The progress of DAB+ digital radio in Europe and beyond is set to take centre stage in Brussels, Belgium, as WorldDAB opens its annual General Assembly today.
5 November 2019, Brussels - WorldDAB’s flagship event brings together 200 delegates from the broadcasting, automotive and technology sectors to discuss the latest developments related to DAB+ digital radio and the changing nature of the wider audio industry.
WorldDAB President Patrick Hannon will present WorldDAB’s updated vision for radio’s digital future, and top-level radio industry executives speaking at the event will include Antonio Arcidiacono, Director of Technology and Innovation at the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), Jean-Philippe Philippot and Paul Lembrechts, CEOs of RTBF and VRT respectively, Jonathan Wall from the BBC, Nicolas Curien from the French media regulator CSA, as well as representatives from automotive manufacturers Audi and Toyota. The keynote speaker on day 2 will be Heike Raab, German State Secretary for Rhineland-Palatinate.
The significant developments that have shaped the radio industry in recent months will be addressed at the event, including the introduction and implementation of the instrumental EECC directive, which requires all new car radios in the EU to be capable of receiving digital terrestrial radio by the end of 2020.
Other topics on the agenda will include this year’s launch of regular DAB+ services in Tunisia, France's planned launch of a national DAB+ network in 2020, key marketing and advertising strategies for DAB+, as well as 5G, hybrid radio and the role of DAB+ as part of a multiplatform strategy.
“The last 12 months have been an exciting period for DAB+ digital radio in Europe. France has announced the launch of national DAB+ in 2020, Switzerland has confirmed FM switch-off by the end of 2024 and the EECC directive requires new car radios across the EU to be digital from the end of 2020. We also have a growing number of markets introducing national rules requiring consumer receivers to be digital” said WorldDAB President Patrick Hannon. “One of our key focuses this year will be to help EU member states understand, adapt and transpose the European directive into national legislation.”
“One of the most important features of the WorldDAB General Assembly is the opportunity to hear directly from territories across the world”, commented Bernie O’Neill, Project Director at WorldDAB. “We are keen for delegates to share best practice and take away key learnings from successful DAB deployments.”
For more information on the General Assembly, and to see the full programme for the event, click here.
Notes: Press Release - WorldDAB - 5 November 2019, Brussels
