Last-minute deal paves the way for DAB+ in Germany

German private radio stations have reached a last-minute deal with network operator Media Broadcast which paves the way for a national DAB+ service.

The negotiations had threatened to fail because the parties could not agree on the price the stations would pay to Media Broadcast for the distribution of their signals.

A first breakthrough was achieved last week when the British chipmaker Frontier Silicon signed a letter of intent with the four commercial radio broadcasters that will operate digital radio services on the new national German DAB+ multiplex. Frontier Silicon will enter into a four year advertising commitment with these broadcasters to ensure the success of the launch.

Public broadcaster ARD has welcomed the agreement.
“Now, if all stakeholders work together constructively, I am confident that radio has a good opportunity to maintain the importance in the digital world that it has today on FM,” said ARD Chairman Peter Boudgoust.

Given that not all the channels allocated for national digital radio have been filled, the remaining capacity will shortly be advertised. It’s understood that there are already some interested parties.

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Source: Media Network, kress.de via Eckhard Müller