The Media Intelligence Service of the European Broadcasting Union has identified key factors for the successful deployment of European radio digitization according to the EBU’s website. It is available for download.
Six months of research concluded with the launch of a digital radio toolkit that illustrates real-life best practices for digital radio deployment in Europe: Norway, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.
The researchers identified 30 success factors ranging from institutional structure, policy and regulation, content and offer, technology, switchover process, public communications, consumer electronics and the car industry.
According to Dr. Roberto Suárez Candel of MIS, the report recommends: identifying benefits for stakeholders; foreseeing risks and uncertainties and managing potential impact; and creating opportunities for all.
The report builds on the EBU’s recommendation on Digital Radio Distribution in Europe (EBU R 138), which suggests the deployment primarily of DAB+ services and, if DAB coverage is not possible, the use of Digital Radio Mondiale as a broadcasting alternative.
“The digital switchover is not an issue that broadcasters can tackle individually,” said the Head of EBU’s Radio Unit, Christian Vogg.“The technological transition has proven to be more challenging than originally imagined. Conflicts and divergence are common among players, so understanding that terrestrial radio cannot remain an ‘analog island’ in a digital environment is crucial to achieving effective coordination among all stakeholders. It’s about creating win-win situations.”
