BELGRADE, Serbia � The EBU partnered with Radio Serbia and WorldDAB in hosting the Digital Radio Seminar in Belgrade on June 8. The event brought together senior representatives from the Serbian media sector � government, regulators and broadcasters, as well as EBU Members from Bulgaria, Croatia, Romania, Hungary, Macedonia, Slovenia, Montenegro and Bosnia & Herzegovina.
EBU Technology and Innovation’s Marcello Lombardo (pictured) presented his research on the relative costs of distributing radio via DAB, FM or internet, showing the economic advantages of digital over analog, while demonstrating that IP-only delivery would be prohibitive, both for broadcasters and listeners.�The ideal situation preserves the broadcast backbone, while building attractive low-data hybrid features, according to ebu.ch/news.�
Milivoje Mihajlovic, director of Serbian radio, and Serbian Radio Chief Technology Officer Zorana Bojicic presented the ambitions of Serbia to move radio services into the digital age. Radio is flourishing in Serbia, but the FM platform is full, and space is needed to bring further innovation.� In their strategy, DAB+ will become the Serbian national standard.
Bojan Ram�ak of RTV Slovenia shared his country’s DAB+ experience. Digital radio broadcasts began this year there. Ram�ak�s information included reasonable prices for transmission, which have facilitated the entrance of both public and commercial stations to the digital arena in that country.
World DAB�s Bernie O�Neill spoke of developments that are happening across Europe, and moving increasingly fast, including the increased speed of French rollout, the legislation being discussed in Germany around obligatory digital capability in receivers, and the importance of mutual learning and the sharing of expertise within the digital radio community.
Meanwhile, in Austria, it was announced that two companies had reported their interest in the development of DAB+ networks across that country, and had done so by the deadline set forth by the Austrian media authority, reports OTS.at. The Austrian enterprise ORS has applied to develop a national network that will provide 11 different programs. RTG Radio technikum GmbH will develop a regional network centered in Vienna.�
DAB+ radio is currently available via a pilot operation in the greater Vienna area with 15 radio programs.�
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