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Monday, March 3, 2014

Digital broadcasting helped revive UK radio: Ruxandra Obreja

Source: live mint | By Suchi Bansal
FIRST PUBLISHED: FRI, FEB 28 2014. 04 41

All India Radio (AIR), the radio arm under the public broadcaster Prasar Bharti is gradually moving from analogue to digital signals for clarity and reach. Under the 11th Plan, AIR must install 72 digital transmitters. Of these, eight are currently operational and an additional 27 will become digital soon. Ruxandra Obreja, head of digital radio development at BBC World Service and chairman of DRM Consortium (Digital Radio Mondiale), is now urging private FM radio operators to switch to digital. She is in India to participate in a seminar on digital radio organized by Confederation of Indian Industry. In an interview, Obreja spoke about the benefits of digital broadcasting and how it has helped revived radio in the UK. Edited excerpts:

What has the Digital Radio Mondiale (DRM) Consortium achieved so far?

DRM Consortium is an international not-for-profit organisation made up of over 100 radio broadcasters, equipment manufacturers, research institutes and others. We have members from all over the world – Brazil, South Korea, Germany, France, Switzerland and the UK. What has it achieved? A lot. It has put together a technology that is global, open and for all broadcast bands. It is the only standard in the world with which you can digitise any band – medium wave, short wave or FM. It works efficiently, uses less energy, offers more features and services.

Which are the important markets for digital radio?

The most important market is India. You have DRM in Bangladesh, China, Taiwan, South Korea, Malaysia and now Japan. You have...........

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