With DAB well established in Switzerland and DAB+ services launching there last October, local/regional programs shortly will begin airing FM IBOC signals.
Radio Argovia, Radio Basel, Capital FM, Radio 24 and Radio Sunshine plan to start broadcasting with HD Radio technology this September, according to Swiss media consultant Ruoss AG.
The stations submitted the necessary applications to Switzerland’s Federal Office of Communications in January.
The five broadcasters introducing HD Radio to Switzerland filed jointly and hope to begin airing their IBOC signals on Sept. 1. They will use a total of eight digital transmitters. To them, HD Radio technology represents a low-cost, incremental digital technology that can be launched on a station-by-station basis.
RadioTrend AG and Ruoss AG said they would take the lead on technical preparations while another group will handle marketing issues such as getting receivers in the market. Some 50 equipment manufacturers produce HD Radio models, and a good portion of that equipment is suitable in Europe, said Ruoss AG. Multi-standard receivers capable of receiving regular FM, DAB+ and HD Radio broadcasts will be available for the launch.
Public-service broadcaster SRG SSR idée suisse, which operates services for the four national language communities of Switzerland, operates four DAB/DAB+ multiplexes carrying its various channels across the country. A private DAB+ multiplex was launched by SwissMediaCast in October with a mix of public-service channels from SRG SSR idée suisse and seven private commercial channels.
Related:
“HD Radio Could Be Commercialized in Switzerland Next September” (October 2009)
