This is the result of a survey by GfK Switzerland on radio use in Switzerland, which was conducted for the fourth time and presented at the Atelier Radiophonique Romand in Neuchâtel. Digital radio continues to grow: In the second half of 2016, Swiss residents listened to digital radio, i.e. DAB+ or IP radio (Internet radio), for an average of 54 minutes out of every 100 minutes of radio. That is one minute more than in the first half of 2016.
The trend is moving in the direction of digitization
Since the survey on digital radio use in fall 2015, digital radio has increased by 5 percent to 54 percent - at the expense of analog radio, which is transmitted via FM frequency. The pace of digitization slowed slightly in the last six months, but the trend is clearly toward digital use. Digital radio made gains among all age groups: Older radio users are more likely to switch to DAB+, and among listeners between 15 and 34, the user shares of Internet radio are growing fastest in percentage terms. From fall 2015 to fall 2016, the share of IP radio there rose by 8 percent.
Growth in western Switzerland and in car radios
At 28 percent, German-speaking Switzerland continues to listen to more DAB+ than the other language regions. In the last half-year, French-speaking Switzerland increased by 2 percent - to 25 percent. The lion's share of DAB+ use overall is on stationary radios, where there was a two percent increase in DAB+ use in the last six months. DAB+ is also growing in car radios: Within the last year by 4 to 21 percent. Nevertheless, 73 percent of usage in the car is analog with FM radio. Since spring 2015, GfK Switzerland has been conducting a semi-annual online survey and telephone interviews on behalf of the DigiMig working group to determine the status of digital radio use in Switzerland: In the second half of 2016, 2530 people aged 15 and over were surveyed.
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, 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.
Representatives of the Digimig working group presented their vision to Federal Councillor Doris Leuthard, head of the Uvek, on Monday. With 15 concrete recommendations, the Digimig report outlines a possible path from FM to DAB+. According to the working group's ideas, radio programs should be broadcast mainly digitally via DAB+ throughout Switzerland by 2024 at the latest, and analog FM transmitters should be gradually switched off.
It proposes two main phases for the changeover:
Phase 1 It provides for concrete measures, particularly in the area of communication and marketing, to promote the use of digitally broadcast radio programs at home and on the move in the car. The new Radio and Television Act (RTVA) will also provide strong technology support. This phase will be accompanied by dedicated usage research.
Phase 2 provides for a regionally coordinated, gradual decommissioning of FM transmitters from 2020 until 2024. The radio industry wants to carry out this process on its own responsibility. It is currently drawing up an agreement to this effect.
The migration report is intended to serve the authorities and radio broadcasters as a basis for defining the Swiss radio landscape of tomorrow. It elaborates on the strategy for digital radio broadcasting which the Federal Council formulated back in 2006. In it, it was stated that FM, as the last analog link in the otherwise continuously digitized radio world, had reached the limits of its capacity. The technical possibilities have been exhausted; in Switzerland, there have been no free, usable FM frequencies for some time now. Already today, the SRG radio stations and a good half of the private stations can be received digitally via DAB+ in parallel to FM - some even exclusively digitally.
In spring 2013, the radio industry joined forces with Bakom to form the Digital Migration Working Group (AG Digimig). The working group, which began its activities in March 2013, includes representatives from the Association of Swiss Private Radio Stations (VSP), the Union Romande des Radios Régionales (RRR), the Union of Non-Commercially Oriented Local Radio Stations (Unikom), SRG, Bakom, the automotive industry and other industry groups.
Image: Keystone