Thursday, the Ministry
of Culture announced a national FM-switch off, to complete the transition to
digital radio. Norway is making an historical move into a new radio era, being
the first country in the world to decide upon an analogue switch-off for all
major radio channels. With DAB and digital radio, listeners will be provided
with more radio channels and greater diversity in content.
Thor Gjermund
Eriksen, head of NRK, says:
- This is an important day for everyone who
loves radio. The minister`s decision allows us to concentrate our resources even
more upon what is most important, namely to create high quality and diverse
radio-content to our listeners.
The DAB-coverage in Norway now exceeds
FM-coverage. DAB provides Norway with 22 national channels, as opposed to five
channels transmitting nationwide on FM.
Switch-off begins 11th January
2017:
The decision gives Norwegians a final date for the transition to
digital radio, a process persisting for several years. Trygve Rønningen , CEO
and editor in chief P4, says:
- We can finally complete the work that has
been on-going for many years. This is the best solution for all listeners
throughout Norway, as they now have a better radio.
Switch-off starts in
Nordland county 11th January 2017 and ends with the northernmost counties Troms
and Finnmark 13.12 2017.
Coordintated:
NRK, P4 Group and SBS Radio
will turn off all its FM broadcasts simultaneously in two of six regions. In
four regions however, NRK Radio will lead the way in FM-switch off. Lasse Kokvik
, CEO of SBS Radio says:
- The national radio industry have agreed upon a
rapid and coordinated plan for the transition, with considerations taken on not
giving unreasonable competitive advantages through FM-closing.
Look to
Norway:
Today’s decision makes Norway the first country in the world to
set a final date for FM-switch off. Several countries in Europe and Southeast
Asia, however, are in similar processes, choosing DAB-technology as the backbone
of future radio distribution.
Ole Jørgen Torvmark , CEO of Digital Radio
Norway says:
- The White Paper from 2011 and a unique collaboration
between the radio industry is the main reason why Norway is far ahead in the
transition to digital radio. Many countries are now looking to Norway to
learn.
Ensures a long life for radio:
Radio on digital platforms
ensures the radio media a long life for years to come. The Radio Industry is
better equipped to evolve with listener`s needs and are thus better enabled to
adopt to the ever changing patterns of media consumption.
Norway began
the transition to DAB in 1995. In recent years two national and several local
DAB-networks has been established. 56 per cent of radio listeners use digital
radio every day. 55 per cent of households have at least one DAB radio,
according to Digitalradio survey by TNS Gallup, continuously measuring the
Norwegian`s digital radio habits.
Regional plan for FM
switch-off:
(Click the image for a bigger version) Link to the
announcement For further information, please contact:Mari Hagerup, Head of
communication, Digital Radio NorwayCell: 0047 920 46 088, Mail: hagerup@radio.no
Background:
Norway
is in a transition from analogue to digital radio for all national channels and
some local channels. Digital radio expands radio reach and multiplies the number
of national channels. More than 90 per cent of the population can now listen to
22 national radio channels. The national DAB networks have equally high and
partly higher population coverage than national FM networks. DAB coverage along
roads is generally better than FM-coverage .
STATS FOR DIGITAL RADIO IN
NORWAY:
- 56 % of radio listeners use digital radio daily
- 44 % of
listeners only use FM radio daily
- 20 % of private cars are equipped with
DAB radio
- 55 % of all Norwegian households have at least one DAB
radio.
- 7.9 million radio sets will be affected by FM-extinction. FM radios
can be upgraded or recycled.
* Digital radio survey , TNS Gallup
2015
DAB COVERAGE:
NRK: at least 99,5 % coverage on
DAB
Commercial radio: 92.8 % coverage on DAB
Community radio: 50 % DAB
coverage on DAB
DAB-coverage on roads are generally higher than on FM. All
FM-transmitters in tunnels will be replaced with DAB.
