DW Digital Radio DRM | 23.11.2007
DRM and Deutsche Welle
DRM – or Digital Radio Mondiale – is a digital standard for short, middle and long wave broadcasting. Because of the technical range, DRM can also be used by international radio stations that broadcast their programming around the globe. Deutsche Welle has been active in the development of the DRM standard within the framework of an international consortium since 1998. Its goal is to make DRM viable in the future.
As one of the pioneers among broadcasters, Deutsche Welle and its partners have developed the digital standard into a marketable commodity. “Now we are operating the system at 100 percent,” says Andy Giefer from Broadcasting Coordination. “The broadcast and the technology behind it are working without any problems.” In addition, DW’s broadcast station in Sines, Portugal, is one of the most modern in the world and makes it possible to broadcast digital shortwave.
The DRM program is made up of parts from the English and German line-up on DW-RADIO, as well as Deutsche Welle’s music channel. It can be primarily received in Germany, England and France. Corresponding to Deutsche Welle’s programming mandate, it is also directed towards Asia, where it will soon be available in India and China. “After our experiences with DRM broadcasting in Europe, we would like to support the development in Asia as well,” says Guido Baumhauer, Director of Distribution, Strategy and Marketing at DW. Partners, stations and developers should have the chance to collect experience as well and contribute to larger product offering. The DRM Consortium will promote this project in order to create a working group of broadcasters and developers. The Chairman of the DRM Consortium is Peter Senger, who works as the Director of DRM at Deutsche Welle and is responsible for the development of the standard. “We definitely want to pass on our know-how in this area,” says Senger with regards to what he sees as an area of focus for DW’s development of DRM in the future.
Above all, the device manufacturers will be important for further expansion of the technology. In addition to reliable broadcasting and a wide variety of programming, there needs to be affordable and easy-to-use DRM receivers available. This is where Deutsche Welle and other broadcasters see a need for improvement.
