European workshop which overlapped with the General Assembly also began today (Wednesday 6th and also on the 7th), being organised by the Consortium, Fraunhofer IIS and by the DRM German Platform.  Joachim Lehnert, Platform Chairman, explained that: "The event will focus on the receiver and car industries. We need multi-standard radios in Europe which can and should include DRM reception in the AM and in the VHF bands."

---

DRM Consortium

pressoffice@drm.org

www.drm.org

DRM General Assembly 2016 at Fraunhofer IIS, April 5-7th

Digital Radio Mondiale™ (DRM) General Assembly to be held at Fraunhofer IIS Headquarters in Germany , April 5-7th 2016

The 2016 General Assembly of the DRM Consortium is scheduled to take place on Tuesday 5th and Wednesday 6th of April and is being hosted by Fraunhofer IIS at their headquarters in Erlangen, near Nuremberg (Germany).  The theme for this year's event is "Digital Radio Mondiale – Smart Radio for Everyone".

During three days the DRM members and invited guests to both the General Assembly and the European Workshop (scheduled for April 7th) will have a chance to get together, review and exchange exclusive information on DRM in one of the most innovative research institutes in the world.  During the General Assembly the members and guests will review the DRM outstanding activities and achievements of the past year.

 

"This is also the time to address all the remaining challenges and participate in shaping the strategy of the next year", says Ruxandra Obreja, DRM Chairman. This past year witnessed some visible progress and impact on receiver developments with the launch of the first made in India receiver and the first DRM receiver in an Indian car. Receivers remain at the top of our priorities and part for the big push to see digital radio take hold in key markets across the world."

The General Assembly will take place on April 5th for half day and on April 6th full day. On the 6th afternoon, the GA will overlap with the start of the first DRM European Workshop.  The European workshop is being organised for the first time by the DRM German Platform. Its Chairman, Joachim Lehnert, explains what drove the members to take this initiative: "The event will focus on the radio receiver and car industry and the need for the provision of multi-standard radios in Europe which can and should include DRM reception in the AM and in the VHF bands."

To register for the General Assembly events on both days please contact projectoffice@drm.org.

 

To register for the European workshop please fill in the form here.

 

About DRM

Digital Radio Mondiale™ (DRM) is the universal, openly standardised digital broadcasting system for all broadcasting frequencies.

The DRM standard comprises of two major configurations: 'DRM30′ intended for broadcasts on short, medium and long wave up to 30 MHz and providing large coverage areas and low power consumption. The configuration for the VHF bands above 30 MHz is called 'DRM+', tailored for local and regional coverage with broadcaster-controlled transmissions.

All DRM configurations share the same audio coding, data and multimedia services, service linking, multiplexing and signalling schemes.

 

DRM provides high quality sound combined with a wealth of enhanced features: Surround Sound, Journaline text information, Slideshow, EPG, and data services.

For more information and DRM updates please visit www.drm.org or subscribe to DRM news by writing to pressoffice@drm.org.

--

DRM Consortium

E-Mail: pressoffice@drm.org

Site for DRM: www.drm.org

Software package for car radios with DRM – Digital Radio Mondiale

Erlangen, Germany, March 10, 2016: A new generation of car radios is just around the corner. These devices receive information not by analog transmission, but digitally – for example, via the new standard, DRM (Digital Radio Mondiale). The advantages: increased sound quality, along with the ability to simultaneously transmit images and text information. Researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute for Integrated Circuits IIS are now offering device manufacturers a new software package with a decoder for DRM+, and in so doing have pushed digitization one step forward. DRM+ was developed for digital transmissions in the FM band and rounds out the DRM standard.

In a sense, FM radios are true antiques: for decades, they have relied on traditional analog signals. Digital transmission, however, makes for a far superior listening experience. Rather than being sent over the airwaves in analog form, the information is broadcast digitally. An antenna picks up the signal, and software embedded in the radio converts it back into music. The result: enhanced audio signal quality.

In the digitization of FM frequencies, many countries are moving to the new standard, DRM – short for Digital Radio Mondiale. India, with over a billion potential radio listeners, is but one example. The digital information is transmitted via the same frequencies that radio broadcasters have used for analog transmission for decades. Up to now, however, the introduction of the DRM standard has been delayed because broadcasters are waiting for device manufacturers to build DRM-capable radios. The manufacturers, in turn, have been holding back production until the broadcasting companies switch over to digital transmission signals.

The researchers at Fraunhofer IIS are stepping up to help accelerate the international DRM rollout. After developing high-quality receiver software for the DAB standard, which is popular in Germany and Europe, it was a logical step for Fraunhofer IIS to take a comparable approach to DRM. "As with our established DAB software package, we have now developed receiver software for the complete DRM standard," reveals Thomas Dettbarn, scientist at Fraunhofer IIS. "The radio manufacturers can build on a proven modular system, thus shortening their development times and, in turn, reducing their costs. This allows them to focus on integration and application development."

A central component of the modular system developed by Fraunhofer IIS, and the heart of any digital radio, is the baseband decoder. This converts the transmission signals received from the broadcaster into digital data streams. In the DRM standard, the sound quality is ensured by the new audio codec MPEG xHE-AAC – the successor to HE-AAC v2, which has a track record of success in DRM and DAB+. Numerous service decoders for the representation of text, images, and other value-added information are available as additional components of the modular DRM system. Of special note here is the text information service Journaline: similarly to teletext on TV, it presents specific information from the broadcaster that the users can read while listening to their favorite station. This may be news, weather reports, sports results, or station contact details for participating in the radio program. Journaline is also part of the DRM Emergency Warning Functionality, or EWF. In the case of an alert, EWF enables DRM receivers to switch automatically over to the emergency program, in which the audio announcement is accompanied by text giving multilingual details and instructions on looking up further needed information.

For manufacturers, Fraunhofer's modular approach to DRM means that they can select various features according to their own radio designs and compose the functional range of their devices as required.

(Fraunhofer IIS Press Release)

Major Upgrade to the Fraunhofer IIS Content Server Technology Highlight New Features for Digital Radio Systems

Erlangen, Germany/Amsterdam, Netherlands, September 11, 2015 – IBC, hall 8, Booth B80: At IBC Fraunhofer IIS introduces its ContentServer R6 technology, which will immediately be available for controlled operation in form of products of Fraunhofer's OEM partners. The flexible and highly reliable one-box broadcasting solution enables broadcasters to get rich content on air over the digital radio standards Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB) and Digital Radio Mondiale (DRM). Thanks to continuous development by Fraunhofer, broadcasters benefit from the latest standard upgrades and improvements including the effortless configuration of the Emergency Warning Functionality (EWF) and full support of MPEG xHE-AAC audio coding for DRM.

The ContentServer R6 technology combines internal audio coding, support for remote audio encoders, multimedia data management and multiplex generation with powerful redundancy features that work across remote sites. A convenient user-friendly web interface supports configuration and system monitoring via remote access, enabling Content-as-a-Service operation scenarios.

"The ContentServer technology has earned a reputation worldwide for highest reliability and quality. The greatly enhanced functionality of the ContentServer R6 technology allows broadcasters to bring audio content and attractive data services on air with ease. Due to its flexible configuration, it provides the ability to perfectly match the diverse needs of broadcasters and network operators from community stations, to local or regional broadcasters, up to large-scale national networks. At the same time, receiver manufacturers benefit from the solution's ability to reach close to 100 percent test coverage regarding signaling, audio configurations, data services and multiplexing options when operated in its Developer Edition," said Alexander Zink, product manager of the Fraunhofer ContentServer technology at Fraunhofer IIS.

One strong building block of the ContentServer technology's favorable reputation is its out-of-the-box support for a large number of versatile interfaces for audio and content provision, which allow straightforward integration into broadcasters' and network providers' broadcast environments. With R6, the range of supported interfaces is further enhanced, along with advancements such as new redundancy features – including local backup audio encoding in case of failing external audio provision – and innovative network structuring options such as Extended STI-C, where centralized service multiplexers feed into regionalized DAB networks.

Additional new features of R6 include:

• Emergency Warning Functionality (EWF) to quickly alert the public when disaster strikes

• xHE-AAC as the standard audio codec for Digital Radio Mondiale (DRM) and support for multiple PAD multimedia applications per audio service

• Internal Audio encoders with AES67-AoIP live audio input (Livewire, Ravenna) as well as advanced support for remote audio encoders

• Powerful Monitoring System controlling all system functions including content provision

• Data provision via established protocols XML/JSON RPC API

The ContentServer is typically located in the studio, playout center, transmitter site, or within the dedicated network provider premises with full remote control for administration and data provision. The Fraunhofer ContentServer R6 technology is available for DAB and DRM as a complete package, including hardware and specific customers support services, from Fraunhofer's OEM partners.

To experience the new features of the ContentServer R6 technology visit Fraunhofer at IBC in Hall 8, Booth B.80 from September 11 to 15 at the RAI Congress Center in Amsterdam, or one of Fraunhofer's OEM partners.

A convenient user-friendly web interface supports configuration and system monitoring via remote access, enabling Content-as-a-Service operation scenarios.

When it comes to innovative audio technologies for the rapidly evolving media world, Fraunhofer IIS stands alone. For more than 25 years, digital audio technology has been the principal focus of the Audio and Multimedia division of the Fraunhofer Institute for Integrated Circuits IIS. From the creation of mp3 and the co-development of AAC to the future of audio entertainment for broadcast, Fraunhofer IIS brings innovations in sound to reality.

Today, technologies such as Fraunhofer Cingo for virtual surround sound, Fraunhofer Symphoria for automotive 3D audio, AAC-ELD and EVS for telephone calls with CD-like audio quality, and MPEG-H Audio that allows television viewers to adjust dialogue volume to suit their personal preferences are among the division's most compelling new developments.

Fraunhofer IIS technologies enable more than 8 billion devices worldwide. The audio codec software and application-specific customizations are licensed to more than 1,000 companies. The division's mp3 and AAC audio codecs are now ubiquitous in mobile multimedia systems.

Fraunhofer IIS is based in Erlangen, Germany and is a division of Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft. With nearly 24,000 employees worldwide, Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft is comprised of 66 institutes and research units making it Europe's largest application-oriented research organization.

For more information, contact Matthias Rose, matthias.rose@iis.fraunhofer.de, or visit www.iis.fraunhofer.de/amm.

Head of Corporate Communications Thoralf Dietz | Phone +49 9131 776-1630 | thoralf.dietz@iis.fraunhofer.de | Fraunhofer Institute for Integrated Circuits IIS | Am Wolfsmantel 33 | 91058 Erlangen, Germany | www.iis.fraunhofer.de |

(Press Release)

Digital Radio Mondiale at IBC 2015: ‘DRM: Clear and Flexible Digital Radio’

Digital Radio Mondiale (DRM) is already preparing for this year's International Broadcasting Convention (IBC) in Amsterdam 10th-15th September. IBC is the leading global tradeshow for broadcasters and media professionals and attracts over 150,000 visitors every year from over 160 countries worldwide.

Participants will also be able to see and hear the latest on digital radio (DRM30 and DRM+). Recent and exciting market developments in Asia, Africa, Europe and Latin America will feature large, as well as equipment (including new receivers).

All those interested are invited to meet DRM experts, broadcasters and manufacturers:

Fraunhofer IIS on Friday 11th September unveiling in Europe the first India-made DRM receiver, from 1400-1500 (Hall 8 B80)

Thomson Broadcast on Saturday 12th September, from 1100 to 1230 (Hall 8 C35)

Nautel in the afternoon between 1530 and 1700 (Hall 8 C49) under the banner "New Developments in DRM Transmitter Technology"

And Sunday will feature a joint event between Ampegon and Transradio from 1100 to 1230 (Hall 8 D35)

Ruxandra Obreja, the Consortium Chairman, says that: "Last year we made an exciting announcement and we hope that 2015 IBC will be even better for all those interested in digital sound broadcasting technology with the increasing interest in DRM and the co-existence of DRM with other similar technologies".

Other DRM members present at IBC are: GatesAir, RIZ Transmitters and RFmondial.

If you want to attend the DRM events please contact: projectoffice@drm.org

(DRM Consortium Press Release)

Fraunhofer IIS and KeyStone Introduce World’s First Journaline on Android Phones by Bluetooth Radio Wizard Technology

Fraunhofer IIS and KeyStone Demonstrate Digital Radio Advanced Text Service Journaline on Android Phones by Employing KeyStone’s Bluetooth Radio Wizard Technology at IFA and IBC 2012

 

Journaline content can now be browsed conveniently on Bluetooth enabled smart phones and tablets, even if the digital radio receiver itself only provides a minimalistic text screen or no screen at all. BRW supports multiple radio standards such as AM, FM, DAB/DAB+, DRM (DRM30/DRM+), HD Radio, etc.

 

Read the press release here :

http://www.prweb.com/releases/prweb9842032.htm

Comments at alokeshgupta@gmail.com

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)

Fraunhofer IIS announces the worldwide launch of Diveemo the new small-scale video service for Digital Radio Mondiale

Fraunhofer IIS Announces the Worldwide Launch of Diveemo the New Small-Scale Video Service for Digital Radio Mondiale, World's first Diveemo live broadcast showcased at IBC 2010,
demonstrating unprecedented DRM services

Fraunhofer IIS, the leading innovator of technologies for cutting-edge audio and multimedia systems, today announced the worldwide launch of Diveemo new small-scale video service for Digital Radio Mondiale (DRM) at IBC 2010. Initiated as a joint effort between Fraunhofer IIS, Thomson Broadcast & Multimedia and Chengdu NewStar Electronics, Diveemo delivers cost efficient large-area distribution of education and information video programs via DRM.

Developed by Fraunhofer IIS, Diveemo will be showcased Monday, 13 Sept. at the launch event hosted by the DRM Consortium at the Thomson booth, 1.D11. The launch will feature the world's first Diveemo transmission of a live video broadcast with BBC content displayed on a NewStar DRM receiver. The service will also be showcased at the Fraunhofer IIS booth 8.C81 for the duration of the IBC 2010 exhibition. DRM transmissions over shortwave have virtually unlimited coverage possibilities ranging from 100 to well over 5,000,000 square kilometres depending on the transmission conditions and broadcast parameters. The service opens the door to a large range of unprecedented information and education services and is an ideal platform to reach audiences worldwide with a single DRM transmitter or an even more cost-efficient DRM single frequency network. Diveemo offers free-of-charge reception and is independent of gatekeeper and third party providers like satellite and cable networks.

"Fraunhofer IIS developed Diveemo together with its partners Thomson and NewStar as the unique and cost-effective way to reach millions of people anytime, anywhere with a single terrestrial DRM transmitter," said Alexander Zink, project manager of Diveemo at Fraunhofer IIS. "With the low-cost implementation on the transmitter and receiver side, Diveemo allows broadcasters to reach audiences that otherwise could not participate easily in up-to-date sharing
of latest information and education programs and that so far were dependent on audio-only radio services."
Diveemo is designed to offer a convenient mobile small-scale video service experience, allowing users to quickly switch between channels and enjoy consistent audio and video even under bad reception conditions. A video stream can be accompanied by one or more audio streams, allowing for synchronous, multi-language support. Diveemo enabled receivers also feature all the benefits of the DRM Digital Radio standard, such as service selection by Unicode compatible station labels, alternative frequency signalling and switching, announcement and warning/alert features. Diveemo is on track to be standardized by ETSI in the near future.

(Press Release)