DRM Radios and services publicly launched at IFA 2005

DRM Members Texas Instruments and RadioScape introduced three multi-standard, tabletop consumer radios with DRM, DAB (Digital Audio Broadcast), FM - RDS, LW, MW and SW capabilities, which use RadioScape's RS500 module and TI's DRM350 multi-standard digital radio baseband.

The Roberts receiver has Pause Plus (for digital pause and rewind), built-in stereo speakers, and runs on batteries
or mains electricity.

The Morphy Richards receiver has mmc or sd card storage, and is capable of record or playback. And Sangean's radio features MP3, plus mmc or sd card storage.

DRM Member Coding Technologies, in cooperation with AFG Engineering GmbH and Himalaya (Power) Electronics, demonstrated a DRM-capable radio based on Analog Devices' Blackfin®. Additionally, DRM Member Fraunhofer IIS has developed a complete DRM processing chain for
integration into a DRM-only or multi-standard receiver IC,
supplemented by Coding Technologies' Audio Decoder Library.

DRM Member Robert Bosch GmbH presented a modified car receiver with DRM capabilities. In collaboration with DRM Member RTL Group, Visteon Corporation demonstrated its in-vehicle DRM, FM & AM CD Tuner. Panasonic showcased an OEM DRM-capable car radio prototype.

"The arrival of a range of consumer-priced, DRM-capable products at IFA marks the European launch of DRM," said DRM Chairman and Deutsche Welle COO Peter Senger. "The timing is excellent --- at the same time that popular commercial stations and respected public broadcasters are increasing the availability of DRM content, DRM-capable consumer products are heading for the shops for Christmas
2005."

RTL Group announced at IFA that it is broadcasting three DRM services, in German, French and English. Deutsche Welle is broadcasting 90 hours of DRM content per day, and will launch a new channel designed for European listeners in 2006. (more)

BBC World Service launched its DRM Europe service to the Benelux countries, and neighboring France and Germany, with 18 hours of DRM content per day, delivered from three transmitters. DeutschlandRadio is broadcasting 24 hours of DRM content per day on both medium-wave and long-wave, and has announced that all its transmitters will be DRM-capable by 2006 for German national broadcasts.

Radio Netherlands, Voice of Russia, TruckRadio, TDPradio, and CVC are sending DRM broadcasts.

WRN announced plans for a DRM service to Europe, as well as a 26 MHz and medium-wave DRM test project in London.

TDF and French broadcasters RFI, Radio France, RTL, Europe 1, Radio de la Mer, Superloustic, Radio Orient, Radio Télérama, Radio Nouveaux Talents, Beur FM and Littoral AM joined together for a special DRM transmission at IFA. T-Systems broadcast RADIO1 during the show.

Recently, UK commercial broadcasters Virgin Classic Rock, Classic Gold Digital, Asian Sound Radio, Premier Christian Radio and CVC conducted a medium-wave DRM pilot scheme in the UK, provided by VT Communications.

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