HD radio: Five private radio stations to launch in September 2010
The five private radio stations Radio Argovia, Radio Basel, Capital FM, Radio 24 and Radio Sunshine want to start using HD radio technology from September and broadcast their programs digitally in future. The necessary applications were submitted to the Federal Office of Communications (Bakom) at the end of January.
In the first stage of digitization, around 80 percent of the commercial listener potential is to be covered, according to a communiqué issued on Tuesday. Radio digitization enables broadcasters to diversify their content, i.e. to offer additional terrestrially broadcast programmes and services such as surround sound or iTunes tagging. HD radio is received via a special HD device. When HD radio is launched in Switzerland, "combi receivers" that can receive FM, DAB+ and HD radio will also be available.
