WorldDAB Summit: FM Shutdowns in Germany and Switzerland

The switchover to DAB+ is targeted by 2026 in Switzerland and mid-2031 in the northern German state of Schleswig-Holstein

As DAB+ continues gaining traction in Europe, analog FM stations are set to be shutdown entirely in the northern German state of Schleswig-Holstein and all of Switzerland. The details of these “FM switch-offs” were discussed during the WorldDAB Summit 2024 session, “Switchover is Happening Here and Now.” WorldDAB, the industry group promoting the DAB+ digital radio standard, hosted the summit on Nov. 14 in Zagreb, Croatia.

FM switch-off by mid-2031 in Schleswig-Holstein
Dirk Schrödter, head of the state chancellery of the northern German state of Schleswig-Holstein, discusses the DAB+ switchover

Dirk Schrödter, head of the state chancellery of Schleswig-Holstein, opened the session by declaring his state home to the happiest people in Germany. “This is surely due to the great radio stations we have in the north,” Schrödter proclaimed. “And now,” he added, “we are making people even happier: Schleswig-Holstein will be the first in Germany to fully switch to the new, more convenient DAB+ standard.”

The state plans to shutdown FM stations following a roadmap involving private and public broadcasters, commercial and non-commercial radio stations, community broadcasters, infrastructure providers and the German media authority. Schrödter explained the transition will proceed in stages starting in 2025 with completion targeted for mid-2031.

Schrödter said the switch also aligns with Schleswig-Holstein’s climate and sustainability goals. “DAB+ is significantly more energy efficient,” Schrödter noted. “It is an important step toward sustainability in the media sector.” He added the transition supports the state’s ambition to become Germany’s first climate-neutral region and contributes to decarbonizing its economy.

Schrödter acknowledged other German states have resisted the DAB+ switchover due to concerns about retaining listeners. “Broadcasters need to invest in new technology but I understand these concerns,” he said. “We have had extensive discussions and made agreements to address these worries.”

Swiss FM switch-off planned by 2026
Adriano Pitteri of Switzerland’s SRG SSR talks about the country’s FM switch-off

The session then shifted focus to Switzerland, where the FM shutdown will begin at the end of this year. The country’s first DAB transmitter signed on in 1999, which was followed by the introduction of DAB+ a decade later.

“The turning point for digital radio in Switzerland was 2014,” said Adriano Pitteri, program manager for broadcast distribution with the Swiss Broadcasting Corporation (SRG SSR), the country’s public broadcaster. “All key stakeholders, from regulators, to public and private broadcasters, to the automotive industry and consumer electronic retailers, came together to plan radio’s future.”

[Related: “WorldDAB Summit ’24: If We Don’t Collaborate, Nobody Will Succeed“]

According to Pitteri, SRG SSR will switch to DAB+ full-time at midnight on Jan. 1, along with a small number of private broadcast transmitters. Switzerland plans to complete the switchover to DAB+ by the end of 2026. The country’s stations have been simulcasting on FM and DAB for more than 15 years. Today, DAB+ covers more than 99% of the population, according to Pitteri. Over 80% of its citizens are using DAB+ and fewer than 10% are relying solely on FM. “That’s a huge achievement,” he said.

To prepare for the FM shutdown, SRG SSR has been airing announcements on its FM stations. Pitteri said the messages interrupt the current broadcast to inform listeners they are still using FM and to encourage them to make the switch to DAB+. “This measure has been highly effective,” he said. “Whenever the announcement airs, we receive many calls and support messages on our helpline asking, ‘How can I improve my radio?’”

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Publish date : 2024-12-10 14:53:00

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