WorldDAB has issued a new factsheet on DAB+ digital radio in Switzerland for automotive manufacturers. This factsheet is especially important for the Swiss market as it prepares for the switch-off of FM. Switzerland currently has DAB+ in all new cars and is working toward converting the parc of older cars with DAB+ aftermarket devices.
WorldDAB produced the factsheet as part of the work of its Automotive Working Group, in partnership with DIGIMIG, the Swiss body for DAB digital radio, and RadioDNS, which promotes hybrid radio.
The factsheet provides an essential guide for the automotive industry on what to expect to receive via digital radio in-car. It aims to raise awareness about what services are on-air on DAB+ today from commercial and public broadcasters. Information provided includes audio, text and visual information from each station and what broadcasters expect a receiver to show on the screen in the car or on an in-car DAB aftermarket device.
It details the current status of digital radio broadcasts in Switzerland, indicates future developments, and provides information on the next planned steps. The factsheet differentiates real content (what is provided) from content-agnostic mechanisms and technical channels (how it is provided). Using the detailed information provided, manufacturers of DAB+ radio receivers can test their devices across Switzerland.
The first factsheet of this type
Aftermarket Devices Group chair, Roberto Moro, strategic broadcast services manager at SRG SSR, said, “We as broadcasters need to be as clear as possible what we are broadcasting on DAB+, so that car manufacturers, in turn, are sure that the screen in the car is populated with the correct radio content for the driver. To this end, Switzerland is the first market to release a factsheet of this type — this clarity is something which will move both markets forward and strengthen our collaboration.”
The 2021 Car Buyers Survey confirmed that “day-to-day consumption of broadcast radio among motorists remains significantly higher than for any other form of audio content. 65% of respondents say they listen to broadcast radio in the car frequently.” The work of the WorldDAB Automotive Group is to continue to ensure consumers have the option to listen to DAB+ radio in the car now and in the future.
The Swiss factsheet is available on the WorldDAB website.
Publication of the factsheet comes ahead of WorldDAB Automotive 2022 in London on Wednesday, June 22. The annual event brings together leading experts from across the digital radio and vehicle manufacturing industries.