[A-DX] Fw: [dxld] Digital Radio Dims - Same debate, same outcome

["Wolfgang Bueschel" <BueschelW@xxxxxx>]

FYI
Die Bürokraten schliessen weitere Kurzwellenstationen.
Prag ist am 7. Jan. 2010 dran.


Cut, cut, cut

Radio Prague, the Czech international broadcasting service, may relinquish
short-wave for the internet. The Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which
funds Radio Prague, wants the budget cut by 20%, says IDNES.cz (October 16).
A Radio Prague spokesperson confirmed receiving a letter from the Ministry,
with a suggested cut off date of January 7, 2010.

Several international broadcasters of modest means - nonetheless well
respected - have abandoned short-wave broadcasting for other means. A few
years ago Swiss Radio International (SRI) dropped its short-wave services
and morphed into Swissinfo on the Web. High transmission costs and questions
about listener impact were cited. (JMH)


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Mike Terry" Sent: Saturday, October 24, 2009 9:49 AM
Subject: [dxld] Digital Radio Dims - Same debate, same outcome

> ftm Radio Page
> October 24, 2009
>
> Broadcasting luminaries gathered in Paris hoping to light the digital
> future. Another delay was announced. Big broadcasters are looking for a
> low
> cost alternative.
>
> Speaking at the Siel-Satis-La Radio expo (October 21) broadcasters,
> largely,
> expressed support for radio - at least in concept - as if the medium might
> soon pass into the darkness of buggy whips and printing presses. CBC /
> Radio
> Canada vice-president of French services Sylvain Lafrance spoke of
> convergence, strong brands - radio, TV and internet - each being unique
> and
> the difficulty for those in one medium to make the switch to converged
> media.
>
> Without question, the main discussion point - again - was digital radio.
> Digital radio was set to 'launch' before the end of the year, dozens of
> channels being authorized last May for major French cities. Regulator CSA
> has pushed back the big day until mid-2010. (More on digital radio here
> http://followthemedia.com/hottopics/DABdigitalradio.htm?PHPSESSID=9883ee4dcb93122772d8c98f2e937492 )
>
> Two arguments prevailed; analogue shut-off and standards. Under rules
> adopted earlier this year, radio receivers in new automobiles must have
> digital capability by 2013 and all receivers sold must include that
> digital
> radio chip by 2015. Citing differences between digital TV and digital
> radio,
> most broadcasters hesitated calling for hard dates for analogue shut-off.
>
> The French adopted the T-DMB standard for digital radio but kept open the
> possibility of competing standards like DRM, the digital standard for
> medium
> wave transmission. Other European countries have a different set of
> standards - DAB and DAB+. Still in the grand debate is whether or not
> France
> can support a digital radio standard different from the rest of Europe.
>
> Digital radio proponents, frustrated, talked of simply getting on with it
> out of fear of being left behind.  "Habits are changing," plead digital
> radio developer Joêl Pons. "It is a necessity. It will serve the public.
> Radio must remain a major media, closer to people (and) must be consistent
> with modern technology."
>
> Major commercial broadcasters have become even more hesitant. Representing
> the major commercial network operators, Bureau de la Radio president
> Michel
> Cacouault talked about the bottom line. Broadcasters revenue is down 18%,
> he
> said, and the cost of broadcasting in both T-DMB and FM for an extended
> period would cost each broadcaster between Euro2 million and Euro 4
> million
> a year. Quieting the crowd, he said a less expensive digital alternative
> must be found.
>
> (JMH)
>
> http://followthemedia.com/radiopage/radio24102009.htm


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