The
Welcome
Dear colleagues
Welcome to the WorldDAB General Assembly and Summit 2022.
This is a hybrid event – with many of you attending London in person, whilst others will be participating from afar. Wherever you are, the good news is that DAB is making strong progress in multiple markets:
• In Europe, almost all new cars now come with DAB+ as standard
• Switzerland is preparing for its FM switch-off in 2024
• Germany is rapidly expanding the number of services and transmitters on air
• The UK is continuing its aggressive roll-out of small-scale DAB
• France is preparing for a major marketing campaign next year
Looking ahead, we are focused on three key opportunities.
1. Established markets: We need to ensure that established and emerging DAB+ markets optimise their prospects for success.
2. Automotive: The EECC ensures that DAB+ is standard in new cars. Our next challenge is to optimise the listener experience.
3. New markets: Our third challenge is to make further progress in new markets – in Eastern and Southern Europe, Asia Pacific, Africa, and the Middle East.
WorldDAB provides support for each of these priorities – through the Marketing Group, the Automotive Working Group, the Project Office, and our third-party consultants.
Returning to the event itself, it will be great to see so many of you in person after so much time. I trust that you will find the presentations and debates stimulating and enjoyable.
As ever, my thanks go to Bernie and the Project Office team for all their hard work in organising this year’s event. Every year presents its own organisational challenges. This year, as our first hybrid GA and Summit, is no exception and I am extremely grateful for their support.
Best wishes
Patrick
Programme
Session 1 09:00 - 10:00 GMT
Securing the future of radio
Speaker: Patrick Hannon, President, WorldDAB and VP Corporate Development, Frontier Smart Technologies
Safeguarding broadcast radio
Arqiva’s ‘Broadcast 2040+’ campaign encourages decision-makers to safeguard broadcast TV and radio through to 2040 and beyond.
Speaker: Shuja Khan, CEO, Arqiva
Bringing the fight
New DAB+ stations are entering the fight for listeners in Germany. An exceptional example of punching above its weight is ANTENNE NRW. The broadcaster made it from start-up to contender in less than one year.
Speaker: Julia Schutz, Managing Director and Programme Director, ANTENNE NRW
Powering the sonic boom
Radio listening in the UK has surged to an all-time high. We hear from the UK’s commercial radio body - Radiocentre - on how the secrets of their success, how UK audience habits are shifting, and what opportunities these changes offer broadcasters while mitigating the risks of online gatekeepers.
Speaker: Matt Payton, CEO, Radiocentre
10:00 - 10:30 Coffee
Julia Schutz Managing Director and Programme Director ANTENNE NRW Payton CEO RadiocentreProgramme
Session 2 10:30-12:00 GMT
Norway 5 years on and Switzerland 2024
It’s five years on since Norway switched off national FM, and Switzerland is set to follow in 2024. We hear from two commercial broadcasters, both leaders in their markets, on what switching to DAB+ has meant for both broadcasters and listeners.
Speakers: Ole Jørgen Torvmark, Ole Jørgen Torvmark, Head of Product, Non-Automotive, Radioplayer, CEO of Digital Radio Norway during DSO, in conversation with Kenneth Andresen, VP, Head of Radio, Viaplay Group (P4 Group) and Nicola Bomio, Head of Radio, CH Media Entertainment
French independent radio on DAB+
Les Indés Radios is an interest group bringing together 129 local radio broadcasters with a combined annual turnover of €166.4m. Their President tells us why they cannot ignore the advances, and protection, offered by terrestrial broadcast radio via DAB+.
Speaker: Jean-Eric Valli, President, Les Indés Radios, Groupe 1981 et Radioplayer France
Ole Jørgen Torvmark
Head of Product, Non-Automotive, Radioplayer, CEO of Digital Radio Norway, during DSO
Kenneth Andresen VP Head of Radio Viaplay Group (P4 Group)
Nicola Bomio Head of Radio CH Media Entertainment
Jean-Eric President
Les Indés Radios 1981 et Radioplayer
Boom success!
Boom Radio’s audience has doubled in the last year. We hear about its amazing success story, and how it has successfully merged online listening with DAB transmission to reach its target audience of 60-75 year olds.
Speaker: Phil Riley, Founder and CEO, Boom Radio
France’s first 100% positive DAB+ radio station
AirZen Radio is France’s first “100% positive” DAB+ radio station dedicated to wellness - and the only new national French radio station licensed by the CSA in 20 years.
Speaker: Anne-Marie de Couvreur, CEO and Founder, AirZen Radio, France
DAB+ receiver energy consumption
Findings from a recent in-depth research study by DTG Group looking into the energy consumption of DAB+ receivers, and how they compare alongside FM, smart speakers, and smart TVs.
Speaker: Edward Carlton, Senior Conformance Test Engineer, Digital TV Group
12:00 - 13:00 Lunch
Radioplayer France
Reliable DAB Solutions
Multiplexing,
DAB / DAB+
15+ years of flexible, scalable DAB multi-multiplexing and multi-encoding on one platform - VM, server/PC or Cloud. Seamless smart redundancy for audio inputs and EDI outputs on subchannel level. Many different audio over IP inputs including AES67 implemented, others on demand. Program Associated Data over IP and monitoring included. 100% IP
www.digidia.fr
Programme
Session 3 13:00-14:15 GMT
Trends in voice control and in-car audio
The latest trends related to radio and audio in the car, and what to expect in the future, delving into how fast the UX is changing and the impact of voice control and connectivity.
Speaker: Diana Franganillo, Director In-Vehicle UX Research, Strategy Analytics
Radio broadcasters and in-car metadata
As a major player in the UK radio market, Global is focusing on ensuring their radio stations look their best on the digital dash. We hear why metadata is so important and shares what they’re doing at Global to get it right.
Speakers: Lindsey Mack, Senior Manager DAB & External Affairs BBC Sounds, BBC in conversation with David Holroyd, Director of Technology, Global
The car manufacturer & DAB
How does one car brand view DAB in the dashboard, how does radio fit alongside other platforms specifically Android Automotive, and what does the car industry expect from the broadcasters to improve the experience for the driver?
Speaker: Gregor Pötzsch, Product Owner, Radio, CARIAD, Volkswagen Group
Diana Franganillo DirectorIn-Vehicle UX Research Strategy Analytics
Lindsey
Mack Senior ManagerDAB & External Affairs BBC Sounds, BBC
David Holroyd Director of Technology GlobalMetadata content creators and the DAB experience
An in-depth look at the metadata imperative for the best DAB/hybrid experience in the car and what the industry believes is most important for the future radio experience.
Speaker: Laurence Harrison, Director of Automotive Partnerships, Radioplayer Worldwide
What is personalised DAB Radio?
With one of the key trends in both automotive and in radio being personalisation, we consider what is personalised radio, how radio is being personalised in the car and why DAB needs to lead this converstation with car manufacturers.
Speaker: Joseph F. D’Angelo, Senior Vice President, Broadcast Radio, Xperi Inc
14:15 - 14:30 Coffee
Product Owner
Radio CARIAD Volkswagen Group
Laurence Harrison Director
Automotive Partnerships Radioplayer Worldwide
Joseph F. D’Angelo Senior Vice President Broadcast Radio Xperi Inc
Programme
Session 4 14:30-15:30 GMT
The migration to DAB+
Private and public broadcasters struggle with simulcast costs for distribution in FM and DAB+ and together need to manage the transition to DAB+, without causing friction to existing markets. We hear from Bavaria on how to manage this migration, and the benefits of cooperation between public and private broadcasters.
Speaker: Helwin Lesch, Head of Distribution and Controlling, Bayerischer Rundfunk
Lesch Head of Distribution and Controlling
Bayerischer Rundfunk
Carsten Zorger Director
Digitalradio Büro Deutschland
German industry initiative on emergency warning on DAB+
The recent flooding disaster in 2021 brought fresh momentum to Germany’s discussions on how to warn the public in an emergency. The Ministry of the Interior, with the support of the BKK (Federal Office of Civil Protection and Disaster Assistance), has requested the establishment of a national alarm infrastructure via DAB+.
Speakers: Carsten Zorger, Director, Digitalradio Büro Deutschland in conversation with Veit Olischläger, Head of Technology, Media Management and Public Relations, BLM and Olaf Korte, head of the Broadcast Applications Group, Fraunhofer IIS
Making DAB+ accessible for all broadcasters
A not-for-profit model from the UK allowing community and student radio stations to be available on DAB+.
Speaker: Donald McTernan, Director, Ujima Radio
Olischläger Technology Management
Olaf Korte Head of Broadcast Applications Group Fraunhofer IIS
15:30 Close
McTernan Director Ujima Radio
Principal Sponsor
DTS, a part of Xperi
Xperi’s automotive technologies, DTS AutoSense, DTS AutoStage, and HD Radio are designed to improve the in-vehicle experience, making it safer and more enjoyable.
Since 1993, DTS has been dedicated to making the world sound better. Through its pioneering audio solutions for mobile devices, home theatre systems, cinema and beyond, DTS provides incredibly high-quality, immersive, and engaging audio experiences to listeners everywhere. Now, DTS is also powering imaging and sensing technologies as well.
DTS AutoStage, built on the largest and deepest data set of broadcast and music metadata, combines over the air broadcast with IP-delivered content for a robust, richer, more personalized in-cabin infotainment experience, to deliver a globally available, OEM-grade enhanced radio solution compatible with DAB+, analogue, and HD Radio.
When joining DTS AutoStage, broadcasters maintain control of their content in the car dash and gain access to end-user analytics.
Broadcasters can join for free at dts.com/autostage.
Networking Drinks Sponsor
Paneda
Paneda offers innovative and cost-effective DAB solutions: safety systems, broadcast networks and broadcast systems. Nearly 200 tunnels in Norway are equipped with Paneda systems. Many local and public European broadcasters are using Paneda DAB Head-End systems with a complete range of products including multiplexing, audio encoders, data insertion and content management.
www.paneda.no
Partner Sponsors
DIGIDIA
DIGIDIA provides end-to-end DAB & DAB+ solutions for broadcast and test applications. The broadcast transmission range encompasses multiplexers, content servers, IP gateways for EDI & ETI, and road tunnel transmission/ break-in products. The monitoring range includes professional RF receivers and EDI/ETI/RF monitoring platforms.
All products are provided for both virtual and physical server platformsSoftware and hardware designs are 100% done in house. DIGIDIA is part of the NAUTEL group with a strong background in the broadcast industry.
www.digidia.fr
GatesAir
GatesAir is the only industry supplier to offer complete solutions for all digital radio standards – including DAB. Decades of experience and innovation in VHF broadcasting have now resulted in the industry’s most efficient and reliable DAB over-the-air solutions, courtesy of GatesAir’s Maxiva™ transmitter range.
For more information, please visit www.gatesair.com/dab
Delegate Bag Sponsor
Aldena
Aldena is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of antennas and RF coaxial accessories for broadcasting, civil and military applications.
Aldena is involved in different DAB+ network roll-outs, thanks to its know-how and a reliable and customer-oriented portfolio.
Aldena’s solutions include antennas for digital/analogue services (DAB+, FM Radio, DVB-T2, ATSC 3.0, ISDB-T, TETRA, PMR, ATC), coaxial RF components, measuring equipment and tower spines-mechanical structures.
Aldena also offers high-quality engineering services such as in-factory pattern measurements, antenna design, network planning, commissioning, and training.
EMLAB software - powered by Aldena - is used worldwide for antenna array design, coverage/interference calculations and to calculate the human body exposition to the RF Field Strengths (EM Near Field/Health Safety).
www.aldena.it