DRM Goes to Brazil

The Digital Radio Mondiale consortium plans briefings this week for the Brazilian broadcasting industry on the DRM digital am, shortwave and long wave system. DRM experts from Brazil, the U.K. and Portugal will outline the system’s technical specifics in seminars in Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo, hosted by BBC Brasil and CBN.
More than 50 broadcasters have begun transmitting DRM programs, in preparation for the upcoming launch of DRM-capable receivers, according to the consortium promoting the technology.
On March 16, DRM will be discussed as part of a 2-day conference for students and journalists organized by BBC Brasil and CBN, at PUC RIO, Rua Marquês de São Vicente, 225, Gávea, Rio de Janeiro.
On Wednesday, March 17, broadcasters and regulatory officials will be treated to an evening session about DRM at the Sao Paulo British Centre, rua Ferreira de Araujo, 741, Pinheiros.
On Friday, March 19, DRM will be discussed as part of a 2-day conference for students and journalists at PUC Sao Paulo, Rua Monte Alegre, 984 Perdizes, in Sao Paulo.
BBC Brasil, the BBC World Service, BBC R&D, VT Merlin Communications, and Radiodifusao Portuguesa will participate.
John Sykes, the BBC’s Head of Transmission, stated, “Brazil is a large country in which is difficult to provide universal coverage using traditional FM. Medium-wave and short-wave delivery are used at present, but they cannot offer the quality which listeners now expect. DRM can solve this problem.”
“DRM is particularly advantageous to broadcasters in large countries, since it offers excellent coverage even over long distances,” stated Americo Martins, head of BBC Brasil.