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TILBAKE TIL.....UTENRIKS 2004
SISTE NYTT...INNENRIKS
UTENRIKS
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Verden: Men DAB var ikke død likevel
World DAB Forum, WDABF, reagerer sterkt på at mediemyndighetene i Berlin kaller DAB for avdanket teknologi.
I et åpent svarbrev hevder WDABF at dette er fullstendig feil.
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RADIONYTT.NO - 03.12.04 - KYRRE DAHL
Pressemelding fra WDABF:
An international response from WorldDAB to the recently published statement by the Berlin and Brandenburg Media Authority (MABB).
London, December 1, 2004 - The Media Authority of Berlin and Brandenburg is becoming more and more isolated from the rest of Europe – and, indeed, the world – in its support for other technologies at the expense of DAB Digital Radio. The Authority, which regulates media in the region, recently called for DAB Digital Audio Broadcasts to be scrapped in the Länder, saying the technology is “outdated” and a new standard should be adopted for digital radio by 2007.
Elsewhere in Germany, DAB broadcasting enjoys the support of local regulators and broadcasters. In this context, it might have been wiser for MABB to address the real issues with DAB in Germany, which have nothing to do with the technology itself. The existing strong industry support must be corroborated by the introduction of DAB promotion on the FM network, an increase in transmission power to improve indoor reception and an increase in available spectrum in Band III. These criteria will finally allow DAB to fully succeed in a country that has heavily invested in a technology that is robust, reliable, flexible, established and ridden with opportunities for future developments, such as in the world of multimedia content delivery and telecommunications.
Prof. Dr. Wolf-Dieter Ring, President of BLM, the authority responsible for commercial broadcasting in Bavaria, explains: “DAB is the ideal system for the digitalisation of Radio and for the broadcast of data services. The problem does not lie in the DAB standard, but rather in the lack of consumer awareness and of effective marketing. BLM is fully committed to building widespread DAB awareness amongst German consumers.” Along the same lines, Prof. Siegle of IMDR, the Digital Radio Marketing Initiative, says: “There is no better system than DAB to take Radio digital. The standard was adopted in Germany in 2000, and like all new technologies, we need to allow for a certain time-span before a full market is created. DAB plays a crucial part in the world of digital technologies, and the whole industry, in Germany and elsewhere, recognises that”.
In the UK, it is estimated that DAB radios will be in some 1.2 million homes by the end of 2004. Ian Dickens, chief executive of the UK’s Digital Radio Development Bureau says: “'In the UK, retailers are committed to DAB, manufacturers are committed to DAB, broadcasters are committed to DAB and, as a result, the radio market has been rejuvenated as more and more listeners discover the broad array of benefits DAB delivers over old analogue technology.”
Denmark, Italy, Spain, Norway, Belgium, Switzerland, Singapore, Taiwan, Canada, just some of the countries where DAB is supported by government and legislation; where DAB services are growing in popularity; where manufacturers are eager to ship product to meet an increasing demand. To date DAB has been adopted or tested in 40 countries worldwide. Katja Marcuslund, responsible for Digital Radio marketing at Denmark’s Radio and Chair of the WorldDAB Marketing Committee, says: “DAB is progressing fast in Denmark. All the criteria for success are in place. We have 17 DAB-only channels – 20 by 2005 -, good indoor coverage, full political back up and DAB receivers can be found in almost all retailers. Our marketing campaign is proving very successful. DAB awareness amongst the Danish population has been rising dramatically and next year we expect to reach more than 50.000 radios sold”.
Multi-national manufacturers such as Sony, Panasonic, Sharp, Blaupunkt, Philips, LG, Hitachi, Sanyo, Samsung, all household names in consumer electronics across the world, have DAB digital radio products in the market, with 123 types of receivers available to-date and 137 expected by year end. Major car manufacturers such as Vauxhall/Opel (General Motors) are line fitting DAB radios in many 2005 models. Leading broadcasters including the BBC, are embracing DAB digital radio as the way forward for audio services. Annika Nyberg, President of the WorldDAB Forum says: “DAB continues to grow around the world and to gather successes. More and more countries are showing their full commitment to DAB and Digital Radio and consumer awareness is growing steadily. Legislation is in place and receiver manufacturers are constantly motivated to penetrate new markets. DAB is an established worldwide reality ”
For the MABB to fly in the face of so much international cross-industry support for DAB digital radio is quite extraordinary. To call for an infrastructure that already exists in the region to be dismantled in favour of an expensive and commercially unproven technology is economically dangerous. And to ignore the evangelical enthusiasm for DAB digital radio among consumers in other parts of the world is short-sighted.
PM slutt
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