Many want DAB - but who should pay for it?
Digital Radio: Private radio stations in German-speaking Switzerland are interested in DAB digital radio, as the Bakom has determined. However, the financing remains to be determined.
Private radio to go digital "on air" in around two years. René Wehrlin
from the Radio and Television Department at Bakom explains,
that this timetable can only be adhered to if the question of
of the financing has been clarified. In the recent survey conducted by Bakom
Clarification of the need for DAB digital radio remained questions about money
left out. One hundred players from the Swiss radio scene were
invited to comment in principle on the further course of action in
DAB matters. The construction of a second transmitter chain is under discussion
in German-speaking Switzerland with the participation of private radio stations. The first so
The multiplex has been in regular operation since 1999 and is
exclusively with SRG SSR channels.
47 of the addressees contacted responded to the questions posed by Bakom
took a position, 53 did not. This is not a bad
response rate, interprets René Wehrlin, who was responsible for the survey.
is responsible: "On behalf of numerous radio stations, associations have
opinion." The most important result: 84 percent or 40 of the 47
Radio broadcasters who completed the OFCOM questionnaire show that
Interest in the use of a second digital transmitter chain in the
German-speaking Switzerland.
For the time being, this agreement can only be regarded as lip service.
become. There are too many question marks over the further expansion of DAB
in Switzerland - and not just in terms of financing. "Before
the ITU's regional broadcasting conference next May
is, you can't really plan ahead," explains Wehrlin. In
Geneva, more than one hundred states will be competing for the (re)allocation of
frequencies, the outcome of the conference will decide, among other things
about the extent to which the necessary resources are available for
free up for DAB expansion. In addition, a majority of
respondents were primarily interested in new special-interest programs and
program-accompanying content, similar to the current
is already possible with the title display.
Hoping for financial aid
Nobody can say today when these wishes will become reality. But they will:
"We won't be able to avoid digitalization," explains René
Wehrlin from Bakom. It sounds the same for private radio stations. Martin Muerner,
Program Director of Radio Beo in Interlaken and Vice President of the
Association of Swiss Private Radios (VSP), also believes that the
There is no way around digitalization: "But right from the start
said that we cannot finance digitization ourselves."
This is also reflected in the responses to the DAB survey. "Too high
The majority of respondents see "costs for private individuals" as an "influence,
that could jeopardize the market success of DAB."
The VSP is now pinning its hopes on the new Radio and Television Act, which
support for investments under certain conditions
in new technologies through fees. The law is still
not yet signed and sealed, but Muerner is confident that
this technology promotion contribution will clear the final hurdle.
"If financing is left to the market alone, this violates
This is contrary to the principle of the new law, according to which in Switzerland
a federalist radio landscape with a strong SRG and
regional public service providers."
Bakom is also of the opinion that part of the
fee money will be invested in the development of the new digital channels
should. "We are aware of the problem and are now looking for
models that provide at least entry-level financing for the new
network, for example via fee splitting",
explains René Wehrlin. As part of the tender for the second
DAB multiplex, Bakom also expects corresponding proposals from the
organizers, for example by joining a
operating company. A first step towards this
direction, Tamedia, the marketer Radiotele and SRG have come up with a
joint letter of intent. On the basis of this
joint declaration of intent, a consortium will one day be formed to build a
and for the marketing of digital radio.
Nick Lüthi
