OSLO ��If you have been following the news about DAB from Norway, you know that, despite some resistance, the plan to transition from FM to DAB+, for thenational channels, is still slated to occur starting at the beginning of January next year.
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Wecovered this previouslyin Digital Radio Update.�
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Even so, those who are opposed to the transition continue to make their voices heard. A recent Ipsos poll,�sponsored by the Norwegian paper Dagbladet, indicates that nearly two-thirds of respondents are opposed to the transition.�
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The question posed in the Ipsos survey was:�”It is resolved that the FM network will be extinguished on 1 January 2017. After that time [you] must have DAB radio to listen to the radio.�Are you sure FM [should be] extinguished and radio signals moved from FM to DAB, or are you against it?”
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The results of the survey show that 65% are opposed the move, 16% were for it, and 19% said they do not know.
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Again, I want to point out a few things.
- ��It�s the nationwide FM channels that are transitioning to DAB from FM.�Local FMs have another 5 years of life, at least. Additionally, many Swedish FM stations make it in to Norway. To say that �you must have a DAB radio to listen to the radio� is not really true.�
- �The survey question implies the transition will occur on Jan. 1.� In fact it will start about that time, and happen over various regions of the country throughout the year.�
Dagbladet also reports the following quotation from Paul Lomeland, the CEO of Norwegian Local radio Association. �That the survey shows that Norwegians do not wholeheartedly embrace DAB technology comes as no surprise.� Despite massive campaigns of the national players, neither technical or substantive arguments failed to convince the broad layers of the radio listeners that DAB is something they need.��
The Ministry of Culture is the government agency behind the impending change and is quoted as saying: �It is not surprising that many want to keep FM, which [every]one knows well. [The] Technology shift from FM to DAB means that more people will be able to listen to the radio without harshness, and you [will] get more channels and preparedness [is] better because the web is less vulnerable.�The purpose of the transition to DAB is to give the audience a better and wider [set of] radio offerings with lower distribution costs,� writes political adviser in the Ministry of Culture, Maria GothNet, in an e-mail via the communications advisor Ketil Fr�land.
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