The French-speaking audiovisual sector in Belgium’s Wallonia region has presented its analysis of the Fédération Wallonie-Bruxelles’ preliminary draft decree on the future shutdown of FM broadcasting and the extension of radio transmission licenses to the Advisory College of the Conseil Supérieur de l’Audiovisuel.
The CSA is the media regulator for the French-speaking Community of Belgium. Its Advisory College brings together representatives from across the audiovisual sector, including public and commercial broadcasters, content creators, internet radio and television services, cable distributors and network operators.
The sector considers the proposed amendment an important step in radio’s digital transition. According to the analysis, ending the simultaneous transmission of services on both FM and DAB+ would eventually remove the additional costs currently borne by stations that broadcast on both analog and digital platforms.
However, the proposal to extend future broadcast licenses from nine to 15 years has prompted concerns among much of the audiovisual sector. Instead, stakeholders are advocating an exceptional three-year extension of existing licenses to allow time for more detailed discussions on the long-term regulatory framework.
Need for broader consultation
Regarding the conditions and timetable for an FM switch-off, the sector argues that the draft decree remains incomplete. It is calling on the government of the Fédération Wallonie-Bruxelles — the political entity responsible for French-speaking education, culture and media in Belgium — to place the proposal within a broader vision for the future of radio.
The sector says that vision should be developed in consultation with Belgium’s other linguistic communities — Flanders, the Dutch-speaking region, and the German-speaking Community in eastern Belgium — as well as their respective radio operators and neighboring countries. Such coordination is considered important because radio signals routinely cross national and regional borders.
The current draft sets out three conditions for an FM shutdown. Digital radio would need to account for 85% of total listening time, fewer than 10% of the population would need to be listening via FM, and 80% of stations broadcasting on both DAB+ and FM — including public broadcaster RTBF, commercial networks and independent stations — would need to support a transition to digital broadcasting.
The audiovisual sector also calls for structural measures to ensure that the move to digital broadcasting does not threaten the viability and diversity of the radio landscape. It argues that a broader digital radio strategy could help strengthen radio’s position within an increasingly digital media environment.
These stories might interest you
TOPradio test suggests AI still lacks radio’s human touch
