The Digital Radio Mondiale Consortium came to the IBC Show in Amsterdam eager to present developments related to the DRM digital radio standard.
The nonprofit group represents DRM, which it bills as the only standard serving “all coverage scenarios” from the longwave AM bands through VHF Band III (174–240 MHz).
It pointed to developments from several member companies that our readers know, including Nautel, Fraunhofer and Starwaves, that have “enhanced the whole transmission-to-listener chain,” according to a release.
Visitors to the IBC Show got to see a new DRM and DAB+ capable VHF high-band transmitter, a joint automotive digital radio solution and a new Android app that adds DAB+ support.
But the news that had “everyone’s attention” at the show, according to the consortium, was China’s August announcement of a sovereign implementation of the DRM standard in its AM broadcast bands, which we reported.
The consortium also referenced ongoing efforts to develop a standard in China for an “In-Vehicle Wireless Reception System,” which includes DRM.
VHF Band III coverage
The booths of manufacturers RFmondial and Plisch at the IBC Show included a DRM-DAB VHF Band III transmitter that allows 15 DRM signals to be transmitted from a single transmitter. According to the DRM Consortium, it’s the first transmitter to support DRM in the 174–240 MHz spectrum.
The consortium said 15 independent broadcasters can run up to 45 audio services along with 15 DRM multimedia services, such as Journaline, within a 1.5 MHz VHF Band III channel.
According to the consortium, Indonesia recently asked for VHF Band III-capable equipment. To fulfill the request, the two manufacturers designed the solution through Plisch’s Medium Power Transmitter 5600/5700 Series with RFmondial’s digital DRM modulator and exciter LV5e.
DRM and DAB+ in cars
RF2Digital, which specializes in the software-defined radio automotive market, announced their work toward developing a multi-standard automotive digital radio receiver in conjunction with research institute Fraunhofer IIS.
[Related: “How WorldDAB’s Bierhorst Makes the Most of the IBC Show”]
Their goal, the consortium said, is to develop a digital and USB-capable solution in cars that includes DRM’s Emergency Warning Functionality and DAB’s Automatic Safety Alerts.
The platform will support AM and FM analog, as well as all bands of DRM, combined with either DAB+ in VHF Band III or the Chinese Digital Radio standard, depending on the market.
Fraunhofer IIS also presented an upgraded version R8 to its ContentServer head-end technology for DRM and DAB+. It allows stations to put audio content and multimedia services, such as Journaline, directly on the air. ContentServer also provides a graphical overview of a station multiplex, including live content previews and source status.
New DRM and DAB+ SoftRadio app
The Switzerland-based DRM supplier Starwaves also demonstrated its new DRM and DAB+ SoftRadio App for Android. The app is available for purchase on the Google Play Store alongside its original DRM-only app.
The consortium said the app supports all core DRM and DAB features: service management with metadata descriptions to DRM EWF, the DAB ASA alarm signaling standard and multimedia applications such as TextMessages/DL+, Journaline and SlideShow.
The next DRM General Assembly will take place in Jakarta, Indonesia, in March 2026, the consortium said.
DRM Consortium members represented at IBC 2025 include All India Radio, Ampegon, BBC, Encompass, CML Micro, DAC System, Fraunhofer IIS, Kintronic, RFmondial, Nautel, NewGlee and Starwaves.
