Month: June 2021

The DRM Consortium has just developed a comprehensive and user-friendly calculator tool to determine how much energy can be saved by switching transmitters from analogue to digital DRM operation.

The DRM Energy Efficiency Calculator (https://energyefficiency.drm.org) has been created using typical performance data from transmitter manufacturers. It then calculates total expected energy usage for up to ten transmitters by considering operational mode, time on-air, and broadcasting technique assessing the energy consumption and electricity costs, based upon local market information. By comparing data sets for both analogue and DRM digital operations, it can estimate the potential (and often huge) savings broadcasters might expect from switching over to DRM.
This not only benefits broadcasters by reducing their electricity bills by double-digit percentages but proves specifically how DRM supports broadcasters’ efforts to become more sustainable though green technology significantly reducing requirements for energy produced in large parts of the world from fossil fuels.
According to Simon Keens, Sales and Business Development Manager, Ampegon Power Electronics AG (key member of the DRM Consortium) who has devised the calculator: “This new energy efficiency tool can be easily programmed into an Excel spreadsheet for ease of use and universal distribution in pdf reports summarizing the findings in simple text and graphs. This will help the engineers and all those interested to present concretely one of the great advantages of DRM, i.e., delivering substantial and sustained energy savings over many years.” 
Ruxandra Obreja, DRM Consortium Chairman, invites all those interested to a “zoom launch” of the new energy efficiency tool “Savings at Your Fingertips” on June 30th at 1000 UTC for introducing the simple device that will deliver results in minutes. “Unlike other complex studies on energy saving, this is something concrete that any broadcaster or anyone interested can create and use applying up to the minute data like transmitter power, energy costs etc. So, join us for this short takeaway session which will demonstrate how you can get concrete data and reports on energy consumption and savings through DRM use. Interested parties will be able to use it independently and thus assess and convince themselves and others of the energy saving benefit of DRM.” 
To register and join this webinar, please click here.

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In the second half of 2020, over 80% of new cars in key European markets came with DAB+ radio as standard – a dramatic increase on the same period in 2019. This step-change reflects the impact of the European Electronic Communications Code (EECC), which, from December 2020, requires all new car radios in the EU to be capable of receiving digital terrestrial radio.

These figures were revealed in WorldDAB’s latest market report, published today to coincide with the organisation’s annual Automotive conference.
Patrick Hannon, President of WorldDAB, said: “These results demonstrate that DAB+ is firmly established as the core future platform for radio in Europe. The recent progress in Germany, France, Italy and Benelux has been particularly impressive – and reflects the high levels of co-operation between players across the radio ecosystem. Looking forward, our goal is to ensure that the key benefits of broadcast radio – being free-to-air, independent of gatekeepers and reliable in emergencies – remain at the heart of listeners’ automotive audio experience.”
The WorldDAB report also highlighted that, by the end of Q4 2020, nearly 100 million consumer and automotive DAB/DAB+ receivers had been sold in Europe and Asia Pacific – up from 92 million 6 months year earlier.
Key findings of the reportDAB+ is now in over 80% of new cars in key European markets, driven by the impact of the European Electronic Communications Code which came into force end 2020, as well as the expansion of DAB+ in key markets such as Germany, France and Switzerland where preparations are ongoing to switch off FM in 2022-2023.
The EECC requires all new car radios in the EU to be capable of receiving digital terrestrial radio. UK, Switzerland and Norway have 97-100% DAB+ as standard, and in Italy, The Netherlands, Belgium, France and Germany over 80% of new cars sold have DAB+ fitted as standard. In Australia, 77% of new cars sold now have DAB+ fitted as standard (up from 60% in 2018).
The growth in receiver sales has been driven also by market forces: France will launch national DAB+ services in October 2021[1], Germany launched a second national DAB+ multiplex for commercial radio in October 2020, and in the UK has seen DAB listening overtake FM for the first time.
Several EU countries – including Germany, France, United Kingdom and Italy – have already introduced regulations to implement the EECC directive into national legislation, while other countries – including The Netherlands, Belgium, Denmark, Sweden, Austria, Greece, Czech Republic, Poland, Spain, Slovakia and Malta – have initiated procedures to implement the EECC into national legislation.
Other highlights from the WorldDAB report include:

In France, 82% of new cars were sold with DAB+ as standard in H2 2020 compared to 38% in H2 2019
In Germany, 80% of new cars were sold with DAB+ as standard in H2 2020 compared to 22% in H2 2019
In Switzerland, 73% of all radio listening is via digital platforms, and 41% of all listening is on DAB+. Switzerland has confirmed FM will be switched off by January 2023
Nearly 47 million receivers have been shipped in the UK, with 67% of households having at least one DAB receiver
In Italy, sales of consumer DAB+ receivers more than doubled in 2020 (up 126%) following the introduction of rules requiring all receivers to have DAB+ from 1st January 2020

The infographic details the rollout status in 24 emerging markets including information on trials and population coverage – not only in Europe but also in Africa, Asia and the Middle East. The infographic also gives a comprehensive overview of DAB receiver sales, road and population coverage, household penetration and the number of national stations on DAB/DAB+ compared to FM. The report covers Australia, Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Switzerland and the UK.
[1] In France, DAB+ is already on air in ten major cities / regions

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