Reading material for radio freaks
Magazine Swiss digital radio (DAB) has a future, says a new German magazine for digital radio.
Magazine Swiss digital radio (DAB) has a future, says a new German magazine for digital radio. A Swiss edition of the German magazine "Reinhören, das Magazin für Besser-Hörer" was published for the first time last September 1st with a circulation of 6000 copies and virtually no press. The magazine, which is published quarterly in Germany with a circulation of 30,000 copies, dedicated a special issue with twelve extra pages to the topic of digital radio (DAB) for its first market launch in Switzerland.
This is no coincidence and has to do on the one hand with the protracted development of digital radio in Germany, where hardly any launch strategies for this technology are yet discernible. On the other hand, the two magazine founders and co-directors Mario Gongolsky and Niels Gründel are keeping a watchful eye on the development of DAB in Switzerland and predict great growth potential for DAB in Switzerland.
This sometimes leads to DAB managers at SRG pointing out the importance of the publication. Because even in Switzerland, the introduction of digital radio is not without controversy. "In a European comparison, we consider the introduction strategy for DAB in Switzerland to be promising," says Mario Gongolsky.
In line with the state of development of digital radio in the German-speaking world, Switzerland is the most interesting market for the magazine for the publishers of Reinhören. Gongolsky is delighted with the response from customers so far. "We have a market of 3.5 million German-speaking Swiss here," which is nothing compared to the 82 million Germans. But it is encouraging that people like listening to the radio in Switzerland, especially as digital radio is struggling to enter the market in Germany.
Gongolsky and Gründel launched the magazine at the Funkausstellung 2003, and in 2004 it appeared regularly on newsstands. The editorial team consists of just 1.3 permanent employees, who work together with six freelance authors and have "already gone through a certain dry spell". The Swiss launch is an expression of better times.
Editorially soundThe magazine has an average of 64 pages and is aimed at people who are interested in radio, related devices and technologies. The editorial team focuses on the political and economic background of a medium that many have already predicted the death of, but for which completely new perspectives are opening up on the threshold of digitalization.
The current issue has been published in two separate editions, a German and a Swiss edition. The expected topics of the audio media genre are dealt with in depth: It is about high-flying satellite projects for radio that promise program diversity, about the encryption of broadcast signals, about the improved starting position for digital radio after the wave conference (RRC 06) in Geneva last June or about podcasting. There is also an interview with the cult podcaster Annik Rubens, whose podcast "Schlaflos in München" (Sleepless in Munich) inspires several thousand people every day.
In addition, the editorial team always presents a range of digital radios and other audio devices about which the general listening public is still barely informed. Gongolsky knows that he is pretty much alone when it comes to listening. "Listening to the radio is pretty much lost behind all the TV images." The magazine aims to encourage the public to rediscover the joy of radio. "When the renaissance begins, we'll already be there," he says. A larger magazine is being considered for next year.
Alpine lift for HD radio Radio Sunshine's HD attempt
is mentioned in the editorial of the Swiss edition of Reinhören: the project is like a "veritable almighty boom" for HD radio. HD combines digital and analog broadcasting on the existing FM signal, a technology that is currently celebrating its debut in the USA. Presumably, the aim is to change as little as possible at the core - i.e. the program and range. DAB, on the other hand, completely reshuffles the cards because all stations have the same range. According to Mario Gongolsky, this creates new risks, but also new options: "Specialist stations with jazz or literature do not find enough listeners these days as long as they can only be broadcast in Zurich or Bern."
In principle, he has nothing against HD radio, he says. However, he is bothered by the fact that HD technology is only just emerging in the USA. Corresponding receivers are therefore still expensive and hardly mature. "If Switzerland were to rely on HD radio, it would mean that the development that can already be carried out today would be delayed for five years."
René Worni
This is no coincidence and has to do on the one hand with the protracted development of digital radio in Germany, where hardly any launch strategies for this technology are yet discernible. On the other hand, the two magazine founders and co-directors Mario Gongolsky and Niels Gründel are keeping a watchful eye on the development of DAB in Switzerland and predict great growth potential for DAB in Switzerland.
This sometimes leads to DAB managers at SRG pointing out the importance of the publication. Because even in Switzerland, the introduction of digital radio is not without controversy. "In a European comparison, we consider the introduction strategy for DAB in Switzerland to be promising," says Mario Gongolsky.
In line with the state of development of digital radio in the German-speaking world, Switzerland is the most interesting market for the magazine for the publishers of Reinhören. Gongolsky is delighted with the response from customers so far. "We have a market of 3.5 million German-speaking Swiss here," which is nothing compared to the 82 million Germans. But it is encouraging that people like listening to the radio in Switzerland, especially as digital radio is struggling to enter the market in Germany.
Gongolsky and Gründel launched the magazine at the Funkausstellung 2003, and in 2004 it appeared regularly on newsstands. The editorial team consists of just 1.3 permanent employees, who work together with six freelance authors and have "already gone through a certain dry spell". The Swiss launch is an expression of better times.
Editorially soundThe magazine has an average of 64 pages and is aimed at people who are interested in radio, related devices and technologies. The editorial team focuses on the political and economic background of a medium that many have already predicted the death of, but for which completely new perspectives are opening up on the threshold of digitalization.
The current issue has been published in two separate editions, a German and a Swiss edition. The expected topics of the audio media genre are dealt with in depth: It is about high-flying satellite projects for radio that promise program diversity, about the encryption of broadcast signals, about the improved starting position for digital radio after the wave conference (RRC 06) in Geneva last June or about podcasting. There is also an interview with the cult podcaster Annik Rubens, whose podcast "Schlaflos in München" (Sleepless in Munich) inspires several thousand people every day.
In addition, the editorial team always presents a range of digital radios and other audio devices about which the general listening public is still barely informed. Gongolsky knows that he is pretty much alone when it comes to listening. "Listening to the radio is pretty much lost behind all the TV images." The magazine aims to encourage the public to rediscover the joy of radio. "When the renaissance begins, we'll already be there," he says. A larger magazine is being considered for next year.
Alpine lift for HD radio Radio Sunshine's HD attempt
is mentioned in the editorial of the Swiss edition of Reinhören: the project is like a "veritable almighty boom" for HD radio. HD combines digital and analog broadcasting on the existing FM signal, a technology that is currently celebrating its debut in the USA. Presumably, the aim is to change as little as possible at the core - i.e. the program and range. DAB, on the other hand, completely reshuffles the cards because all stations have the same range. According to Mario Gongolsky, this creates new risks, but also new options: "Specialist stations with jazz or literature do not find enough listeners these days as long as they can only be broadcast in Zurich or Bern."
In principle, he has nothing against HD radio, he says. However, he is bothered by the fact that HD technology is only just emerging in the USA. Corresponding receivers are therefore still expensive and hardly mature. "If Switzerland were to rely on HD radio, it would mean that the development that can already be carried out today would be delayed for five years."
René Worni
