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DAB Archives Last Update: May 22nd, 2008 |
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The stories on this page previously appeared on the Latest Updates page. Please send information and observations to: carey@wohnort.demon.co.uk 2008 Stories from 2007 Stories from 2006 Stories from 2005 Stories from 2004 Stories from 2003 Stories from 2002 Stories from 2001 Stories from 2000 May 14th Snapshot of the Block 10C Taipei ensemble FM985 DAB TEST added. This frequency block was formerly occupied by an ensemble PC-Radio but this is assumed to have ceased sometime in 2005. May 14th Snapshot of the Block 12C ensemble MXR North East updated. Since the last Snapshot was taken, the audio Service Rock Radio has popped up and the Service REAL has ceased. May 14th Snapshot of the Block 12C Netherlands ensemble Publieke Omroep updated. Since the last Snapshot was taken, the data Services PO_packet and TPEG_test have ceased. May 13th Snapshot added of the Block 9B Singapore ensemble Rediffusion DAB. May 5th A new service has popped up on the ensemble DRN Nieders.. NDR Musik Plus is reported to be running at 128 kbit/s in Joint Stereo with the PTy Rock Music. The service NDR 2 has been replaced by NDR 2 Plus. The audio service NDR Info is reported to be running at the reduced bitrate of 80 kbit/s and to be running in Mono. The audio service NDR Traffic is reported to be running at the reduced bitrate of 48 kbit/s and to be running in Mono. The data service NDR DATA is reported to be running at the reduced bitrate of 8 kbit/s. Equivalent changes are reported to have taken place in the configurations of the ensembles DRN MECKL VORPOM and DRN Sch-Holstein. May 5th On the ensemble Bayern, the audio service Das Modul has been relabelled on3radio. The data service EPG Bayern is currently running in a shared sub-channel with the other data services, rather than in a sub-channel of its own. The bitrate of the shared sub-channel has increased to 64 kbit/s. The audio service BR Verkehr is running at the reduced bitrate of 64 kbit/s. May 5th On the Block 11C ensemble NOW Cambridge, the service Q103 has moved has ceased. The service BBC Radio Cambs has been relabelled XRescantoBBCCamb. A new Service has popped up labelled BBC Radio Cambs. From the announcement on the BBC Radio Cambridge website it would appear that the old-SId-version should cease May 29th. If an equivalent change has taken place on the Block 12D ensemble NOW Peterborough, the service BBC Cambs (Pbro) will have been relabelled XRescantoBBCCamb and a new Service will have popped up labelled BBC Cambs (Pbro). April 30th The Swiss regulator BAKOM has advertised capacity for eight audio services on a forthcoming second ensemble for the French-speaking region of Switzerland. The ensemble will run on Block 10B. BAKOM specifies that DAB+ will be used. As with the second ensemble for the German-speaking region, the licence to operate the ensemble will be the subject of a separate advertisement. The operator of the ensemble will be able to make use of the capacity unallocated following the current round. The operator must serve at least the conurbations of Geneva and Lausanne within 12 months of the operator award, and 80% of French-speaking Switzerland within 3 years. The public-service broadcaster SRG/SSR is entitled to operate two services on the second ensemble. Closing date for applications for capacity in this first round is 31st July 2008. The capacity is expected to be awarded in December 2008 and the operating licence in the first quarter of 2009. April 30th The Swiss public-service broadcaster SRG/SSR has brought into service a new transmitter in the French-speaking region. Chailly extends and improves coverage of the Block 12A ensemble SRG SSR F01 in the eastern suburbs of Lausanne, including Pully and Lutry. April 30th The Swiss public-service broadcaster SRG/SSR has brought into service a new transmitter in the Italian-speaking region. Gerra Lutri extends and improves coverage of the Block 12A ensemble SRG SSR I01 in the region of Locarno, from the Italian border from Brissago as far east as Tenero. April 26th The German website infosat reports that the DMB ensemble watcha is no longer to be marketed as a mobile television service. The transmissions from Mobiles Fernsehen Deutschland will, according to the report, be used in certain cities for test transmissions to develop new media and data services. April 26th In Taipei, the Block 11C and 11D ensembles, BCC DAB and RTI ENSEMBLE have not been seen recently and are assumed to have ceased. Two new ensembles have been observed. On Block 10C, FM985 DAB TEST is running two audio services, both at 128 kbit/s. Another ensemble is running on Block 10B with nine services. No labels could be resolved and it possible the ensemble is labelled with the Chinese character set. April 25th The UK regulator Ofcom has received one application for the Somerset local DAB licence. The ensemble will run on Block 10D (215.072 MHz). Capacity is reserved for the local BBC radio service, BBC Somerset. MuxCo Somerset (UKRD Group Ltd 33.3%, The Local Radio Company Ltd 33.3%, MuxCo Ltd 33.3%). MuxCo proposes to broadcast seven audio services in addition to the BBC service and to operate a Podcast service for download:-
April 23rd The UK regulator, Ofcom, has awarded the local DAB licence for Surrey and North Sussex to MuxCo Surrey and North Sussex (UKRD Group Ltd 50%, MuxCo Ltd 50%). The licence area covers two frequency allotments, allowing the technical possibility of operating two distinct ensembles. Block 10B (211.648 MHz) is the frequency for the south eastern part and Block 10C (213.360 MHz) for the north western part. MuxCo propose to review the operation of two distinct ensembles during the licence period. MuxCo proposes to broadcast seven services, in addition to BBC Southern Counties Radio, and to operate a Podcast service for download:-
April 21st The German spectrum regulator, the BNetzA, has authorised WorldSpace to use L-band spectrum for terrestrial relays of its satellite-based service. This follows a similar concession in Switzerland. A commercial debut for the service is expected to take place in Italy. April 14th The Auckland test transmissions, Kordia DAB Pilot, have migrated from Block 12C (Block NZ 11C in New Zealand nomenclature) to Block 13F, in a sub-band currently allocated to the military. Snapshot added. April 13th The New Zealand newspaper The Dominion Post is reporting that the Economic Development Ministry is to decide soon whether to allocate to DAB frequencies currently used by the military in order to speed up the introduction of digital radio. The preferred frequencies in Band III, between 175 and 230 MHz are currently in use for analogue television, which is not likely to be shut down until 2012, or until three-quarters of TV viewers have switched to digital, whichever is the sooner. The proposal under consideration is to make use of 230 - 240 MHz as an interim measure. The other alternative is to use L-band frequencies already reserved for DAB, but these are not favoured by the broadcasters. In another report, meanwhile, the same newspaper reports a more fundamental difference of opinion as to which technology should be used for digital radio. Public-service broadcasters prefer DAB+, but a number of commercial broadcasters are known to favour the American system HD Radio, presumably for the same reason it was preferred in the United States, namely that it would preserve the advantageous service contours enjoyed by the larger broadcasters. However, receivers made for the American market would not work in New Zealand. April 13th The Melbourne Block 9C test ensemble has ceased. It is not known how long this interuption to transmissions will last. Regular broadcasts are scheduled to begin in Australia at the beginning of next year. April 12th On the Blocks 5C and 12A ensemble Sachsen K12A, the Service sunshine is reported to have ceased. April 12th Swiss public-service broadcaster SRG/SSR has brought into service two new transmitters in the French-speaking region, Suisse Romande. Renens improves coverage of the Block 12A ensemble SRG SSR F01 in the northwestern suburbs of Lausanne. Signal de Bougy improves coverage along the axis Aubonne-Rolle-Gilly. April 3rd In Südtirol (Alto Adige), coverage of the DAB ensembles has been extended into the tunnels of Mittewald und Mühlbach. April 3rd Swiss public-service broadcaster SRG/SSR has brought into service two new transmitters in the French-speaking region, Suisse Romande. Delémont extends coverage of the Block 12A ensemble SRG SSR F01 to the area of Delémont, Courroux, Vicques and Courtételle. Moudon improves coverage in the area of Moudon, Lucens and Villeneuve. April 3rd Off-topic:The UK regulator Ofcom has published its conclusions following a public consultation on the inclusion of high definition services as part of the digital terrestrial television system (DTT).
In Vancouver, the ensembles CORUS Radio and CHANNEL8 are reported to have ceased. The only ensemble reported still to be broadcasting in Vancouver is CBC/SRC. April 1st On Digital1 Network, the Services BFBS Radio, Capital Life and theJazz have fallen silent. The Service Birdsong is running at the increased bitrate of 160 kbit/s in Joint Stereo. The service's subchannel appears to be running with Equal Error Protection. Snapshot updated. March 30th France listings revised. March 30th Commercial Radio Australia has sought to counter stories circulating in the Australian media that the launch of digital radio will be delayed. In a statement, the CEO of Commercial Radio Australia confirmed that DAB+ broadcasts will begin in the major Australian cities as planned in early 2009. More... March 30th Le Big Bang en France. The French regulator, the Conseil Supérieur de l'Audovisuel (CSA), has invited applications to use capacity on local ensembles in a number of locations across France. In contrast with the UK licensing regime, where the multiplex operator holds the licence and arranges for service providers to use the available capacity, in France the service providers will be the licence holders, who must then agree between them on a multiplex operator and a transmission provider. Under the terms of the French advertisement, once awarded, the licence-holders will have a period of two months to agree on multiplex operator and transmission provider, otherwise the capacity will be readvertised. 19 localities are covered by the ensembles proposed:- Paris, Angers, Bordeaux, Brest, Clermont-Ferrand, Dijon, Le Mans, Lille, Lyon, Marseille, Metz, Nancy, Nantes, Nice, Rennes, Rouen, Strasbourg, Tours and Toulouse. Band III and L-band frequencies are included in the advertisement. Closing date for applications is June 16th 2008. The CSA will first determine the eligability of applicants and then proceed with a selection process, expected to be concluded in December 2008 with the issuing of licences. By February 2009 at the latest, the successful licence holders on each frequency should have notified the CSA of their choice of multiplex operator and transmission provider, which will be subject to CSA approval. The first transmissions are expected to follow in the first half of 2009. The CSA has confirmed that the ensembles will be transmitted using T-DMB. For a receiver to be able to work anywhere in France, it must be dual-band and T-DMB capable. More... March 29th On NOW Cardiff&Npt, the Service Xpress Radio is reported to have ceased. March 28th UK TII table updated. Addition of Fenham and Ridge Hill to the BBC SFN. March 28th Swiss public-service broadcaster SRG/SSR has brought into service a new transmitter on Block 12C. Ziefen extends coverage of the ensemble SRG SSR D01 to the area of Liestal, Füllingsdorf, Lausen, Bubendorf, Reigoldswil and Nunningen. The new site is considered to be under test at the moment and as such liable to interruptions, periods of reduced power and other odd effects before entering official public service in about four weeks time. March 27th The UK regulator Ofcom has received one application for the Surrey and North Sussex local DAB licence from MuxCo Surrey & North Sussex Ltd (MuxCo Ltd 50%, UKRD Group Ltd 50%). The licence area covers two frequency allotments, allowing the technical possibility of operating two distinct ensembles. Block 10B (211.648 MHz) is the frequency for the south eastern part and Block 10C (213.360 MHz) for the north western part. Capacity is reserved for the local BBC service BBC Southern Counties Radio. MuxCo propose to review the operation of two distinct ensembles during the licence period. MuxCo proposes to broadcast seven services, in addition to BBC Southern Counties Radio, and to operate a Podcast service for download:-
March 26th The Hungarian regulator, the Nemzeti Hírközlési Hatóság (NHH), has announced an auction for the rights to operate five digital television broadcasting networks and one VHF DAB network. Technical details about the DAB network (as with the TV networks) are being withheld from public scrutiny, and are available only upon registration as Participants and upon payment of a Participation fee of one million Forints plus 20% VAT. The licences will run for a period of 12 years. Closing date for bids is 11:00 on April 24th 2008. March 25th In Germany, the regional regulator, the Landesmedienanstalt Saarland, acting on behalf of all the Landesmedienanstalten, has issued a call for expressions of interest in using capacity on the forthcoming national and regional DAB ensembles. One nationwide ensemble will be advertised. In each Land, two regional layers of coverage will be advertised which between them should eventually cover the whole of Germany. Frequency resources will become available in 2009 to the enable the provision of a fourth layer of coverage, should that be desired by the Länder. Frequencies for the three (or four) layers of coverage become available following analogue switch-off of the ARD and ZDF television services, and the migration to Bands IV and V of those DVB-T services currently operating in Band III. March 22nd Radio Nederland is reporting that the Swiss regulator BAKOM has awarded L-band spectrum to Worldspace Satellite Radio for use by terrestrial fillers in Switzerland, although neither party's website has yet announced this. There is no frequency conflict with DAB, since the 12.5 MHz in question is already earmarked for satellite radio. However, there is obviously going to be competition for market share, especially in territories where DAB is not yet fully established. Moreover, SDR is not compatible with either DAB, DAB+ or DRM receivers. Worldspace Satellite Radio will use a new system, Satellite Digital Radio, which has recently been standardised in a series of ETSI specifications (TS 102 550 [2], TS 102 551-1 [3] and TS 102 551-2 [4]). Worldspace plans its first commercial roll-out in Italy in 2009. According to the Radio Nederland report, Worldspace expects to be awarded licences by four further national administrations in Europe this year. The new Worldspace services could actually encourage terrestrial broadcasters to proceed with DAB rollout, since none is likely to be willing to concede market share to the new system. March 22nd Irish public-service broadcaster RTÉ has brought into service a new transmitter on Block 12C, bringing to four the number of DAB transmitter sites in the Republic. Woodcock Hill extends coverage of DAB Ireland Mux1 to a large area of County Limerick around the city of Limerick. According to the Irish DAB website digitalradio.ie, coverage by population currently stands at 47%. The website hopes that this will rise to 79% by the end of 2009. March 20th On NOW Cambridge, the Service Q103 (C5C0) has been relabelled Q103 has moved. A new Service has popped up. (C36A) is labelled Q103. March 19th The UK regulator Ofcom has awarded the local DAB licence for Mid & West Wales to the sole applicant, MuxCo Wales Limited (Town & Country Broadcasting Ltd 70%, MuxCo Ltd 30%). The licence area covers two frequency planning allotments, but MuxCo proposes to broadcast to only one. The ensemble will operate on Block 12D, using two transmitters at Presely and Carmel from Q1 2010, and to add two more, at Fishguard and Llanelli within two years. MuxCo states it has not identified a commercially viable way of serving the other half of the licence area, Ceredigion and Powys (Block 10C) but will work with others during the licence term to identify ways of extending DAB into this area. MuxCo proposes to provide three local digital sound programme services, in addition to BBC Radio Wales and BBC Radio Cymru.
In Israel, the Block 12A ensemble has ceased. A licensing process to operate a full public service is expected to begin sometime soon. It is most likely that the DAB+ standard will be specified. March 14th The UK Competition Commission is to permit the proposed takeover of transmission provider National Grid Wireless Group (NGW) by Macquarie UK Broadcast Ventures Ltd. The deal amounts to a merger between NGW and the only other significant transmission provider in the UK, Arqiva, which is a subsidiary of Macquarie, and creates a monopoly in transmission provision in the UK. The Competition has specified a number of conditions which must be fulfilled if the deal is to proceed:
March 14th The Bayerische Landeszentrale für neue Medien (BLM) has extended the licences of the two private-sector services Radio Galaxy and Rock Antenne until 31st December 2009. The services are broadcast on the Block 12D ensemble Bayern. The time limit has been stipulated on the grounds that in 2009 it is planned to licence new services as part of the promised relaunch of DAB in Germany. March 11th The Austrian regulator KommAustria has awarded the operation of a nationwide DVB-H multiplex (Mux D) to Media Broadcast GmbH, a subsidiary of TDF Group. Media Broadcast plans a rapid rollout, intending to provide coverage in Vienna, Salzburg, Innsbruck and Klagenfurt in time for the UEFA Euro 2008 in June. 15 television services for reception on mobile devices and four radio services will be transmitted. March 10th Has Canadian DAB entered the twilight, or the Twilight Zone? The Canadian regulator, the CRTC, has announced an extension to the licences of the currently operational DAB services to August 31st 2009. Included in the decision, however, are the services in Windsor which ceased quite some time ago. This is the second such extension to a non-existant ensemble. In announcing that the Windsor ensemble was being renewed last year, the CRTC stated that the criteria for renewal was that the multiplex should have been in operation by August 31st 2007. In actual fact, the ensemble ceased over a year before that date, and a CBC source confirmed to Wohnort that the transmitter had been dismantled, adding "We have no clue when we will put it back on the air." When asked why the CRTC was treating Windsor more favourably than other undertakings which were also not on the air, the CRTC responded "the above-noted undertakings had at one point commenced operations. The Commission was informed in writing of their respective implementation dates. It should be noted that each of these undertakings has fulfilled a principal licensing requirement (i.e. being in operation) and as such, have had their licences renewed". The key criteria appears to be, therefore, not whether an ensemble is operational, but whether it has ever been operational. However, the ensemble in Halifax meets that criteria, in having once been operational, but being non-operational currently, with no plans for it to resume broadcasting. Halifax is thus treated differently from the Windsor ensemble in not being renewed. The unfortunate services in Montreal, Toronto and Victoria, not to mention CHUM's subscription services, which never made it to the air at all, and therefore are currently not on air, are therefore unfavourably treated with respect to the services in Windsor which are also currently not on air. March 9th The Swiss regulator BAKOM has awarded the operation of the second ensemble for German-speaking Switzerland to SwissMediaCast AG. According to the BAKOM statement, the ensemble will operate on Block 7D. According to the Swiss licensing process, SwissMediaCast AG will operate the ensemble. Eight private-sector radio services were awarded capacity on the multiplex last summer. Public-service broadcaster SRG/SSR has been allocated capacity for two radio services, one of which currently uses capacity on the existing ensemble. SwissMediaCast AG is itself permitted to offer the remaining capacity. Services on the ensemble must use the DAB+ standard, though SRG/SSR has previously stated that its services would be broadcast in original-flavour DAB. SwissMediaCast AG must cover the conurbations of Basel, Bern and Zürich within one year, and 80% of households in German-speaking Switzerland by the end of February 2011. March 5th Irish public-service broadcaster RTÉ has brought into service a new transmitter on Block 12C. Cork extends coverage of the ensemble DAB Ireland Mux1 to the county of Cork in the south of the Republic. March 5th UK TII table updated. March 3rd Swiss public-service broadcaster SRG/SSR has brought into service a new transmitter on Block 12A. Le Locle extends coverage of the ensemble SRG SSR F01 to the area of Le Sagne und Le Locle. The new site under test at the moment and as such liable to interruptions, periods of reduced power and other odd effects before entering official public service in about four weeks time. February 25th Two new ensembles have popped up in the Czech Republic. The transmissions are broadcasting the same multiplex in parallel on Blocks 12B and LG in the city of Plzeň (Pilsen). Two services are being broadcast in original-flavour DAB [Radio Wave (192 kbit/s) and the regional service ČRo Plzeň (192 kbit/s)] and four services in DAB+ [Radio Česko (40 kbit/s), ČRo Leonardo (56 kbit/s) and ČRo D-dur (64 kbit/s)]. February 23rd A new Service has popped up on NOW Cardiff&Npt. Xpress Radio is reported to be running at 64 kbit/s in Mono LSF. February 22nd A new transmitter has been added to the Block 11D SFN in England and Wales, Digital1 Network. Olivers Mount extends coverage to Scarborough and the surrounding area on the Yorkshire coast. February 22nd On DRg London, the Service SMASH HITS! has been relabelled Smash Hits!. February 22nd (2) The UK regulator Ofcom has received one application for the Mid and West Wales local DAB licence. MuxCo Wales Limited (Town & Country Broadcasting Ltd 70%, MuxCo Ltd 30%) proposes to provide three local digital sound programme services, in addition to BBC Radio Wales and BBC Radio Cymru.
February 20th UK TII table updated. February 20th GCap, the largest commercial radio company in the UK is to offer for sale two of its DAB radio services, theJazz and Planet Rock, and will sell off its stake in the national commercial ensemble Digital1 Network. In its announcement, GCap states that in its view "DAB is not an economically viable platform for the Company". In a clarifying statement issued Monday, Digital One announced that the two services should only cease if no buyer is found. However, GCap's own statement specifically talked of closure. February 20th On UTV-EMAP Swansea, the Service Acen has ceased. February 20th The UK regulator Ofcom has advertised the local digital licence for North Wales. Two frequencies will be used to cover the licence area, raising the possibility, technically at least, that two distinct ensembles could run. Block 10D will be used for the western part and Block 12D for the eastern part. Capacity is reserved for the two national BBC Wales services, BBC Radio Wales and BBC Radio Cymru. The closing date for applications is May 21st 2008. Ofcom expects to announce a decision within four months of the closing date. In an appendix to the licence advertisement, Ofcom points out that the frequency corresponding to Block 10D is currently used by the Mount Leinster transmitter in the Republic of Ireland for analogue television. Consequently, Ofcom states, "it will be difficult to implement the 10D frequency over significant sections of the western part of the licence area until either Mount Leinster ceases operation, or June 2015, whichever is the earlier". February 19th The UK regulator Ofcom has awarded the local digital licence for Lincolnshire to the sole applicant, MuxCo Lincolnshire Limited (Lincs FM Group Ltd 51%, MuxCo Ltd 49%). The ensemble will run on Block 10D (215.072 MHz). MuxCo proposes to broadcast seven audio services in addition to the local BBC radio service, BBC Radio Lincolnshire, using four transmitters (Belmont, Lincoln County Hospital, High Hunsley and Grantham) from July 2009.
On the Block 6A ensemble Club DAB Italia, the Services Deejay, m20, RADICALE, RDS and Rin have ceased. The Service R Italia has been relabelled Radio Italia. The Service R Maria has been relabelled Radio Maria. The Service Capital has been relabelled Radio Capital. The Service Radio 24 has been relabelled R101. February 18th The Block 12B ensemble DAB RAI has been relabelled RAI. The Services RAI MF1, RAI MF2, RAI MF3, RAI FD4 and RAI FD5 have been relabelled Radio Uno, Radio Due, Radio Tre, FD4 and FD5 respectively. The Service VISRADIO is reported to have ceased. February 18th The Block 9D ensemble EuroDAB Italia has been relabelled Euro DAB Italia. The Service RADIO RADIO has been relabelled Radio Radio. The following services are being broadcast as DAB+, each at 48 kbit/s:- Radio Vaticana +, Radio Padania +, RTL 102.5 Classic +, Radio Deejay +, Virgin +, Radio radicale +, RDS + and Radio 24 +. February 17th The UK regulator, Ofcom, has published details of a policy change which takes immediate effect following a recent consultation. In future, Ofcom will regulate whether a service will be in mono or in stereo, now believing it to be an essential characteristic of a programme service. A request by a multiplex operator to change a stereo service to mono will require approval from Ofcom. The regulator states that it will not normally approve such a change if it believes that it would unacceptably diminish the range and variety of services that they broadcast. Specifically, Ofcom states that it will not normally approve a request to change a stereo service to a mono service in order that the released capacity could be used for closed user group data services. Ofcom intends to review this policy after twelve months. February 11th A new Service has popped up on Switch London. ZEE RADIO is reported to be running at 64 kbit/s in Mono. February 11th A new transmitter has been added to the Block 11D SFN in England and Wales, Digital1 Network. Whitby extends coverage to Whitby and the surrounding area on the Yorkshire coast. February 9th The media regulator in Bayern, the BLM, has awarded 116 CU capacity (equivalent to 160 kbit/s at Protection Level 3) on the Block LD local ensemble Ingolstadt to Radio Starlet Programm- und Werbegesellschaft mbH for its service Truck Radio. One of the terms of the award is an incentive to the broadcaser to switch to DAB+ transmission. If by May 1st 2011, the service is being broadcast in MPEG4 coding, a four-year extension to the licence will be granted. February 6th The licensing process is rolling forward in Australia. In December, Commercial Radio Australia, representing over 98% of the country's commercial radio broadcasters, invited applications to participate in joint venture companies which will apply for DAB+ licences in, respectively, Adelaide, Brisbane, Hobart, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney. In January, the Community Broadcasting Association of Australia issued a similar invitation to incumbent community broadcasters in the same cities to participate in representative companies. Those representative companies would then take a shareholding in the joint venture companies being formed by Commercial Radio Australia. The country's regulator, the Australian Communications and Media Authority issued an invitation to apply for multiplex licences in December. That invitation is expected to close some time in May, by which time the new consortia should be in position. February 6th Swiss public-service broadcaster SRG/SSR has brought into service a new transmitter at Ins Schaltenrain. The new site broadcasts both the Block 12C ensemble for German-speaking Switzerland, SRG SSR D01, and the Block 12A ensemble for French-speaking Switzerland, SRG SSR F01, thereby extending coverage of both ensembles to an area including La Neuville, St. Blaise, Twann, Ins and Sugiez. The new site under test at the moment and as such liable to interruptions, periods of reduced power and other odd effects before entering official public service in about four weeks time. February 6th EMAP Liverpool and UTV-Emap Stoke Snapshots updated. February 2nd Off-topic: The Digital Television Group, whose members include virtually everyone whose anyone in UK broadcasting, transmission and consumer electronics retail - BBC, ITV, Sky, Channel 4, Channel 5, Arqiva, National Grid Wireless, Virgin Media, Panasonic, Philips, Sony, Comet, Dixons, etcetera, etcetera - have published a response to Ofcom's consultation on the future of Digital Terrestrial Television which is critical of Ofcom's proposals (see November 21st). Among the DTG's concerns:-
The DTG Response in full..
February 2nd In Germany, the Block LH ensemble Wuerzburg is reported to have ceased. February 1st Daytime Digital1 Network Snapshot updated. February 1st Swiss public-service broadcaster SRG/SSR has brought into service two transmitters in the Jura. Sonceboz extends coverage of the Block 12A ensemble SRG SSR F01 to Sonceboz-Sombeval and Corgémont. Mont Graitery extends coverage to Moutier and the surrounding area. The new transmitters are under test at the moment and as such liable to interruptions, periods of reduced power and other odd effects before entering official public service in about four weeks time. February 1st On Digital1 Network, the service Oneword has been relabelled Birdsong. February 1st On Digital1 Network, the DAB-IP services C4, E4, ITN News and ITV 1, formerly marketed as BT Movio, have ceased. Snapshot updated. January 28th Denmark TII table updated. January 28th The DAB transmission provider in the Italian province of Südtirol (Alto Adige), RAS, has added a new transmitter site to its Blocks 12A and 12D networks. Grüdnerjoch improves coverage of the ensembles RAIRASDAB12A and RASDAB12D in the Gröden and Gaden valleys, including St. Christina, Wolkenstein, Kolfuschg and Corvara. January 28th Swiss public-service broadcaster SRG/SSR has brought into service a new transmitter in Canton Fribourg. Cordast extends coverage of the Block 12A ensemble SRG SSR F01 to an area including Gurmels, Bösingen and Düdingen. The new transmitter is under test at the moment and as such liable to interruptions, periods of reduced power and other odd effects before entering official public service in about four weeks time. January 25th
In Denmark, 17 audio services are currently broadcast across two ensembles, some of them time-sharing. Danmarks Radio has launched two new Services, DR COCO and DR MPG, replacing DR P2 PLUS and DR Barracuda. January 24th The world's most northerly DAB transmitters? Norwegian DAB coverage was extended in December to include the towns of Bodø, Harstad, Narvik, Mo i Rana, Alta, Hammerfest and Vadsø. In addition to the national programmes, listeners in the new reception area can now hear the programmes of all three of public-service broadcaster NRK's northernmost regional radio services. During 2008, coverage improvements are planned in Oslo and Akershus and an extension of DAB coverage into the county of Sogn og Fjordane. January 24th As evidence of continued measurable progress in Swedish DAB, a new antenna was recently installed at the Nacka transmitter site, allowing a doubling of the radiated power and improving reception in Stockholm. Transmitter upgrades have also taken place in Malmö, improving coverage of the city centre. Faced with limited budgets with which to develop DAB, SR has concentrated on content to make DAB an attractive proposition, while confining coverage to the major conurbations of Stockholm, Gothenburg and Malmö. According to Swedish Radio, seven audio services are currently broadcast on the Block 12B ensemble SR RIKS DAB: SR Atlas, SR Bubbel, SR Klassiskt, SR Minnen, SR P1, P7 Sisuradio and P3 Star. January 24th The French regulator, the Conseil Supérieur de l'Audiovisuel, has authorised T-DMB multiplex operator Towercast to increase the power of its Block 9A transmissions in Paris from the Porte de Bagnolet and Porte Maillot sites. January 24th The French regulator, the Conseil Supérieur de l'Audiovisuel, has authorised test transmissions using DRM in the medium-wave (MF) band from Saint-Gouéno (Côtes-d'Armor). The tests are authorised to run until the end of April 2008. January 24th In the Netherlands, test transmissions using a digital radio system for the FM band, FMeXtra, are reported to have resumed on the frequencies of Q Music, Radio 538 and Sky Radio. January 24th And now some information for any listeners who have been reading the Channel 4 Radio website and may be wondering what the outcome of Channel 4's bid for the second national DAB multiplex may be when Ofcom "make their decision in July". They won. Ofcom made their decision in July 2007!. January 24th The UK regulator Ofcom has received one application for the local DAB licence for Lincolnshire. The ensemble will run on Block 10D (215.072 MHz). MuxCo Lincolnshire Limited (Lincs FM Group Ltd 51%, MuxCo Ltd 49%) proposes to broadcast seven audio services in addition to the local BBC radio service, BBC Radio Lincolnshire, using four transmitters from July 2009.
January 24th The UK regulator Ofcom has advertised the local DAB licence for Somerset. The ensemble will run on Block 10D (215.072 MHz). Capacity is reserved for the local BBC radio service, BBC Somerset. Closing date for applications is April 23rd 2008. Ofcom expects to announce a decision within four months of the closing date. January 24th Switch London Snapshot updated. January 22nd The UK regulator Ofcom has awarded the local DAB licence for Gloucestershire to MuxCo Gloucestershire Limited (UKRD Group Limited 25%, Murfin Media Limited 25%, Town & Country Broadcasting Limited 25%, MuxCo Limited 25%). The ensemble will run on Block 10C (213.360 MHz). MuxCo Gloucs proposes to begin broadcasting with 10 audio services simultaneously with the launch of the local ensemble for Hereford & Worcester (September 2008), but in any case no later than October 31st 2008 (with an eleventh service to follow within nine months). MuxCo Gloucs proposes to use four transmitters: Churchdown Hill, Stroud, Blunsdon and Icomb Hill. January 21st On Switch London, the Services Heart and Virgin Xtreme are reported to be running at the lower bitrate of 128 kbit/s, without accompanying MOT slideshow. January 19th On the Block 12A/5C ensemble Sachsen K12A, the Service RADIJOJO! is reported to have ceased. January 18th CE London listing corrected. At some point last year, the SId of Traffic Radio changed to (C5D1). January 17th Swiss public-service broadcaster SRG/SSR has brought into service a new transmitter in Canton Ticino (Tessin). Gresso extends coverage of the Block 12A ensemble SRG SSR I01 to the Val di Vergeletto. The new transmitter is under test at the moment and as such liable to interruptions, periods of reduced power and other odd effects before entering official public service in about four weeks time. January 16th The Block LE ensemble Berlin/BRBG LE has ceased. One of the services it broadcast, Voice of Russia, is reported to have migrated to the Block 12D ensemble Berlin/BRBG 12. January 16th On the Block LE ensemble Ingolstadt, the Service Radio Riverside is reported to have ceased. January 15th A new Service is reported to have popped up on UTV-Emap Stoke. Traffic Radio is reported to be running at 48 kbit/s, probably Mono LSF. January 15th On the Block 12A ensemble DRN Nieders., the Service Deutschlandfunk is reported to be running at the increased bitrate of 192 kbit/s. January 15th A number of new Services have been observed recently on the second Danish ensemble DR DAB2. TV2 Radio is reported to be running at 192 kbit/s (probably in Joint Stereo). Radio 100 Soft is reported to be running at 128 kbit/s (probably in Joint Stereo). DR Oline is reported to be running at 128 kbit/s (probably in Joint Stereo). DR P2 Plus is reported to be running at 128 kbit/s (probably in Joint Stereo). The service DR Politik was reported to be running at 32 kbit/s. January 15th Transmissions using the digital radio system FMeXtra are reported to be taking place in the Netherlands on the 105.3 MHz frequency on Delta FM. January 14th Snapshot of the Block 12C Nordrhein-Westfalen ensemble NRW K12 updated. Since the last Snapshot was taken, the Service EinsLive has been relabelled 1Live and the Service EINS LIVE diggi has been relabelled 1Live diggi. The data service (E0D01005), formerly labelled TPEG-PDATest, is now labelled WDR-INFO. The data service (E0D01006), formerly labelled WDR-INFO, is now labelled TEC-Test. January 14th Snapshot added of the DMB ensemble in Nordrhein-Westfalen, WDR-DMB. January 14th UTV-EMAP W.YORKS Snapshot updated. Since the last Snapshot was taken, the SId of Traffic Radio has changed from (C2D1) to (C3D1). January 14th Recent Snapshot added of the Block LC experimental London ensemble Arqiva Test Dev. Note that this L-band ensemble was observed to be using Transmission Mode I, optimised for Band III. January 14th EMAP Leeds, EMAP Humberside, EMAP Teesside and EMAP T&W Snapshots updated. January 14th China listing updated with two DMB ensembles on Blocks 5B and 5C seen in Shenzhen, SZ-TV 1 and SZ-TV 2. January 12th On Digital1 Network, the Service Core (C3C0) has been relabelled BFBS Radio and is running at the increased bitrate of 112 kbit/s in Joint Stereo. Overnight Snapshot updated. January 11th A test transmission popped up briefly on NOW Cardiff&Npt today. Test Cardiff was reported to be running at 64 kbit/s in Mono LSF. The Service has since ceased. January 11th A new Service has popped up on EMAP Liverpool. CityTalk is running at 64 kbit/s in Mono with the PTy "Phone In". January 11th DRG London Snapshots updated. Since the last Snapshots were taken, a new Service has popped up. Rainbow Radio is running at 64 kbit/s in Mono LSF. January 11th Snapshot added of the Murcia ensemble MURCIA DIGITAL. January 11th NOW S. Hampshire Snapshot updated. January 11th EMAP Liverpool Snapshot updated. Since the last Snapshot was taken, the Service Gold has been relabelled Gold - Liverpool and has resumed using the SId C7D3, which it had during dual-running with Classic Gold and ceased using the former Classic Gold SId CFC4. January 10th Snapshot updated of the Block 12C ensemble for the German-speaking region of Switzerland. Since the last Snapshot was taken, the ensemble has been relabelled SRG SSR D01. The Service DRS MUSIGWAELLE has been relabelled DRS MUSIKWELLE. January 10th Score N.IRELAND Snapshot updated. January 9th The ensemble of the Turkish public-service broadcaster TRT has not been received recently in either Istanbul or Ankara and is assumed to have ceased. January 9th On NOW W. Wiltshire, NOW Bournemouth, NOW Bristol, NOW Cardiff&Npt, NOW Kent, NOW Berks&Hants, NOW Essex, NOW Sussex Coast and NOW Swindon, the Service FUN radio kids is reported to have ceased. The service is reported continuing on DRg London. January 7th The German public-service broadcaster MDR is conducting DMB tests in the greater Leipzig area on Block 11A. The pilot project is expected to last one year. The ensemble is reported to be broadcasting 3 television services and two radio services. January 3rd On the Blocks 12A and 5C ensemble Sachsen K12A, the Service 89.0 RTL digital is reported to have fallen silent and is expected to cease shortly. January 3rd On Digital1 Network, the Service theJazz is running at the increased bitrate of 128 kbit/s in Joint Stereo. January 2nd Swiss public-service broadcaster SRG/SSR has brought into service a new transmitter on Block 12A. La Chaux-de-Fonds extends coverage of SRG SSR F01 to La Chaux-de-Fonds as well as Saint-Imier, Renan, Les Bois, Sonvilier and La Ferrière. The new transmitter is under test at the moment and as such liable to interruptions, periods of reduced power and other odd effects before entering official public service in about four weeks time. Stories from 2007 Stories from 2006 Stories from 2005 Stories from 2004 Stories from 2003 Stories from 2002 Stories from 2000 and 2001 |
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carey@wohnort.demon.co.uk © 2007 |