The
latest improvements for digital radio are allowing traditional broadcasters to
marry broadcast signals with ever-growing popular Internet radio offerings, as
well as carve out new business models for established broadcast
transmissions. Today, there are four main
digital radio systems: the European Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB) system, Digital
Radio Mondiale (DRM), Japanese ISDB-T, and U.S. HD Radio. DTC’s latest forecast
shows 12.5 million digital radios shipping worldwide in 2012 and estimates a
32% increase in shipments between now and 2017, to 16.5 million units.
The
latest frontier of digital radio is proving to be in consumer automobiles. In the
U.S., a wide array of leading automakers: Acura, Audi, Bentley, BMW, Buick,
Cadillac, and among others have included HD Radio in their new models’
dashboards. In additional to the original features that HD Radio established
(such as display album art and other images), more advanced features like
iTunes tagging, Artist Experience and Digital Traffic and Data are now included
as standard features. In Europe and
Australia, DAB/DAB+ in-car radio receiver is also becoming common.
Hybrid
radio, which allows consumers to load apps onto mobile devices to let broadcast
radio and the internet work together, is also getting people’s attention. Without
additional costs, this marriage of radio and internet allows radio listeners
access to broadcast radio programs by streaming audio via smartphone and tablet
devices. But more importantly, the new concept adds new features such as on-screen programming guides and the ability for broadcasters to insert additional ads to
be viewed on a smartphone or tablet screen. However, challenges still exist as streaming
audio may not be the most efficient way to reach listeners. But in today’s market where few mobile
devices include broadcast radio receivers, streaming over the internet is the
best way to reach listeners who are on the go.
DAB Countries*
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DRM Countries*
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ISDB-T Countries*
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HD Radio Countries*
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Australia
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Austria
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Japan
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U.S.
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Belgium
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France
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Mexico
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China
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Germany
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Czech Republic
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India
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Denmark
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Australia
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Germany
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Canada
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Hong Kong
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UK
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Malta
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The Netherlands
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Norway
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South Korea
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Sweden
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Switzerland
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UK
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*Systems that have
already been adopted (excluding
those under testing or on trials)
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