Number 14 ● November 1999

International News and Strategic Analysis on Digital Sound Broadcasting

Contents Life after IFA 99 Editorial: Life after IFA 99 1-2 IFA 99 has been and gone and, like IFA 97 left us all Highlights from IFA 2-3 with lots of promise and a feeling that, at last, DAB will The UK Motorshow 4 roll-out on the consumer markets across Europe. However, it is difficult after the disappointment of IFA The launch of 4 97 not to feel sceptical and worry that another false UK Radio Authority advertises launch has happened. local licenses 5 During IFA 97 felt terribly positive about 15th November 1999) in the meetings The launch of services in Switzerland 5 DAB and its impending success. was a fantastic opportunity to show The 5th WorldDAB General Assembly 6 impressions were justified - many manufacturers such as Aiwa, Grundig, receivers were exhibited in 97 and the JVC, Kenwood, Pioneer, Sony etc. that Chinese Characters 6 manufacturers made promises of receivers the broadcasters are hard at work rolling Country up-dates 7 rolling out in Q1 98. Having accepted out services. The exciting news coming shortly after IFA 97 that the roll-out was out of these meetings was that virtually The Per Erik Selemark Award 8 not going to be as smooth as I had all the manufacturers confirmed they will expected I became hardened to the launch new products during the course of Tribute to Christer Grewin 8 disappointment and, like with so many the year 2000 and many of these will be New Members - VDL 8 people, set IFA 99 as “the real launch”. integrated car radios and home receivers. As in 1997, IFA 99 proved to be another Prices are expected to drop 30-40% to fantastic, though bigger and better, display bring them below the DM 1,000 mark. of DAB’s readiness for the consumer Second generation chipsets will be market. I could not help but be impressed available next year. and feel optimistic about the progress of DAB as I passed round the exhibition and Another piece of good news was that the counted not less than 15 manufacturers car manufacturers are becoming displaying DAB products, including some increasingly interested in DAB with some new developments! It was reinforced in car manufacturers already in negotiations my mind that DAB has a life of its own with receiver manufacturers. This kind of and I left IFA thinking that this time we news is vital to the success of DAB. really were going to succeed. , more than 2 months after IFA, the My optimism was fuelled by reports from bickering between the broadcasters and the the President and the RSP (Roll-Out manufacturers has started again. Who is Support Programme) who had attended responsible for getting the receivers onto meetings with receiver manufacturers. the shelves in retail outlets? In my mind, For further information please contact: Julie Unsworth The meetings had produced some very as long as the broadcasters have sufficient Julie Unsworth World DAB Forum positive discussions which also confirmed coverage and value-added programmes on Wyvil Court, Wyvil Road that progress in the roll-out of DAB had air as they do in Sweden and the UK for SW8 2TG moved on significantly during the past 2 example, the receiver manufacturers should Tel: +44 171 896 9050, years. The presence of Digital One (the be responsible for this. e-mail: [email protected] national commercial multiplex operator in Or visit our web site on the UK who are launching services on Continued overleaf... www.worlddab.org

WorldDAB Newsletter November 1999 1 the broadcasters were adamant that until Life after IFA 99 the prices of receivers came down they ...Continued from page 1 could not begin to inform the consumers about DAB as it would look like they Swap the DAB receiver for a microwave were pushing consumers to fork out a lot oven and the manufacturers would not of money to replace their perfectly good expect anyone else to approach their FM receivers. However, over the past usual retailers whom they have excellent couple of weeks, we have heard, here in contacts with to convince them to stock the UK, DAB trailers on all the BBC’s their goods. So why is it that the networks and those of Digital One whic broadcasters such as the BBC, Swedish h launched on 15th November. Again, Radio, Digital One and others are having the broadcasters are going out of their to organise roadshows and carry out way to show their total commitment to marketing events aimed at the retailers DAB. on behalf of the manufacturers? This seems to me to be illogical. The The tables have turned and we are all The IFA discovery was the broadcasters have never had direct looking at the receiver manufacturers again. based receiver manufacturer Oritron. contacts with the retail industry before The product is expected to go on sale in and have therefore had to build up their Unfortunately, I am not a fortune teller the UK shortly. database and contact list from scratch. and I do not know what will happen over To make any progress in this area would the next 6 to 12 months. I do hope, have taken the broadcasters twice as long however, that for all of those who have as it would have taken the manufacturers invested huge resources to make DAB a with their already extensive knowledge technical and commercial success that of the retail industry. the manufacturers now take note - the broadcasters are committed, the networks Another major disagreement that ran are in place and coverage is good in during IFA and for the 2 months many countries. The only thing missing JVC displayed their receiver on the following IFA was the broadcasters’ lack is reasonably priced receivers in all WorldDAB stand. The receiver is of willingness to carry trailers or major retail outlets and a good marketing already available all over Europe but advertise DAB on their FM and AM campaign from the manufacturers to JVC also announced that they are networks. The manufacturers, pointing convince and tempt the consumer into currently planning their product line- their fingers at the broadcasters, said that acquiring a DAB receiver. Although up for next year. until the broadcasters made the most of WorldDAB can facilitate the roll-out and their very powerful advertising machine bring people together to speed up the Grundig announced their which is listened to by some 210 million process it is not able to replace the Digital Radio plans for European consumers every day1, they invaluable efforts which organisations 2000 during a meeting would not roll-out DAB receivers in can carry out on a national basis. As with the WorldDAB roll-out support sufficient quantities and at reasonable Michael McEwen, President of the World programme. The German prices. According to them, the DAB Forum, indicated at the 5th manufacturer plans to launch broadcasters’ refusal to do so showed a WorldDAB General Assembly that took several HiFi tuners as well as an lack of commitment. On the other hand, place in Rome at the end of October, we integrated DAB car radio Q1 next only have one real chance to launch a year. During the meeting, Mr Gerd product like DAB and that opportunity is ‘Another piece of good Günther, General Manager here now. All parties must join forces to news was that the car Marketing Sound, confirmed that create the right conditions for a during a recent meeting, Grundig’s manufacturers are successful launch. Board members expressed their becoming increasingly clear commitment to DAB. interested in DAB with some car manufacturers already Julie Unsworth in negotiations with 1 Figure taken from “Radio in Europe - An information paper by the World DAB Forum” which was published A symbolic image of the progress in receiver in September 1998 (document WorldDAB 123) manufacturers.’ radio technology over the past century!

WorldDAB Newsletter November 1999 2 The first VDO D’Ayton (the new brand name for Mannesmann VDO) went on display during IFA. The receiver was presented as a combined navigation system with DAB as an added option. Kenwood - one of the first manufacturers to launch market ready DAB products in July 1998 is planning a new product range for 2000.

Sony’s DAB car radio is already available on the consumer market and they also took advantage of IFA to show a prototype DAB Hi-Fi tuner.

Pioneer, DAB market Robert Bosch Multimedia GmbH leaders in and showed the first ever prototype of a many European palmtop organiser and a DAB- countries, told Michael McEwen, receiver The palmtop receiver carries President of the World DAB Forum, Robert Bosch’s new 2nd Generation that they were committed to playing a DAB chipset which was also on leading role in Digital Radio well into display on their stand. The low power the next century. consumption of the 2nd generation chipset along with the increased data Some dancers on the TechniSat, the German capabilities offered by a palmtop-type Deutsche Telekom Stand which was manufacturer, unveiled a receiver are ideal to target the also host to the LA Lakers Basketball prototype car receiver portable DAB market. team and their cheerleaders - a sign which will be launched in 2000 at a that consumers have many things to very competitive price. look at during IFA as well as DAB.

WorldDAB Newsletter November 1999 3 Digital One RCS launches SmartRadio - Asia’s first Digital Radio Service On 19 November, radio listeners in RCS stations and listeners will also be able to launches national Singapore were able to enjoy for the first receive the latest news and information in a multiplex in the UK time ever crystal-clear, interference-free trial service relaying Bloomberg Radio reception as RCS launched SmartRadio, “live” from New York. Asia’s first Digital Radio service. SmartRadio will also offer data services such Listeners with digital radio receivers in as headline news, traffic and weather updates Singapore will now be able to enjoy clear, as well as giving listeners information on the uninterrupted transmissions of their favourite current seat availability for movie screenings RCS stations at home or on the roads. at Golden Village cinemas. Initially consumers will be able to tune in to In total, RCS will be investing some $ 20 their favourite channels such as y.e.s. 933, million over the next few years to develop NewsRadio 938, and Symphony 92. more innovative services for consumers. There is also a new Showcase Channel, Digital One, the national commercial digital featuring popular programmes from select In Singapore the Future of Radio is here. radio multiplex operator in the United Kingdom, launched their network on 15th November. The DAB network covers some 65% of the UK population - about the same Digital Radio is boosted area that is covered by the BBC’s digital radio services - and is expected to increase to 85% by 2002. at UK Motor Show BBC and Digital One present The ‘Car HiFi World’ part of the Motor The Digital One multiplex features the three plans for a long-term marketing Show, where the Digital Radio stand was existing national analogue services - Classic located, also featured individual FM, Talk Radio and Virgin Radio as well as and research collaboration. manufacturers’ stands like Blaupunkt, seven brand-new services. For Virgin and At this year’s London Motor Show - the Kenwood, Visteon and VDO Dayton who Talk, transmitting via DAB is a quantum UK’s most important automobile exhibition all had their DAB receivers on display. leap as their national distribution so far has - Digital Radio was featured prominently at been limited to AM. a joint stand of the BBC and Digital One. For the BBC and Digital One, this was the first in a series of events where the two DAB In mid-November, two new services were The two national DAB providers have pioneers jointly presented their services launched: Planet Rock and the teenage chart joined forces to give Digital Radio in the setting a trend that they will continue over channel Core. Five more digital radio United Kingdom a big boost. the next years. The co-operation also channels will go on air at the rate of one a At the Digital Radio stand in the Earls Court includes joint marketing and research month from December on. The new services Exhibition Centre in Central London, all activities as well as joint promotional include UK, an adult contemporary DAB car radios and hifi tuners that are literature for consumers and retailers which programme, a Plays, Books and Comedy currently available were featured. Experts will carry both brand names. channel, Talk Sport and Rolling News. from the BBC and Digital One explained the Digital One Chief Executive Quentin Howard new technology to thousands of interested said: “Digital One and the BBC share a similar Together with the BBC’s five existing and visitors and Digital One introduced for the various new services, more than 15 digital view of how the Digital Radio market will first time the new Digital Radio services that evolve, especially in the early years. Together radio channels can be received nationwide in went on air in mid-November to the public. the UK from next year on. Additionally, the we are responsible for national digital radio. Inset: Visitors at the Earls Court exhibition centers And together we make for a very powerful Radio Authority, the UK’s regulator, is interested in Digital Radio could even make a bargain. advertising 26 local multiplexes at the rate partnership, combining the public service Below: The London Motor Show was the strengths of the BBC with the commercial of one per month, which will add another 7- first of many events where the BBC and 10 services for each area. DAB in a unique partnership between experience and freedom of Digital One.” public and private broadcasters will jointly present Digital Radio to the public. Glyn Jones, Project Director of BBC Digital Digital One is a joint venture of the UK’s Radio stressed the importance of such a largest private radio group GWR and collaboration as a role model for other network operator NTL. Digital One’s countries across Europe. “Both Digital One partner marketing programme is cooperating and the BBC recognise that this is a time for closely with a number of manufacturers and co-operation to help deliver the substantial retailers all across the UK. During IFA ‘99, benefits of digital radio to UK customers. Digital One participated in a number of Working together on a range of marketing high-level meetings with DAB initiatives will help each of us to attract more manufacturers organized by the WorldDAB attention and have greater impact.” Roll-Out Support Programme.

Andreas Maurer Andreas Maurer

WorldDAB Newsletter November 1999 4 A new Virus from the Alps Digital Radio takes This included permission to operate the Digital Radio budget in marketing activities, network and to launch the new youth channel. including fairs and exhibitions, off in Switzerland collaborating with manufacturers and the The DAB license is initially valid until 2002 new SRG newsletter ‘DAB update’. Swiss public broadcaster SRG-SSR at which time SRG’s general broadcasting launched their operational DAB service in license will be reviewed. BAKOM has Contact: SRG SSR idée suisse, the Bern-Interlaken region on 14th October. announced that it is likely that in 2003 Giacomettistrasse 3, CH-3000 The multiplex carries 8 services, including commercial broadcasters will also be licensed Berne 15, Tel. +33 31 350-9751 programmes from the other Swiss language and asssigned a ‘locomotive function’ to SRG regions and the new youth channel ‘Virus’. for the launch of Digital Radio. Below: SRG have launched their first networks in the Bern and Zurich areas. The Swiss public broadcaster In November, a second network was The SRG ensembles also include the channels wants to achieve full area coverage in 2006. launched in the Zurich area, and Geneva and SwissJazz, SwissPop and Musigwälle which Basel will follow early next year. The can not be received on analogue as well the networks in the major urban areas and along cultural service DRS2 which currently has major road connections will be extended in very poor reception on FM. 2002, after a review of the roll-out situation by SRG. If they are happy with the situation SRG has announced that it will create at that point they will extend the networks to additional DAB capacities in the coming full area coverage by 2006. years on VHF channels 10-12 and if possible between 230 and 240 MHz, both for their SRG received Switzerland’s first Digital own services and commercial ones. Radio license from the regulatory authority BAKOM/ in February this year. SRG have invested about 10 per cent of their First local multiplex licenses in the UK awarded

The UK radio regulator, the Radio ● ● Capital ● News Direct Scotland Authority, has awarded the first 7 licenses ● ● Magic ● Kiss ● LBC for local digital radio multiplexes in the ● Glasgow ● Clyde 2 ● Classic Gold ● BBC Radio ● ● ● United Kingdom. The Authority licensed Greater London I Capital Gold Adult Sheffield ● South Yorksire ● Magic AM Contemporary ● Talk Radio operators in Birmingham, Manchester, ● Tyne & Wear ● Magic ● BBC Radio Cymru Glasgow, Greater London, South ● Cardiff/Newport ● Capital Gold ● Dance Music Yorkshire, Tyne&Wear and recently in ● Classic ● Hot adult Cardiff and Newport. ● CE Digital Ltd. ● Xfm ● Rock&Sport contemporary ● CE Digital Ltd. ● Lite ● Three licenses were awarded to CE Digital ● SCORE Digital Ltd. ● 96.3 Qfm ● Xfm ● BBC Radio ● ● ● Limited, a joint venture of UK radio CE Digital Ltd. Kiss 100 Classic Gold Newcastle ● Emap Digital ● Trax FM ● Cool companies Capital Radio and Emap Radio, Radio Ltd. ● Kiss FM ● Xfm Launch: May 2000 the others went to Score Digital Ltd., ● Emap Digital ● 70s & 80s Rock Launch: May 2000 Emap Digital Radio Ltd., Score Digital Radio Ltd. ● BBC Radio WM Launch: May 2000 Radio Ltd. and Capital Radio Digital Ltd. ● Capital Radio ● Magic ● Xfm Launch: May 2000 Digital Ltd. ● ● Cutting Country Launch: Oct 2000 The Radio Authority is advertising a total ● Xfm ● Sunrise Radio at latest ● ● ● of 26 local multiplexes all over the UK at BRB Magic Adult Launch: Nov 2000 ● Key 103 ● Xfm Contemporary at latest the rate of one per month until the end of ● Clyde 1 ● Xfm ● Continuous Launch: Oct 2000 next year. ● Capital FM ● Dance Radio Country ● Hallam FM ● BBC Radio Wales The first local networks are expected to ● Metro ● Asian Service be launched in May 2000. The licenses ● Red Dragon FM ● Kiss ● BBC GMR are valid for 12 years from the beginning ● Kiss FM ● BBC Radio of services. The multiplex operators must also carry the local BBC radio stations.

WorldDAB Newsletter November 1999 5 Chinese characters The Eureka 147 DAB system is designed not only to deliver brilliant sound quality but TheThe 5th5th WWorldDABorldDAB also some textual information to be displayed on the receiver screen. To-date, the design of the system has been GeneralGeneral AssemblyAssembly concentrated on the European market and Latin, Greek and Cyrillic alphabet characters have been considered for the -- aa RomanRoman successsuccess display. As the Eureka system is becoming a de facto world-wide standard and is The 5th WorldDAB General Assembly year mandate. Mr Michael McEwen was increasingly attractive for markets beyond was hosted by Club DAB Italia and took re-elected to serve as the President, Mr Europe, a need arose to complement these place in the beautiful surroundings of the Paul Brown, Chief Executive and characters with the various pictographic Palazzo Lancellotti in Rome. The Chairman of CRCA was elected as Vice- characters, such as the Chinese, Japanese, Palazzo is a noble palace which was built President and Mr Karl Breithaupt, Deputy Korean and other characters used by at the end of the 16th Century from a Director of Administration, SWR was alphabets from around the world. All known design by Ferruccio da Volterra and is elected as the Treasurer. characters are included in the international situated in the of Rome near the UTF standard. Piazza Navona. This exquisite edifice, In order to better achieve the goals set out Task Force A of the Eureka 147 Consortium, which is well-known for its façade and by WorldDAB, the General Assembly chaired by Mr. Heiner Schepers (Bosch) has for its portal with marble columns and also agreed on a new structure for the now defined a means to signal UTF-8 balcony designed by the Domenichino Forum for the year 2000. The changes characters in DAB. UTF-8 is a was a memorable place to hold the first include: transformation format to encode characters ever WorldDAB General Assembly which of the ISO 10646 character set (31-bit was hosted by private broadcasters. Module A: character set), which is widely used in other Technical, Services and Commercial media (e.g. the Internet). Generally, the The agenda was well supported by the Module (replaces Module 1) number of bytes needed to encode one Italian Government with presentations Chairman: character varies from one byte to five bytes. given by Minister Salvatore Cardinale Dr Hamed Amor, Thyssen Krupp For example, US-ASCII characters need one byte per character and most European from the Ministry of Communications, Vice-Chairman (Technical): characters (non US-ASCII) need two bytes. Senator Mr. Carlo Rognoni, Vice- Dr Wolfram Titze, Robert Bosch Other characters (for example Chinese) President of the Italian Senate, Vice-Chairman (Commercial): generally need three bytes. In order to be Commissioner Giuseppe Sangiorgi from Mr Quentin Howard, Digital One. able to carry the non-ASCII characters that the Italian Communications Authority and require more than one byte per character, a Director Giuseppe Rao from the Module B: new character-set code (‘1111’ = ‘UTF-8’) Information Society Forum of the Italian Legal and Regulatory Module (replaces was added to the DAB Standard. However, Government. All expressed their Module 2) some changes to the DAB Standard, commitment to DAB and vowed to push Chairman: Mr Goran Arvedahl, Teracom although very minor, were necessary to it at European level to ensure that it gets ensure backwards compatibility. rightful recognition on the European European Affairs Committee Service labels in DAB have 16 bytes political agenda. Chairman: Mr Michael Green, BBC. available (long form) for coding characters Vice-Chairman: Mr Sergio Natucci, AER (resulting in a variable length service label). As well as a private visit to the Capella Thus, a service label may contain either 16 Sistina during the lunch break on the first Modules 3 and 5 will be dissolved though US-ASCII characters or 5 Chinese day, the delegates were also able to listen work in the areas of Marketing and characters (plus one US-ASCII character). A to a very up-beat talk from the Secretary Editorial will continue through the Project short form service label (consisting of a of State (delegated for Radios and TV) Office and through the organisation of maximum of 8 characters from the long M.P. Mr.Vincenzo Vita. special conferences. The reason for this form) can also be signalled. is that the current Module 3 is a The main business of the General structured group. The creative people The inclusion of UTF-8 coding is implemented Assembly was to renew the Statutes of needed for Modules 3 and 5 are usually in the third edition of the principal DAB standard ETS 300.401. This Standard is the Word DAB Forum which had come to not in a position to attend regular currently with ETSI being turned into a an end after 4 years of work and to elect structured meetings. Therefore European Norm as are the Guidelines and Rules the President, Vice-President, Treasurer conferences were a better way of dealing of Implementation and Operation which will be and to appoint the Officers of the Steering with these issues and they will be standardised as a Technical Specification. Board who will all serve for the next two organised by the Project Office.

WorldDAB Newsletter November 1999 6 CountrCountryy up-datesup-dates Finland services with general information such as begin digital using the In May 1999 YLE’s national services up-dates on traffic conditions and local Eureka 147 system in the Tallinn area were switched on and 10 DAB tourist information which will be of use early next year. transmitters were set up in Finland to drivers. covering about 10 million people or 40% The Head of the Communications of the population. This was shortly Also new in France is a multiplex in Department at the Roads and followed by their first regional services operation in Lyon. The commercial Communications Ministry, Edvard going on-air in June 1999 covering 1.2 multiplex is run by network operator La Voix Saarma, said that the national million inhabitants which represents du Lyon (VDL) and carries services from: broadcasting centre will conduct the tests about 24% of the population. ● Radio Espace to see how well the digital signal can be ● Frequence Jazz delivered in residential areas and what are Both national and regional licenses for ● Radio Campus the positive and negative sides of digital the private sector will be announced ● WRN 1 broadcasting. shortly by the Ministry of Transport and ● Rock FM Communication. ● La Voix des associations A commission set up by the previous Estonian government presented to the YLE, the public service broadcaster, is Sweden then Roads and Communications Minister currently simulcasting all its analogue Having begun DAB services in a concept paper for the development of services but has also added the following September 1999, Teracom and Swedish digital broadcasting in Estonia but this new services: Radio’s networks now cover 85% of the activity was put on hold when there was a ● News channel population (approximately 6 million change of government. It is interesting to ● 24 hour classical music channel people) with national services and 35% of note that although DAB tests are ● Live broadcasts from Parliament the population is covered with regional beginning and the issues surrounding ● A young adult lifestyle channel services in the Stockholm, Gothenburg, DAB implementation are being tackled, Malmoe and Lulea regions. the national broadcasting centre hasn’t These new services are also broadcast on had time to tackle issues surrounding the FM networks in some areas of Although Swedish Radio is the only digital broadcasting of television Finland in order to promote the added- broadcasting company to hold a DAB programmes yet. This must be one of the value of DAB. After a limited time these license, a proposal from the Department first examples of radio being put before services will be switched off the analogue of Culture is expected in January 2000 for television! network forcing those who had benefitted commercial broadcasters. from them to turn to DAB. Swedish Radio currently has 3 DAB-only France channels and is considering a fourth. However, they do not expect to expand On October 15, 1999, Télédiffusion de coverage until 2002 whilst they wait France (TDF) started to broadcast DAB for receivers on the consumer using the L-Band on the A10 motorway. market. This current phase of DAB coverage is a joint venture between TDF and Cofiroute the privately run motorway company. The DAB test in coverage is part of the provisional Tallinn, Estonia licensing given by the French regulatory begin in 2000 authority, the CSA and currently only Report from the covers the area around Poitiers. Baltic news agency However, the DAB motorway network BNS. On 21st will be enlarged to cover the full section September 1999 it between Tours and Poitiers by the end of was announced this year. that the national broadcasting centre The Cofiroute programme includes data in Estonia will

WorldDAB Newsletter November 1999 7 The Per Erik Selemark Obituary to Award for Services to DAB Christer Grewin Mr Christer Grewin, Erik was looking pale and drawn not many Senior Research people realised just how ill he was. His Engineer at Swedish ability to struggle on with the task in hand in Radio and vice- spite of his debilitating illness was typical of Chairman of the his determination and inner strength. Eureka 147 Less than 3 months after the General Consortium died on Assembly Per Erik passed away and I 21st August 1999 at received many notes of condolence to pass the age of 58 after a onto his family from members of the World short illness. DAB Forum. I was surprised at how many people had not been aware, in spite of Christer’s impressive career saw him attending the General Assembly in appointed by Swedish Radio as a sound Stockholm, that Per Erik was ill. This alone, engineer in 1962. His ability to solve audio- in my mind, was a fitting tribute to Per Erik related problems made him indispensable and exactly what he would have wanted. when it came to important sporting events such as the Olympic Games and World In order to recognise Per Erik’s tremendous Championships and, in the mid seventies he contribution to the work of WorldDAB and worked for the Swedish International DAB during his life, an award was created Development Agency in Tanzania. There he in his name. The 1st Per Erik Selemark contributed to the modernisation of the radio Award for Services to DAB was given to station in Dar-es-Salam and he also helped Above: Michael McEwen, President of the World DAB Franc Kozamernik, WorldDAB Project train engineers in modern radio production Forum, congratulates Franc Kozamernik and Frans Director, and Frans Westra, Chairman of techniques. Christer’s outstanding teaching Westra for their work over the years Eureka 147 Consortium and WorldDAB ability and his talent at explaining complicated technical matters led him to join On the 22nd and 23rd October 1998, the 4th Module 1. Both have contributed and committed enormously to the roll-out of Swedish Radio Staff Training in 1977 and in WorldDAB General Assembly was hosted 1981 he was appointed head of Production DAB and the Per Erik Selemark Award was by Swedish Radio and Teracom in Service at the newly formed Swedish the perfect way to thank them and to Stockholm. Many WorldDAB members will National Radio. remember the sight of Per Erik Selemark remember our dear friend! working extremely hard to ensure that the 1986 saw one of Christer’s greatest proceedings ran smoothly. Although Per Julie Unsworth professional achievements being publicly recognised when Swedish National Radio’s system for subjective listening tests, which he had played a fundamental part in developing, New Members was demonstrated at the AES Conference in Montreux. The system was made an La Voix du Lyon La Voix du Lyon is extremely keen to promote international norm for listening tests and was (VDL) received a DAB in the Lyon area in collaboration with later used for evaluating sound coding license from the receiver manufacturers and the radio stations French regulatory carried on the multiplex. It believes that trailers algorithms for DAB. In 1990 both Christer authority (CSA) to carried on FM networks are a simple way to Grewin and his colleague Kjell Engström broadcast a bouquet inform the consumer about DAB. drew up the technological specifications for of DAB DSQ which also turned out to be an programmes in the During the “20émes Universités d’été de la international standard. Lyon area. This has Communication” VDL was granted a temporary made VDL the 3rd license to broadcast on DAB and in FM in the Very early on Christer recognised that radio DAB operator in France. Although the multiplex Hourtin region and they worked in collaboration and television would become digital and is mainly made up of local and community radios, with Bosch, ITIS and IASTAR France to pushed this line within SR as well as in VDL also carries World Radio Network which promote DAB. The programme was produced international standardisation work thus does not exist on the FM networks therefore on the spot and broadcast simultaneously in earning him the name ‘Mr DAB’. In 1996 offering a complementary service. DAB, FM and on the internet in real audio. 300 Christer became the project leader of SR’s FM receivers were distributed free of charge and technical DAB work and last May he received VDL is also working with local companies to some DAB reception areas were set up for an AES Honourable distinction award for all provide data services. One example of this visitors to find out more about DAB and what the articles, speeches and talks he gave. cooperation is with the Airport of Satolas in Lyon was going on during the conference. Data which provides VDL with information on services giving the days’ radio and conference Christer’s ability to objectively argue for what aeroplane arrival and departure times. It is also programme were shown and this initiative he believed in made him highly appreciated working very closely with the radio stations on the allowed visitors to familiarise themselves during by all his colleagues and he is sorely missed multiplex to integrate Programme Associated Data. the week with the DAB receivers. by them and by his friends.

Published by the WorldDAB Forum. All correspondence for the newsletter should be addressed to: WorldDAB Forum Project Office, Wyvil Court, Wyvil Road, London SW8 2TG or e-mail: [email protected] Editor: Julie Unsworth; Design: Studio Sixty Four - www.sixtyfour.co.uk Reproduction permitted subject to inclusion of full references in the forum: “WorldDAB Newsletter” plus issue number and publication date. © WorldDAB Forum 1999