INTERNATIONAL EDITION
Global
Digital Radio
2018
October 2018 From the Publishers of Radio World International
INTERNATIONAL EDITION
Global
Digital Radio
Global Digital Radio 2018
2018 Sponsored by
October 2018 From the Publishers of Radio World International
4
A Look Into the South African DRM Trial
7
DAB’s Evolution Over the Last Year
10
Handling DAB+ Projects in Complex and Critical Environments
12
Digital Radio Continues to Advance in North America
Digital Radio continues its evolution. Whether it is the HD Radio, Digital Radio Mondiale or DAB standard, each technology has made notable progress in various regions of the world. The latest Radio World International eBook, Global Digital Radio 2018, delves deep into the details of this progress, exploring such topics as DAB+ status worldwide; digital radio in the car; the future of DAB, IP and hybrid radio; and lessons learned from the digital rollout Marguerite in Norway. Clark It also offers insight into the specifics of DRM trials that Content Director recently took place in South Africa; DRM coverage possibilities; as well as DRM updates from India. But that’s not all. This eBook additionally provides an update on HD Radio in the United States, Mexico and Canada; the IBOC standard’s expansion; the benefits it’s bringing to its customers; and more. Radio World has published almost four dozen eBooks exploring the many facets of radio station and network operations including mobile reporting, studio/transmitter links, visual radio, studio apps, social media, consoles, digital radio developments and more. Find recent issues at https://www. radioworld.com/resource-center/radioworld-ebooks. — Marguerite Clark
15
Norway’s Switchover Proves Challenging but Necessary
16
In-Car Digital Radio Leads the Way on Hybrid Development
18
GatesAir Completes DAB Transmitter Deliveries to Norway
20
Digital Can Save Shortwave’s Future GLOBAL DIGITAL RADIO 2018 Cover image: Thinkstock/Madmaxer
Radio World International Edition | October 2018
3
A Look Into the South African DRM Trial A demonstration of how small stations can be digitized
There is good news from Africa. A small township station in South Africa has undertaken an innovative Digital Radio Mondiale trial, proving that the standard can coexist with FM stations in the same band, thus maximizing the spectrum and allowing the possible insertion of another 50 stations without any interference in the crowded FM space of Johannesburg. DRM can operate in all bands above and below 30 MHz and has been successfully tested on medium wave by another community station, Radio Pulpit in Pretoria, in 2015. THE TEST
Images courtesy of DRM
By the Westbury Community Development Centre Trust (WECODEC) team
DRM in VHF bands, for local coverage (also known as DRM+ or DRM mode E), had never been tested on the African continent. But last year, the South African regulator, ICASA, granted a test license to the Westbury Com-
Fig. 1: Example configuration for DRM robustness mode E (DRM+) and FM signal.
One of the main objectives of the initial development of DRM in mode E was the possibility of a close placement of the DRM signal to an FM signal so that it can be flexibly configured depending on the existing use of spectrum. In this way, DRM Mode E may be introduced into the FM frequency bands. Fig. 1 illustrates how the DRM signal can be placed very close above or below the existing FM signal. To guarantee the protection levels and audio quality of the FM signal, the carrier frequency distance Δf and the power level difference ΔP of the FM and the DRM+ signals must be planned accordingly. Δf can be chosen according to a 50 kHz channel raster. Δf >= 150 kHz is recommended. ΔP can be varied flexibly; however, a ΔP > 20dB is recommended for the minimum Δf = 150 kHz according to previous evaluations. Fig. 2 confirms that there was no space for another FM station in Johannesburg except for perhaps one or two low-power community radio stations with a very limited coverage area. However, if one gap, as the one that identified during the trial, would work for DRM without any interference, this would prove that there could be suddenly plenty of
The Johannesburg WECODEC trial in Band II implemented a Nautel 2.5 kW transmitter operating at 175 W and 275 W.
munity Development Centre Trust (WECODEC) for eight months, effective from March 3, 2017. The license holder was Kofifi FM 97.2, a community radio station located in Westbury (on 101.25 MHz). The BBC World Service, Fraunhofer Institute for Integrated Circuits, Starwaves, Thembeka and Associates and other South African entities and members of the DRM Consortium collaborated in the trial. The trial’s main technical goal was to test the coverage delivered by DRM (in Band II) and understand if the new digital signal causes interference.
GLOBAL DIGITAL RADIO 2018 Radio World International Edition | October 2018
4
Images courtesy of DRM
Fig. 2: Overlay of scans of the FM spectrum in various parts of Johannesburg.
Fig. 3: Possible DRM allocations in the FM band in Johannesburg.
signal into Johannesburg’s crowded FM spectrum, from its small antenna on a hospital roof. For the Johannesburg WECODEC trial in Band II a Nautel 2.5 kW transmitter was used, operating at 175 W and 275 W resulting in an estimated ERP of 500 to 1000 W on a stacked four vertical dipole antenna located at Rahima Moosa Hospital in Coronationville. The approximate antenna height was 70 meters above ground level. Audio decoding was possible at almost all predicted areas and beyond and showed a similar or better behavior (depending on the terrain) than FM audio reception of the analog signal transmitted from the same site. Power consumption per channel (in DRM up to three channels can be transmitted on one single frequency bandwidth of 96 kHz) was much lower than for FM: 12 times lower for mobile reception and 30 times for fixed reception. Another way to put it is that during the trial it was also demonstrated that the adjacent channel RSG on 101.5 MHz transmitting at 33 kW ERP (18 dB stronger) did not impact the reception of the signal even in difficult indoor scenarios. Consequently, a separation of 250 kHz between an FM and a DRM signal in the FM Band is sufficient in case of mixed spectrum utilization. The trial measurements, taken in eight radial directions and using additional mobile measurement excursions
available digital spectrum in the FM Band, namely 16 allocations as shown (as thin red columns) in Fig. 3. And here is how it worked. The frequency 101.25 MHz is situated between 101.0 MHz (RSG Pretoria, 33 kW ERP, distance: 56 kilometers) and 101.5 MHz (RSG Johannesburg, 38 kW, 3 kilometers distance) with a delta f of each 250 kHz as shown in Fig. 4. Considering there are at least three sound services per DRM signal, in this scenario up to 48 additional sound services could be added to the current FM spectrum in Johannesburg. If going down to 200 kHz@-10 dB this number would increase even more. The trial operated under real live conditions, whereby a community radio station was trying to squeeze its digital
Continued on page 6 â?ą
Fig. 4: DRM allocation for the trial.
GLOBAL DIGITAL RADIO 2018 Radio World International Edition | October 2018
5
❱ Continued from page 5
with both professional and (pre-) consumer receiver equipment, confirmed the efficient use of spectrum. Another main finding was that both adjacent channels RSG Pretoria on 101 MHz and RSG Brixton on 101.5 MHz did not get interference from the DRM transmissions. Therefore, the WECODEC DRM trial successfully demonstrated that by its compact design and tiny bandwidth allocation, DRM Mode E (DRM+) is a suitable technology for a community radio station able to implement, operate and control this type of a digital sound broadcasting service, all on its own, if necessary.
Screenshots showing examples of how Kofifi FM implements the Journaline data service.
BENEFITS
The benefits for the community, besides better sound quality, are much lower operating costs (less power consumption, less maintenance on lower power transmission equipment, less replacement costs, in case of damage or loss), multilingual programs, free digital information systems (Journaline: comparable with social media but free of data charge) and content development programs to benefit youth, the disabled and other categories. The trial also evaluated the socio-economic benefits of DRM for the Westbury community and South Africa. Alongside the three audio services using the latest xHE-AAC audio codec, various text and data services, including Journaline advanced text, were also broadcast and successfully decoded with both professional and consumer receivers. Bitrates as low as 16 kbps per audio service provided good stereo quality and prove that, according to the official WECODEC report that “this technology is the most spectrum efficient solution currently on the market that will benefit the communities, have a huge impact on the licensing framework and will create jobs in South Africa.” The WECODEC trial also demonstrated how digital radio can respond to one of the key requirements of the South African legislation — universal access to information and education [ECA Act] for all citizens. The WECODEC trial, which has now been extended by the regulator until the end of 2018, demonstrates the efficiency of a completely free-to-air digital information service being broadcast by a community in South Africa (and whole of Africa). It has proven that universal access to information is possible without the use of broadband
internet and expensive airtime data. The current trial aims to achieve technology transfer and show how DRM can create new content. Additional sound and multimedia services will open opportunities for more educational programs, targeted programs for specific and large communities like the 11 million people with disabilities, interactive services (e.g. employment), weather and traffic information, emergency warning systems and many other benefits for citizens and communities. On Sept. 28, the Department of Communications published a policy directive regarding the introduction of digital sound broadcasting in the country. The statement recommends DRM for large coverage area (DRM30) in medium wave and DRM for local coverage in Band I and Band II (FM) or DRM+. “Such can be used to complement analogue FM sound services in the short to medium term and replace analogue service in the long term,” it stated in the report. n
GLOBAL DIGITAL RADIO 2018 Radio World International Edition | October 2018
6
DAB’S Evolution Over the Last Year More than 475 million people are now covered by DAB services By Bernie O’Neill Bernie O’Neill
The author is project director for WorldDAB. In the last 12 months DAB has reached a number of significant milestones. Across the world, more than 475 million people are now covered by DAB services and over 68 million receivers have been sold. In Europe DAB+ is firmly established as the core future platform for radio, with Norway having completed its digital switchover process last year, Switzerland starting from 2020 and the United Kingdom reaching over 50 percent digital listening — where the government will undertake a review to assess digital radio progress and determine next steps in due course.
vide clarity to manufacturers, who can benefit from the growing adoption of DAB+ in Europe and beyond. The logo is already being used in France, Germany, Austria, Belgium and the Netherlands and is free to use for all industry stakeholders and is available to download from the WorldDAB website. At the European level, in October 2018, the European Parliament proposed legislation requiring all new in-car radio receivers to be capable of receiving digital terrestrial radio. This proposal is similar to the Italian law that comes into effect in 2020 and the French receiver law that will be triggered when DAB+ coverage exceeds 20 percent of the population. This European proposal is currently under discussion between the European Parliament, The Council of Ministers and the commission and we expect further developments in early 2019. But while Europe and digital switchover have taken many of the headlines, some of the key developments have been in new and emerging markets. The launch of DAB+ in the city of Lille marked a turning point not just for DAB+ in France, but for Europe. It was a critical step in the “nodes and arcs” strategy of the Conseil supérieur d’audiovisuel and its radio working group Chairman Nicolas Curien. Lille is the fourth metropolitan area in France to have regular DAB+ services — in the future, 30 cities will be covered. With these develop-
TRANSITION
Following digital switchover in Norway we’re seeing listening figures stabilize and it’s clear that listeners love their new stations. The old stations were more tolerated than loved. Now one-third of all listening happens on the new stations. In Germany, a significant consumer marketing campaign has been taking place, driving digital
Some of the key developments have been in new and emerging markets.
listening and awareness. In Italy, public broadcaster Rai has approved the extension of DAB+ coverage, which will include most of Italy’s motorways, and Belgium expects to cover 99 percent of the population by the end of 2018. This year WorldDAB announced that, for the first time, there would be a worldwide common logo and complete toolkit for DAB+ branding and marketing. The new logo will help improve consumer awareness of DAB+ and pro-
Continued on page 8 ❱
GLOBAL DIGITAL RADIO 2018 Radio World International Edition | October 2018
7
❱ Continued from page 7
of the region. WorldDAB has held a number of workshops in partnership with the Asia Pacific Broadcasting Union on how to implement DAB+ services — the last saw delegates from 17 countries in Africa, the Middle East, Southeast Asia and the Pacific and we will be running more of these in 2019. Kuwait launched new DAB+ services in February 2018, with 16 services now on-air across the country and in the United Arab Emirates, The Telecommunication Regulatory Authority is working to introduce
ments, France joined the European family of DAB nations — Germany, Italy, Switzerland, Belgium, Netherlands, Norway, Denmark, Slovenia and the United Kingdom. Other markets are also following — Austria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Greece, Poland, Slovakia and Ukraine are all taking early steps on the DAB journey. Austria will launch national DAB+ services in 2019, Croatia has issued a call for interest for a DAB+ trial, in Greece DAB+ frequencies have been allocated for a national deployment of DAB+ and the first licensing law for DAB+ stations was passed in January 2018 and in Ukraine, four more DAB+ services were added in July 2018.
This progress is being driven by the need for radio to remain relevant in the face of new competition.
DEVELOPING MARKETS
Slovenia issued licenses for 13 stations for its first DAB+ network and the Broadcasting Council has proposed a switchover for the main channel of Slovenian radio stations to digital broadcasting to commence on Feb. 22, 2022. Outside Europe we’ve seen encouraging developments in South Africa, where the Deputy Minister of Communications Pinky Kekana stressed the benefits and importance of implementing digital radio, calling DAB+ “a game changer.” With many other countries watching closely, the development of digital radio in South Africa will have an impact across the continent. In Asia-Pacific, Australia continues to lead the way with DAB+ gaining 168,000 listeners to reach 3.6 million in the five metropolitan capital cities, according to the latest digital radio report by GfK. The total number of DAB+ receivers in Australia has now reached 3.4 million, including over 800,000 in-car units, as well as portable digital radios and home receivers sold through retailers. Thailand is soon to launch DAB+ trials and we’re seeing strong interest from the rest
DAB+. All of these developments are being driven by the need for radio to remain relevant in the face of new competition. Where FM spectrum is full, DAB+ addresses this situation by offering listeners new features and many more services. In developed markets we are seeing the proof that audiences love these new services — In the U.K, 19 million people each week listen to services not available to them on analogue networks. This has helped drive U.K. radio to new levels of success — and, in the last four years, advertising revenues have grown by 27 percent. All this has been achieved with a platform, which is free-to-air and with no reliance on third-party gatekeepers. As radio continues to go from strength to strength around the world, we look forward to welcoming even more listeners and broadcasters to the DAB+ family. n
GLOBAL DIGITAL RADIO 2018 Radio World International Edition | October 2018
8
Handling DAB+ Projects in Complex and Critical Environments Some considerations and real-world examples
GUESTCOMMENTARY
number of subchannels. The higher the number, the less capacity is available for error protection.
By Anke Schneider U.K. — DAB+ ETI VIA ASI
The author is sales and marketing manager at 2wcom.
In the United Kingdom for radio broadcasting, an Asynchronous Serial Interface (ASI) network was installed to distribute the signals of a radio program. ASI is normally used for transmitting MPEG transport streams. Anke Schneider At that time, this infrastructure had to be adapted for DAB+ distribution. The main challenge was therefore to encapsulate an ETI [Ensemble Transport Interface and predecessor to EDI] into an ASI transport stream, which was then decapsulated as an ETI stream and forwarded to the transmitter. In order to do this, it is necessary to use a suitable converter. In the first instance, the ETI data stream is transported from the ensemble multiplexer with a 2 MB line via SDH/PDH. The converter’s task is to encapsulate the ETI for further transmission into an MPEG transport stream. On the other side, a suitable receiver must be used to decapsulate the ETI signal from the MPEG transport stream and subsequently forward it to the transmitter via an E1 interface for older transmitters or converted to EDI for newer transmitters.
Goodbye to FM: Norway’s national radio service has become the first in the world to switch from FM to DAB+. More European countries are about to follow suit; but how to deal with legacy equipment or complex and critical environments remains an important question. Before we look at the possible system solutions, I would like to briefly explain the basic principles for the transmission of DAB+ under ideal conditions. The data signals for transmission with the DAB+ standard are normally provided by a service multiplexer. In the case of dynamic messages (traffic warnings, etc.), the information is provided by other sources. In order to transmit the components relevant to a signal, an ensemble multiplexer creates a multilayered ensemble data stream, transported via IP according to the EDI standard [Encapsulation of DAB Interfaces], which often replaces the former ETI standard [Ensemble Transport Interface] for transporting the DAB multiplex via E1 lines. This data stream contains audio, text and image, control and monitoring information. The frame structure of the DAB multiplex is structured into three channels. The “Synchronization Channel (SC)” and the “Fast Information Channel (FIC)” transport information for control and monitoring. The third channel is the “Main Service Channel (MSC)”, which is structured into subchannels, each containing one audio program or other data like images, etc. It is possible to increase transmission robustness by applying equal or unequal error protection to each subchannel, where each channel can also be protected differently. The level of error protection depends on the
CENTRAL EUROPE — DAB+ AS COST EFFICIENT AS POSSIBLE
In Central Europe, the existing infrastructure of legacy transmitters provides only one ETI interface, unable to process the EDI directly. Replacing all the old transmitters with new IP-capable transmitters is a very costly solution. A more economical alternative, but still quite expensive, is equipping legacy transmitters with EDI input cards if available. The most cost-effective option however is to use an EDI to ETI converters, which allows the use of EDI capa-
GLOBAL DIGITAL RADIO 2018 Radio World International Edition | October 2018
10
DAB+ distribution via satellite comprises a fully redundant, interconnected dual supply chain concept in which the single point of failure is moved to the simplest and most robust component (satellite redundancy switch).
feed. This difference should be compensated by a synchronization procedure. In order to equalize a delay time, a time stamp with 1 pulse per second is given to the signal itself directly at the multiplex and passed on via cable and via satellite. Based on this information, the required synchronization takes place at the transmitter. This is only possible if all devices in the two transmission chains are capable of handling 1 pps and can process the time stamp.
ble and legacy transmitters in parallel (this technique is already used in countries such as the Netherlands and Germany). SCANDINAVIA — DAB+ DISTRIBUTION VIA SATELLITE ALONGSIDE BROADBAND
Here the ensemble multiplex is provided via ETI (E1), to be distributed as EDI (IP). Broadband connections to transport the DAB+ signal as EDI are only available in urban regions. In rural or inaccessible regions like fjords or on oil rigs, as well as zones with extreme climatic conditions, broadband IP networks can’t be provided. This means for large parts of the country transmission of the DAB+ data signal via IP is limited by bandwidth. For the respective areas, the DAB+ multiplex is distributed via satellite. There are three important considerations related this scenario:
Here as well, a robust uplink configuration is required that is able to convert ETI to EDI or at a later date directly embed EDI into the MPEG2 transport stream, as well as flexible downlink equipment, that can provide both an EDI output, as well as an ETI output for legacy transmitter. EUROPE’S DAB/DAB+ FUTURE
Finally, I would like to point out the tenacious development of DAB+. Even if national and private broadcasters now have access to subsidies for the implementation of DAB+ in their structures, acceptance by listeners can only be achieved by a nationwide coverage. This means, on the one hand, broadcasters must be able to serve the various existing networks, the different DAB/DAB+ interfaces (ETI and EDI) and, on the other hand, they must also be able to deal with problematic, rural or inaccessible zones. Furthermore, added value — e.g. more program diversity should be offered — and the end-customer devices should be available at an affordable price. n
1. P reparation for the uplink: First, the ETI must be converted into an EDI in a reliable and fail-safe manner. It should also be possible to switch without service interruption to an alternative source in the event of equipment failure or loss of quality (seamless switching). 2. T o make the project cost effective, existing ETI-only capable transmitters need to be able to be used in the same way as newer EDI-capable transmitters. 3. W hen transmitting DAB+ via satellite, there is a delay time of 500 to 600 milliseconds compared to the IP
GLOBAL DIGITAL RADIO 2018 Radio World International Edition | October 2018
11
Digital Radio Continues to Advance in North America From Canada to Mexico, the IBOC approach benefits broadcasters and listeners alike By Rick Greenhut
radio station, even if their market had an open frequency (which many U.S. markets do not). In New York City, an HD2 channel is programmed exclusively in Russian. The lessee pays a flat fee to the radio station for use of that channel and sells advertising to local businesses catering to the huge Russian expatriate audience in the New York area. This is a win-win for all concerned; the station gets easy, guaranteed revenue with essentially no effort on their part. The Russian group gets their own radio outlet, which they can monetize and make a profit on. And the Russian language-speaking community gets to hear music and talk programming in their native language. In Toronto, a station has carried this concept even further. Canadian Multicultural Radio has created four distinct channels catering to speaker of various languages. It is the premier multiethnic, multicultural radio service in Toronto with an estimated reach of well over 1 million listeners in the Greater Toronto area. The station’s programming primarily targets South Asian communities, though catering to other regions as well. Programs in Bengali, Creole, Gujarati, Hindi, Kannada, Konkani, Macedonian, Malayalam,
The author is director, broadcast business development at Xperi Corp. More than 2,600 radio stations in North America have upgraded to HD Radio technology, creating some 4,300-plus individual channels of digital broadcast content Rick Greenhut by adding HD2, HD3 and HD4 programming. In fact, 79 percent of all radio listening in the United States is to stations that have already upgraded to the HD Radio digital standard. Almost 90 percent of the U.S. population lives within the signal coverage of a digital radio station. Forty auto manufacturers offer more than 265 vehicle models with HD Radio receivers, with over 65 percent of those models offering digital receivers as standard equipment. Today, there are more than 50 million HD Radioequipped cars on the road in North America, with another sold almost every three seconds, and well over half of all new cars sold this year will have an HD Radio receiver. Several U.S. markets are approaching 33 percent on-road HD Radio penetration, meaning almost one in three cars are fitted with HD Radio. Nationwide, almost 18 percent of all the cars in America have HD Radio receivers. Add in consumer home and portable radios and the total jumps to almost 55 million HD Radio receivers in North America.
Continued on page 14 ❱
U.S. radio broadcasters have long been utilizing HD Radio’s multicasting capability to serve diverse audiences that it had never been cost-effective to reach prior to the advent of multicasting. Stations have leased channels to local churches and foreign-language broadcasters, providing these groups with, in effect, their own radio station at a tiny HD Radio receiver tuned to WTOP-FM (USA) in a 2018 Volkswagen Golf. HD Radio features include Artist Experience, Digital Sound, Multicast and Program Info. fraction of the cost of obtaining and building out a GLOBAL DIGITAL RADIO 2018 Radio World International Edition | October 2018
12
Courtesy of Xperi
THE CURRENT LANDSCAPE
Photos courtesy of Xperi
HD Radio receiver tuned to UNO-FM (Mexico) in a 2018 Honda vehicle. HD Radio features include Artist Experience, digital sound, multicast and program info. ❱ Continued from page 12
Marathi, Nepali, Punjabi, Sinhalese, Somali, Tamil, Tagalog, Telugu, Tibetan, Twi and Urdu air regularly. CMR has individual HD Radio multicast channels dedicated to particular languages, with their HD2 channel broadcasting in Tamil, their HD3 channel in Hindi/Urdu and the HD4 in Punjabi. The main channel alternates between various programming in the other languages. All their targeted programming attracts local advertisers whose customers speak that particular language. From insurance to automobile dealers, from furniture stores to banking services, the ability for advertisers to speak to their clients and prospective clients in their native language is a powerful selling point for the station. In Mexico City, several stations are simulcasting their AM stations on an HD2 multicast channel, providing an FM outlet for the station at a time when AM is more and more difficult to receive in major urban areas due to interference and noise issues. HD Radio technology becomes the vehicle by which AM stations can transition their listeners over to FM without running the risk of losing any existing listeners.
Instrument cluster in a 2018 Honda vehicle tuned to ALFA-FM (Mexico). Cluster display shows ALFA-FM using Artist Experience.
in North America, today’s analog radios can still receive the main program channel of their favorite station. The additional digital channels and audio quality improvements can only be obtained when the listener upgrades to a digital receiver, however. HD Radio technology proves the ability to provide new services that benefit consumers and broadcasters alike. A great example is the Artist and Advertiser Experience feature. This is the technology’s ability to send a static image with an audio source, like album art or station or advertiser logos. This allows radio to have the same “look and feel” as satellite radio or the streaming service the consumer may already be listening to in their car. Expect to see this feature on more and more car radios as the U.S. mandate for backup cameras in all new cars causes additional manufacturers to add this capability in the 2019 model year and beyond. With all new vehicles coming with a screen in the dashboard, the cost barrier to adding this additional visual feature is lowered significantly. n
HD RADIO’S SUCCESS
In North America the decision was taken to not “orphan” three quarters of a billion existing radios and cause 18,000 AM and FM radio stations to have to start over to reach their existing audiences. From the beginning, commercial broadcasting has co-existed with the public broadcasting sector in all three major North American nations. Moving to a new frequency band as was done in Europe would have created an undue financial hardship for broadcasters and a difficult and costly transition for consumers. By using the IBOC [in-band, on-channel] hybrid approach
GLOBAL DIGITAL RADIO 2018 Radio World International Edition | October 2018
14
Norway’s Switchover Proves Challenging but Necessary The nation’s digital switch offers lessons for other countries still with us in August 2018. Analysts at Kantar Media estimate that the number of radio sets in use in Norway has almost halved with the switchover! So far only three of five Norwegians have a DAB+ radio or adaptJon er in their car. Adapters are Branaes still sold, but many listeners find them cumbersome, and some of the older models are frankly too poor to provide stable signals.
GUESTCOMMENTARY By Jon Branaes The author is the acting Head of Radio for Norwegian public broadcaster NRK. Oct. 8 marked 300 days since national radio stations in Norway switched off their last FM signals. What have we learned so far? The market looks different, as we expected. Some towns have gone from as few as one or two FM stations — or maybe seven or eight in some cities — to approximately 30. Here at the public broadcaster NRK, we’re proud that all our 15 stations finally reach everyone in Norway.
CORE STRENGTHS
Total listening is the lowest in our capital Oslo and the surrounding urban areas. There was always more to choose on FM there, and there is still commercial radio on FM in the city despite a lack of permit from the authorities. That’s why the switchover in Norway’s most populous areas is delayed.
DEMANDING
But the switchover is demanding, and far from over. Radio in Norway still has fewer listeners. A political debate about radio in Norway sprung to life last summer. The decline in daily reach after the switchover has energized lobbyists who are fighting digital broadcasting. Opponents of DAB+ in other countries are also cherry-picking Norwegian listening figures to tell their own versions of our story. But we know that listening is rising again in all age groups and regions. DAB+ is an investment for radio over the next decades, not a quick fix for a declining analog platform. Patience is key, even if it doesn’t make for good headlines. The summer of 2018 was the first without FM radio for more than half the Norwegian population. When radio sank to its lowest figures in the summer, like every year, numbers were red. But consider this: Since August 2017, when more than half of all Norwegians still had FM, there are 230,000 fewer daily listeners in a population of 5.5 million. Time spent listening in the population has only gone down from 78 to 75 minutes. Weekly reach has fallen less than daily reach: 95 percent of the listeners in August 2017 are
DAB+ is an investment for radio over the next decades, not a quick fix for a declining analog platform.
But Norwegians still choose radio when they think it’s worth choosing. The traditional “Easter Labyrinth,” a show on our largest station NRK P1 every Easter since the 1980s, reached an all-time high in daily reach this year, of all years. The Olympic Winter Games and the FIFA World Cup attracted so many listeners to our NRK Sport station that it rose from the usual share of 1 or 2 percent to more than 20 percent — Norway’s third-largest station during the events. The digital listeners know where to tune in when they want to. Continued on page 17 ❱
GLOBAL DIGITAL RADIO 2018 Radio World International Edition | October 2018
15
In-Car Digital Radio Leads the Way on Hybrid Development Improving listener experience is essential as the number of cars with digital radio increases Meanwhile our work on antenna and receiver sensitivity is providing a vital link between network operators and car manufacturers. The next steps will be to design suitable test tracks for auto manufacturers and to produce guidelines on how to achieve Laurence Harrison the best possible experience to drivers. This work is in its infancy but is already seeing results and we’ve been impressed with the positive response from the wider automotive industry since the guidelines were launched earlier this year. The next phase of the work being carried out by this group is on symbols, icons and terminology of digital radio in the car. The WorldDAB User Experience Guidelines are available to download from the WorldDAB website here.
GUESTCOMMENTARY By Laurence Harrison The author is chair, WorldDAB Automotive Working Group, and market development director, Digital Radio UK. In the last 12 months DAB+ has made significant progress — with all major markets increasing the proportion of new cars fitted with digital radio as standard. In advanced markets the majority of new cars are now sold with DAB+ as standard, with Norway leading the way with 98 percent, the United Kingdom close behind on 95 percent and Switzerland on 85 percent. As more countries roll out digital radio, attention is focused on converting the millions of cars already on the road to DAB+, enabling drivers to continue listening to digital radio across borders. As the number of cars with digital radio increases, it is essential that the listening experience goes above and beyond driver expectations, and WorldDAB has been working with the automotive sector to improve the user experience. The next step on improving the user experience is through IP and voice control, which is already being adopted by major automotive brands.
DAB+ DEVICES TO CONVERT CARS ALREADY ON THE ROAD WorldDAB has also created a working group, focused on the performance and user experience of aftermarket devices for DAB+ in the car. The Aftermarket Devices Working Group (ADWG) brings together broadcasters, device and antenna manufacturers, plus experts from the automotive industry, in an important collaboration for digital radio in the car. The group works on improving receiver performance, antennas, guidance on installation, marketing and all other areas to ensure aftermarket devices give the driver the best digital radio listening experience. The chairman of the group is Jørn Jensen, a senior advisor at NRK who was closely involved in helping Norwegian drivers convert to digital in the recent digital switchover. “The aftermarket sector has seen a significant increase in demand over the last few years, with more drivers looking to bring the extra choice and better quality of DAB+ into their cars,” says Jensen. “This group has been established to bring together all of the players from the value chain to ensure that drivers
AUTOMOTIVE WORKING GROUP In just two years the WorldDAB Automotive group has produced several significant pieces of work, which are already having an impact and being implemented by automotive OEMs — showing the benefits of close collaboration between the radio and automotive industries. Our research on the digital radio user experience (UX) in-car has enabled us to talk with confidence about how drivers use their digital radio and what they want to improve this experience. We were the first to produce guidelines for the car industry on the user experience of digital radio, and they provide clarity of what is supplied by broadcasters and an understanding of what a driver would like to experience when using a digital radio.
GLOBAL DIGITAL RADIO 2018 Radio World International Edition | October 2018
16
Photos Courtesy of WorldDAB
Close collaboration with the auto sector is vital, the author writes.
brings together the biggest names in the car industry and 2018 was no different, bringing together several major auto manufacturers and most of their tier-one suppliers. The conference is the only place where broadcasters and automotive OEMs can discuss together the future of digital radio in the in-car, market developments and growth and share plans and work being undertaken by broadcasters and the wider digital radio community to promote DAB+ in cars. These discussions are essential in delivering the best experience for the driver. n
get the best possible digital radio experience. This group is focusing on key areas including technology development and innovation, better performance, best-case marketing initiatives and installation programs and training. I encourage any interested parties to get in touch with the WorldDAB Project Office to find out more about the work or join the team in this Working Group.” AUTOMOTIVE CONFERENCE Every year the WorldDAB Automotive conference
❱ Continued from page 15
Radio must be based on broadcasting to reach everyone. If the gatekeepers and third parties of the internet get to control people’s access to our content, we won’t only lose control of our distribution. Radio’s competitive edge is at stake: simple, free and independent of middlemen. FM is not the future. Limited distribution of a limited content cannot compete when social media, YouTube, Spotify and other streaming services challenge radio. Radio must respond with its core strengths: being live and alive, useful and present in listener’s lives. DAB+ can keep radio relevant in a digital future of endless choices. n
More than half of all listeners had already gone digital back in 2015, or we wouldn’t have switched off FM as early as last year. Radio has not lost our biggest fans but the more casual listeners. They haven’t necessarily abandoned radio, many settle for the FM signals of local stations that can remain analog for a few more years. Some have replaced FM with internet radio. It has grown significantly since the FM switchoff, but we expect even more through smart speakers over the next few years. Web or app radio will go hand in hand with DAB+, but broadcasting is still bigger.
GLOBAL DIGITAL RADIO 2018 Radio World International Edition | October 2018
17
GatesAir Completes DAB Transmitter Deliveries to Norway The company has been involved in country’s digital transition since 1994 Photo courtesy of WorldDAB.
By Rich Redmond The author is president and managing director, International for GatesAir.
GatesAir has been involved in Norway’s DAB digital radio activity since the nation’s first tests in 1994. Upon the Norwegian government’s 2011 approval to switch off FM radio, the process of site planning and systems design went into overdrive, with a defined schedule put into place for site-by-site delivery. Seven years later, more than 1300 GatesAir Maxiva DAB radio transmitters have been shipped in support of NorDAB Radio listeners in Norway enjoy broadcast coverage on 97 percent of the roads throughout the country thanks to the extensive network of Maxiva transmitters. way’s commercial and public broadcasters for the world’s of wildly diverse geographical terrain. DAB radio will sigmost extensive digital radio network. nificantly lower operational costs by up to eight times the A pair of redundant air-cooled transmitters ranging operational costs of FM radio. That savings will be further from 50 W to 5 kW support over-the-air content delivery amplified after the network migrates content distribution from most sites. The move to all-digital radio in Norto EDI, a highly efficient IP-based protocol supported way offers a blueprint for other countries considering within Maxiva transmitters and the DAB radio standard. FM switch-offs. Foremost, the spectrum efficiencies of With modular transmitter designs that accelerated conDAB radio have initially expanded listener options from figuration and deployment of transmitters at each site, a single FM station — Lyden av Norge — to 15 unique, installers achieved overlapping integrations that reached high-quality digital radio channels that appeal to differas many as 14 locations per week at the project’s height. ent audiences and age groups. That multichannel capaMaintenance throughout the network is also simplified bility will open new revenue opportunities, including through a small inventory of common spare parts across advertising and other promotional initiatives that can be all transmitters, regardless of power level; with high-efstrategized across different channels. ficiency, solid-state designs reduce energy consumption The transition has also improved audio quality and and utility costs network-wide. n coverage across approximately 320,000 square kilometers
GLOBAL DIGITAL RADIO 2018 Radio World International Edition | October 2018
18
Digital Can Save Shortwave’s Future DRM can enhance HF services, eliminating traditional shortcomings vantages of medium wave and shortwave are overcome. This is exemplified by the following sound samples of the same BBC transmission recorded this spring in Europe and Africa with a 5,850-kilometer path over the equator. Listen here to an analog shortwave broadcast from the United Kingdom to Nairobi on 6190 kHz and to a DRM shortwave Ruxandra Obreja broadcast from the same place in the U.K. to Vienna on 3955 kHz. In high frequencies (shortwave and medium wave) there is only one digital sound-broadcasting standard that can be used to great effect. This is Digital Radio Mondiale. DRM can be used for digitizing radio in all frequency bands (both AM and VHF bands). Broadcasters can ensure gap-free coverage offering local, regional services, national and international services, whatever the size and geography of the area targeted, and at much reduced energy costs.
GUESTCOMMENTARY By Ruxandra Obreja The author is chairman of Digital Radio Mondiale. Recently the Australian government asked for answers to a very simple question: Should shortwave technology be used? If this question had been raised a few years ago, many broadcasters would have suggested the closure of energy-hungry shortwave transmitters. This is exactly what ABC, the, did in January 2017 to the dismay of some listeners, particularly in the Pacific islands. FLEXIBILITY
According to reports, the Australian foreign minister is even now claiming no support for the shortwave closure in the Pacific. Today the answer is more nuanced however, especially if the crackly analog shortwave (and medium wave jointly known as AM) is replaced by its digital version. Digital AM has solved many of the disadvantages of analog and as such should be considered with an open mind. Conventional free-to-air radio broadcasting by almost all broadcasters in the world has been for many years on the medium wave and shortwave bands. Shortwave is mainly used for overseas services. The signal is reflected from the ionosphere, which is between 175 and 300 kilometers above the earth. Shortwave can also be very effective domestically in covering the entire territory of larger countries such as India, Australia and Brazil, for example. These in-band analog transmissions using amplitude modulation (AM) suffer from quality degradation; on medium wave, due to noises generated by industrialization and on SW, due to changes in the position of ionospheric layers. Through digital, some of these analog disadThe DRM standard and its coverage possibilities. GLOBAL DIGITAL RADIO 2018 Radio World International Edition | October 2018
20
ADVANTAGES
Nigel Fry, head of distribution BBC World Service and member of the DRM Consortium Steering Board, comments: “DRM was seen as an efficient replacement for the analog AM transmissions. When we consider scarcity of spectrum for new uses and appreciate the characteristics of the radio broadcast bands we recognize the tremendous properties these continue to offer broadcasters to deliver programs over sometimes very large distances and The RNZI DRM service covers the South Pacific on 50 kW. areas or in difficult terrain.” He continues: “Where medium wave air, switching from regular programs to alerts and then frequencies and sites exist, multichannel (therefore quickly back. multi-language, too) DRM broadcasts can be offered at The largest digital market in the world is in Asia-Pacific. improved quality, with reduced energy bills and running India has rolled out DRM and already has 37 transmitters costs. Unlike analog, DRM allows one frequency to be on air with simulcast analog — digital and pure digital used repeatedly for the same service over a large area signal on air, as well as 1 million cars with line-fit DRM (a single-frequency network), making more efficient receivers on the road. The Indian public broadcaster is use of the spectrum. DRM can transform the quality of making huge strides in using it internally and internationthe services on the AM bands to be clear and free of ally as can be seen in this article published in May 2018 any of the interference and distortion. The standard titled “Digital Radio Mondiale an Update from India.” provides text information and images, to complement In New Zealand, RNZI has been using DRM for 12 years programs offering an enhanced experience to the lisas an inexpensive distribution method. The broadcaster tener. Recommended by ITU, DRM digital broadcasting reconverts DRM signals to analog in many Pacific islands, has been proven to work excellently in the shortwave which receive the service via DRM rather than expensive and medium wave bands. These bands remain key for satellites. Thus, DRM eliminates satellite rental costs and international broadcasting delivering services without retains a reliable signal during heavy rain to feed local FM constraints of local ‘gatekeepers.’” stations. DRM also offers multiservice data including Journaline This use of DRM by RNZI was also highlighted here: text services, slideshows, multilingual text, and the emer“RNZ Pacific Using DRM to Feed Pacific Relay Stations.” gency warning functionality (EWF) in case of disaster. Though it might look like shortwave and medium wave DRM can deliver audio, text alerts, maps to an affected could be on the way out, several countries like India, area only. Indonesia, South Africa, Taiwan, Russia, Hungary, Brazil, Here is an example of how an emergency alert mesSouth Africa are seriously looking, testing and implesage can be inserted, when several programs are on menting digital AM. China itself seems committed to DRM in medium wave and shortwave (tested in April and July 2018). Moreover, according to reports, China Radio International has taken over some of the ABC Radio Australia’s old shortwave frequencies in the Pacific: 9580 kHz and 7240 kHz. This shows that once abandoned for a perceived quick gain, these frequencies can be snapped up by others seeing value in them. Often once lost, these frequencies cannot be regained. Whenever broadcasters are not closing but replacing old large transmitters, such as in Oman, Saudi Arabia, with new ones these are often “DRM-ready.” How about actually using them in digital? DRM allows Audio programs on one frequency in a normal situation and with the insertion of an emergency alert with normal programs temporarily suppressed.
Continued on page 22 ❱
GLOBAL DIGITAL RADIO 2018 Radio World International Edition | October 2018
21
❱ Continued from page 21
for a smooth transition to digital as it can use existing network planning, even exiting transmitters, antennas, sites etc. In addition, DRM, delivers significant power savings (using SW or MW in DRM can reduce the power used up to 80 percent), spectrum efficiency (more programs — up to three and one data channel can be broadcast on one single frequency used now for one program only in analog) and extra services. There is no other band or service where the benefit of digital is more evident than in shortwave, as DRM, unlike analog, offers enhanced and stable audio quality that is FM-like (mono or stereo). Imagine being in New Delhi, London, Hamburg or Johannesburg and being able to listen to a program from the other side of the world in perfect sound and with accompanying images and extra services. All free and easy no data plan required. n
DRM Rollout in India Progresses Digital Radio Mondiale has recently registered significant milestones in India. These include extensive coverage, new features and 1 million cars with DRM receivers on the road. All India Radio has embarked on a new phase of its DRM rollout. Currently there are 35 medium wave transmitters and four shortwave transmitters on air covering some 600 million people with DRM digital signals in both simulcast and pure DRM. The broadcaster is focusing on improving the sound quality using the latest audio codec xHE-AAC and introducing new benefits offered by media applications such as the text service Journaline and the Emergency Warnings Functionality, both part of the DRM standard. EWF was successfully demonstrated by AIR in the spring. The extra features of DRM became available after the installation of five content servers in key cities. More are to be installed in the future. In September, Prasar Bharati, the country’s public service TV and radio broadcaster, officially instructed all AIR radio stations to promote digital radio. This will increase the awareness of digital radio to listeners who are just learning about this platform but also to other broadcasters, the receiver and car industry, distributors and retailers. AIR is now taking a wider view of DRM. At the end of August, the AIR Director General stated in a public hearing held by the Ministry for Information and Broadcasting that AIR would support the use of DRM in the VHF band II (FM) in response to the regulator’s general recommendation of digitizing FM. (The government’s decision is still awaited). Today there are more than 1 million cars on the Indian roads with factory-installed DRM receivers provided at no extra cost to the buyers. DRM’s achievements and receivers will be presented at the Broadcast Engineering Society — BES — conference and exhibition in New Delhi in January 2019. — Radu Obreja
October 2018
www.radioworld.com FOLLOW US www.twitter.com/radioworld_news www.facebook.com/RadioWorldMagazine
CONTENT Managing Director, Content Paul J. McLane, paul.mclane@futurenet.com Content Director Marguerite Clark, marguerite.clark@futurenet.com Senior Content Producer — Technology Brett Moss, brett.moss@futurenet.com Content Manager Emily Reigart, emily.reigart@futurenet.com Technical Advisers Thomas R. McGinley, Doug Irwin Technical Editor, RWEE W.C. “Cris” Alexander Contributors: Africa: Gregory Lagat, Lameck Masina, John Masuku; Asia: Md. Azizul Alam Al-Amin, Martyn Green, Frederick Noronha, Mark Timpany; Australia: James Cridland; Europe: Andy Bantock, Kevin Branigan, Giuseppe Camonita, Nuno de Sousa, Charles Flores, Blazo Guzina, Lawrie Hallett, Will Jackson, Hans K. Kristjansson, Drew Leifheit, Raúl Llarull, Urmas Loit, Marc Maes, Davide Moro, Emmanuelle Pautler, Panos Polyzoidis, Bernd Trutenau, Andreas Tzanakos, Thomas Völkner; Latin America: Jorge J. Basilago, Carlos Eduardo Behrensdorf, Juan G. Buenaventura; Eduardo Curuchet, Arturo Valentino; New Zealand: Nick Gerritsen; North America: John Bisset, James Careless, Scott Fybush, Randy J. Stine Production Manager Caroline Freeland Managing Design Director Nicole Cobban Senior Design Director Karen Lee ADVERTISING SALES Publisher, Radio World International Raffaella Calabrese, raffaella.calabrese@futurenet.com, +39-320-891-1938 VP/Media Technology Group Carmel King, carmel.king@futurenet.com, 703-852-4602 REPRINTS/PERMISSIONS This publication may not be reproduced or quoted in whole or in part by printed or electronic means without written permission from Future. To obtain permissions, contact Wright’s Media, 877-652-5295. MANAGEMENT Managing Director/Senior Vice President Christine Shaw Chief Revenue Officer Luke Edson Chief Content Officer Joe Territo Managing Director/Europe Mark Burton Head of Production US & UK Mark Constance FUTURE US, INC. 11 West 42nd Street, 15th Floor, New York, NY 10036-8002
All contents © 2018 Future Publishing Limited or published under licence. All rights reserved. No part of this magazine may be used, stored, transmitted or reproduced in any way without the prior written permission of the publisher. Future Publishing Limited (company number 02008885) is registered in England and Wales. Registered office: Quay House, The Ambury, Bath BA1 1UA. All information contained in this publication is for information only and is, as far as we are aware, correct at the time of going to press. Future cannot accept any responsibility for errors or inaccuracies in such information. You are advised to contact manufacturers and retailers directly with regard to the price of products/services referred to in this publication. Apps and websites mentioned in this publication are not under our control. We are not responsible for their contents or any other changes or updates to them. This magazine is fully independent and not affiliated in any way with the companies mentioned herein. If you submit material to us, you warrant that you own the material and/or have the necessary rights/permissions to supply the material and you automatically grant Future and its licensees a licence to publish your submission in whole or in part in any/ all issues and/or editions of publications, in any format published worldwide and on associated websites, social media channels and associated products. Any material you submit is sent at your own risk and, although every care is taken, neither Future nor its employees, agents, subcontractors or licensees shall be liable for loss or damage. We assume all unsolicited material is for publication unless otherwise stated, and reserve the right to edit, amend, adapt all submissions.
Future plc is a public company quoted on the London Stock Exchange (symbol: FUTR)
GLOBAL DIGITAL RADIO 2018 Radio World International Edition | October 2018
INTERNATIONAL EDITION
www.futureplc.com
22
Chief executive Zillah Byng-Thorne Non-executive chairman Peter Allen Chief financial officer Penny Ladkin-Brand Tel +44 (0)1225 442 244