Norway announces FM switchoff in 2017
Posted on Friday, February 4th, 2011 at 3:30 pm. #
This helpful translation of the Norwegian government’s announcement today shows that Norway is following the UK in digital radio switchover.
There are a set of criteria, not dissimilar from the UK’s: 50% of listening must be done digitally by 2015, and coverage should be equal to FM. (Unlike the UK, the amount of DAB transmitters to cover Norway is about half the amount of FM ones).
There are a few additional criteria. “Inexpensive and technically satisfactory solutions for radio reception in cars” must be available by early 2015, and if not, they’ll delay switchover. This is sensible. The good news is that, yesterday, the SMMT in the United Kingdom reaffirmed their commitment to have DAB in all new cars by the end of 2013, so one would hope that this won’t be an issue for the Norwegians.
And here’s the interesting criteria: “Digital radio must include additional value to the listeners [such as extra radio channels or additional services].”
That is a clear signal to broadcasters that they should be grasping the opportunity that digital radio offers them. And, while it’s true that some broadcasters here are doing great things with DAB (the BBC and Absolute Radio being the oft-quoted ones, but Bauer and GMG also have invested), there are also some broadcasters who bluntly have lost interest (hello, Global) and some that are miserably anti the whole thing (hey, UKRD).
The big difference here is that, by 2017, Norway’s FM dial will fall silent – joining their AM band which has been all but silent for many years. This won’t happen here; FM’ll be a hotchpotch of small commercial stations, community stations, and inevitably pirate radio. (I’m still unclear whether this is good news for the radio industry, but I know what my gut feels). (see comments below)
Finally, this interesting nugget: “All tunnels above 500 meters in length (there are more than 500 of these) will get DAB installed by the Norwegian Road Authority as the DAB system in the tunnels will double as an emergency warning system in case of accidents or fires.”
The rights of a government-mandated switchover aside, if I was Norwegian, I’d be pretty impressed at my government’s grasp of the technology and challenges; and once more, we in the UK may have much to learn.
A quick correction James; the Norwegian government is in-fact saying in their press release this afternoon that smaller local radio stations may continue to broadcast on FM after the shut down.
“Når det gjeld lokalradio, legg vi opp til at dei fleste (og minste) lokalradioane kan få fortsette på FM etter 2017, dersom dei ønskjer det.”
Which translates to:
“When it comes to local radio, we will make it possible for most (and certainly the smaller) stations to continue on FM after 2017, if they want to”
This is, to say the least, a confusing message from the minister of culture Anniken Huitfeldt. But all in all she presented an interesting report to the parliament.