Digital radio overtakes FM
In Switzerland, 53 percent of radio is consumed digitally. This means that digital is stronger than analog for the first time.
Digital radio usage was surveyed for the third time in spring, and the results were presented at Swiss Radio Day in Zurich. In spring 2016, the Swiss used DAB+ or the Internet for an average of 53 minutes out of 100 minutes of radio per day. Digital radio usage has thus increased by 8 percent within a year: from 45 percent in spring 2015 to 53 percent in spring 2016.
DAB+ and Internet together replace FM
Use of the two digital reception modes (DAB+ and Internet) is increasing by 4 percent each, while analog FM continues to lose importance. Digital radio is now listened to significantly more than FM radio at work and in the home. Digital radio use in vehicles is also rising steadily, but only accounts for 30 percent of total radio use.
Growth across all generations
Digital radio is used by all age groups. Among the radio audience up to 55 years of age, digital use has already overtaken analog. Listeners under 55 are increasingly switching from FM to Internet radio, while older listeners are more likely to switch to DAB+. Among listeners under 35, two-thirds of usage is already digital, of which the larger proportion is Internet radio.
Switzerland goes digital
In German-speaking Switzerland, the share of digital radio consumption is rising significantly compared with the last survey in fall 2015. But Latin Switzerland is also increasingly benefiting from the advantages of digital radio. Here, DAB+ is also gaining a stronger foothold.
Digital migration draws closer
Since spring 2015, GfK Switzerland has been conducting a biannual survey on behalf of the DigiMig working group to determine the status of digital radio use in Switzerland. Digital Migration" working group (DigiMig) In spring 2013, the radio industry and the Federal Office of Communications (OFCOM) formed the "Digital Migration" working group (AG DigiMig). It includes representatives from the Association of Swiss Private Radio Stations (VSP), the Union Romande des Radios Régionales (RRR), the Union of Non-Commercial Local Radio Stations (Unikom), SRG SSR, Bakom, the automotive industry and other industry groups. In Switzerland, digital radio is to gradually replace analog FM reception from 2020. At the end of 2014, the DigiMig WG presented the Federal Council with a scenario for the switchover from analog to digital. Today, SRG and most private radio stations already broadcast their radio programs via DAB+ in parallel to FM, and some even exclusively digitally.
