DRC09
We are delighted that this year’s EBU Digital Radio Conference (DRC09) is taking place in Tunis on 4th and 5th June at the kind invitation of Tunisian Radio. Distinguished speakers from Africa, Europe and around the world will lead a truly international conversation.
DRC09 will address the key strategic, technology and regulatory issues that are shaping the future against a backdrop of testing economic conditions. Distinguished experts and key stakeholders will not only provide insight, but also stimulate debate about the challenges and opportunities facing radio.
It is a unique briefing and networking event that offers an unrivalled opportunity to assess the prospects for digital broadcasting. Key topics on the agenda include a look at the moves to harmonize digital radio profiles, developments on the in-car radio front, the view of the mobile phone sector, WiMAX, and the outlook for internet radio.
Radio is already a multiplatform medium and appears to be moving towards a future that is also multimedia.
Whatever happens, many people believe that Internet Radio will play an important role that is complementary to technologies such as DAB, DAB+, T-DMB and DRM. The EBU will discuss its plans for collecting data about web streams in order to ensure that the web radio content of EBU members is available on all Wi-Fi receivers.
The EBU’s third annual Digital Radio Conference comes at a critical time for radio. There is a real danger that the medium could be heading for an expensive and fragmented future as countries back different technologies.
The EBU has been working to prevent this bleak scenario by joining forces with receiver manufacturers and organizations including WorldDMB. The idea is to harmonize digital profiles in order to create receivers that will work across Europe.
The EBU hopes that the initiative will drive down costs, increase choice and bring security of purchase for listeners. Eventually, it will allow broadcasters to offer new services, such as electronic programmes guides (EPG), text displays and slideshows.
The automotive industry will be represented in Tunis because in-car listening is crucial for the future of digital radio. It is essential that broadcasters work together with receiver manufacturers to ensure that the in-car experience delivers the quality that listeners have come to expect from digital radio.
Delegates will hear about plans to develop the new receiver profiles for the car industry and will learn about the importance of multimedia applications such as TPEG. Broadcasters can use the technology to deliver real-time traffic information, while drivers could obtain information ahead of time about such things as how many places are left in a car park.
In the car, on the train or on foot, mobility is one of radio’s traditional strengths. Speakers will evaluate the opportunities offered by mobile phones in this respect, as well as the importance of technologies such as WiMAX.
Mobile broadcasting is still in its infancy and potentially represents one of the biggest networked opportunities for telecoms operators. Delegates will hear about the latest moves to combine internet with broadcast in order to provide all media on all devices, anytime and anywhere.
We hope that you can join us in Tunis on 4th and 5th June to help us to tackle the challenges facing radio by sharing your views and experience.
