Terrestrial TV finished switch-over from analogue to digital broadcasting all over Europe in 2012. Now the process moves on with radio. Norway plans to turn off FM in 2017. Other countries have not yet defined any dates. And small radio stations are anxious about what switch-over will mean for them.

1. Strategies for digital switchover
Trygve Rønningen (CEO and Editor in chief of P4, Norway)
Beatrice Merlach (CEO, MCDT, Switzerland)
Jan Westerhof (Director Radio, NPO, The Netherlands)
#rde14
Radiodays Europe is an annual conference for public and private radio with 55 sessions and 120 speakers.
This presentation was held at the latest event in Dublin 23 – 25 March 2014 which gathered 1300 radio leaders
from 60 countries. Next event will be in Milan 15 – 17 March 2015. Info at www.radiodayseurope.com.

2. Digital Radio – Norway
Trygve Rønningen
CEO
P4 Radio Norway

3. The Norwegian market - 2013 (on
group level)
65%
22%
12%
1%
NRK total
MTG
SBS
Other
Source: TNS Gallup PPM 2013

4. If this was a (honest) quiz
show......

5. The questions.....
• Can we be sure that radio stays powerful as an analogue
medium surrounded by digital content and interactivity?
• Can we defend our market share with a limited numbers of
(expensive) analogue channels?
• Can we be sure that we keep our FM licenses for ever?

6. The future of radio is not analogue….

7. Norway goes digital.....

8. Digitalization is not a quick fix.....
Establishing of World Dmb Forum
(aka EuroDabForum)
Dab testing and live streaming on internet
Parliament supports digital radio
National license for Dab transmission
First Dab recievers in market
Parliament: “50% digital listening before
FM shut down”
Parliament: FM shut down confirmed
1994
1995
1997
2000
2004
2007
2011
2017: SHUT DOWN!

9. Digital?

10. = DISTRIBUTION
BROADCAST STREAMING (IP)
DAB+ ONLINE APP PORTABLE

11. = CONTENT!
Enhanced radio:
text, picures, videos, interactive ads, playlists etc

12. A big change for P4: one channel/platform vs. several channels/platforms

LYTT
N
SE
G
VELG
)
DELTA
C
DEL
N
OVERALT
LISTEN WATCH SHARE
CHOOSE PARTICIPATE EVERYWHERE

13. National DAB offering in Norway: 2014
• NRK: 14 channels
• P4: 5 channels
• SBS: 3 channels
• Local radio and new
content in three areas

14. Why should a listener buy a DAB reciever?
a) New content; b) good coverage; c) clear message about shut down

15. Total numbers of DAB receivers in Norway
865,000
955,000
1,109,000
1,204,000
1,468,000
0
300000
600000
900000
1200000
1500000
1800000
Q4-2012 Q1-2013 Q2-2013 Q3-2013 Q4-2013
• Base: n= 1092 SSB number of households 2,3 millions

16. Digital cover – daily use
Q4 12 Q1 13 Q2 13 Q3 13 Q4 13
DAB
Digital TV
Internet
14
10
13
15
16
10
18
11
15
19
9
14
31 34 36 36 40
23
10
13

17. But still a major challenge...
• 40% of radio listening is in cars
• More than 2 million cars will need DAB
retrofit by 2016.....

18. .....the simple answers.....
1. Say YES to digital broadcast radio
2. Stand together
3. Decide a shut down date asap

19. Strategies for digital
switch over
24th March 2014
Béatrice Merlach, CEO MCDT AG

20. Digitalradio sales 2006 - 2013
Sources: GFK, trade, car importers
0
200,000
400,000
600,000
800,000
1,000,000
1,200,000
1,400,000
1,600,000
2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011
1 million receivers

21. A unique network
MCDT
Public
broadcaster
Trade
Automotive
Commercial
radios
Importers
Manufacturers
Audience Authorities
TelcosInternational
• Integration
of all
involved
partners
• Neutral
platform
• Common
activities
• Close co-
operation

22. • Working group to prepare digital switchover
• Regulatory issues
• Technical issues
• Marketing & communication
• The Swiss way – a pragmatic approach
• Expected – contract with rules & committments

23. • Timeline
• Start of working group in 2013
• Final report expected 3Q 2014
• Decision expected in 2015 / 2016
• Renewals of frequencies 2019

24. • Conclusions
• Involvement of the entire sector
• Consistent strategy
• Negociation and committment
• «The approach defines the switch off date»
• Use the window of opportunity

25. beatrice.merlach@mcdt.ch
THANK YOU

26. “Switch over”
Radiodays 2014
jan.westerhof@omroep.nl
Jan Westerhof

27. June 1954 …

28. June 1954 …

30. Two-track distribution strategy:
IP
• Multicast (no broadcast)
• Possibilities for interaction
• Available on almost all mobile
devices
• Growth in recent years
• Disadvantages: business model,
bandwidth, data bundles,
gatekeepers

31. Two-track distribution strategy:
IP
• Multicast (no broadcast)
• Possibilities for interaction
• Available on almost all mobile
devices
• Growth in recent years
• Disadvantages: business model,
bandwidth, data bundles,
gatekeepers
DAB+
• Successor to AM/FM
• Free to air (FTA)
• Government encouragement of
rollout
• Disadvantages: less interaction,
unawareness within the general
audience, accessibility through
mobile devices?

32. CLEAR PROFILES
FOR RADIO STATIONS
MORE CHOICE
FOR THE LISTENER

33. DAB+ advantages:
• Room for more channels: more choice for the listener
• Better sound quality (no noise)
• Easier tuning
• Capacity for additional data services
• Less vulnerable infrastructure
• Better cost effectiveness than AM/FM

38. Coverage
NPO

39. Coverage
Private Broadcasters

43. Rollout of dab+
Requires a market-wide approach

44. We have to set up the marketing
ourselves
Automotive DAB+ receivers in cars
Telecom operators chip in mobile devices
Retail Portable/home receivers