The European Broadcasting Union, 12 broadcasters from across Europe form the European Digital Radio Alliance

Le Grand-Saconnex, Switzerland, 18-Mar-2016 — /EuropaWire/ — The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) and 12 broadcasters from across Europe have united to form the European Digital Radio Alliance. The partnership was formed during the annual Radiodays Europe conference in Paris on 15 March 2016.

The intention of this alliance, established in partnership with the EBU, is to make digital radio the standard across Europe.

Director of BBC Radio, Helen Boaden, was elected as the first president of the European Digital Radio Alliance. Boaden said, “Members of the Alliance are sending a clear signal that they share a commitment to making DAB (digital audio broadcasting) radio the predominant means of distribution in their areas of operation.

“Digital radio offers great advantages to listeners but for too long we have seen it as a national issue. That fragmented approach has been holding back investment.”

“As DAB becomes the natural choice for consumers, we want Europe to embrace it and manufacturers to offer DAB alongside FM in sets and vehicles, just as they did for medium-wave and FM, and at a price that is attractive to the consumer.”

“That will only happen if people see we are united in our determination to bring consumers the benefits of digital radio. The Alliance is here to provide that united front and to speak with one voice to manufacturers, governments and regulators.”

The founding members of the Alliance are: ARD (Germany), Deutschlandradio (Germany), Die Neue Welle (Germany), BBC (UK), Global (UK), Bauer Media Group (UK & Nordics), NRK (Norway), NPO (Netherlands), RTBF (Belgium), SRG SSR (Switzerland), Czech Radio, Radio Arabella (Austria) and the EBU. Broadcasters with a commitment to DAB radio are welcome to join.

CONTACT DETAILS

Sabrina Thonney-Soto
Senior Communications Officer
Communications
+41 22 717 2203
thonney@ebu.ch

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Founders of the European Digital Radio Alliance. Left to right: Mariano Tschuor (SRG SSR), Edita Kudláčová (Czech Radio), Willi Schreiner (Die Neue Welle), James Rea (Global) Heinz-Dieter Sommer (ARD), Willi Steul (Deutschlandradio), Wolfgang Struber (Radio Arabella), Helen Boaden (BBC), Marc Savary (SRG SSR), Steve Parkinson (Bauer), Jan Westerhof (NPO), Francis Goffin (RTBF), Graham Ellis (BBC), Graham Dixon (EBU), Marius Lillelien (NRK), Jean Philip De Tender (EBU).