Radio broadcasting is an important part of public service media, and like all forms of the media, it is subject to technical evolution. Radio broadcasters have been faced with a very complex technical landscape for some years, as technology has developed, and the relationships between radio and internet, and between radio and mobile services have multiplied.
With management in mind, EBU TECHNICAL has prepared a report outlining the choices radio broadcasters face today, which is available to EBU Members.
"Digital radio opportunities in Europe 2008"
As an example of the choices, one of them is audio compression technology. The compression technology used in conventional DAB broadcasts, though good, is several time less efficient that more recently developed compression algorithms. Thus, starting from a 'green field' the new compression systems can multiply the number of radio stations available in a given bandwidth. On the other hand, this has to be traded off against the availability of receivers with the new algorithm, and any inconvenience to existing radio users. The report doesn't provide simple answers to the questions of choice, but it does provide much evidence and fact on which to base them.
The EBU Technical Assembly meeting earlier this year in Mainz stressed the need for concerted effort to rationalise the digital radio situation in Europe. Different nations are choosing different digital radio technology. This can only mean lower production volumes, higher consumer prices, and greater consumer inconvenience. The broadcaster, the manufacturer, and the public will all loose unless Europeans are prepared to agree with each other on radio technology.
Baseline European digital radio
The world where an FM car or portable radio could be bought and used anywhere in Europe is slipping away like sand through our fingers. A major effort is now underway with the consumer electronics industry, the broadcasters, and the body WorldDMB to define a baseline European digital radio. This is not proving simple, but it is certainly worth the effort.