June 2005
June 2005
Inside this Issue
1 / TI & RadioScape Announce DRM Chips and Module
1 / Landmark: DRM to Extend its System
2 / DRM Members
2 / DRM Associate Members
3oadcasters2 / VT Communications BringsCommercial Broadcasts to the UK
3 / Samsung, HARMAN/BECKER Join DRM
4 / TDF Launches
DRM France
Web Site
4 / Project Office Contact Information
4 / Events Calendar
TI and RadioScape Announce World’s First DRM Chips
and Modules
DRMTMmembers Texas Instruments Incorporated (TI) and RadioScape have just announced the world’s first chips and modules for DRM.
TI is the first company to release an integrated digital baseband that supports both DRM and DAB (Digital Audio Broadcast) standards. RadioScape, using its innovative Software Defined Digital Radio approach, is the first company to announce a module supporting not only DRM, but also DAB, FM-RDS and analogue AM standards. This module approach speeds the development and deployment of cost-effective, multi-standard consumer receivers.
"Although TI joined the DRM Consortium only last year, it has already become the first company to provide silicon for this standard,” says DRM Chairman and Deutsche Welle COO Peter Senger. “Backed by a complete module developed by RadioScape, we expect that OEMs will be able to provide DRM-capable consumer receivers by the end of the year."
The modules enable manufacturers to begin immediate development of multi-standard receivers, including table-top radios, CD boom boxes, micro hi-fis and tuners.
"We have been broadcasting for
several months in DRM to both Germany and France and remain firmly committed to the development of the DRM technology," said Thomas Rabe, chief financial officer at RTL Group. "We continue to work closely with both TI and RadioScapeto ensure a successful launch of a cost-effective DRM/DAB-capable radio receiver for the mass market later this year."
Pricing for both the DRM300 and DRM350 chips starts at $18 in sample quantities of 1K or less and are expected to be available in the third quarter of this year.
RadioScape’s DRM module is also expected to be available in the third quarter of this year.
DRM will highlight DRM-capable products this September at IFA in Berlin, and at IBC in Amsterdam.
Landmark Vote: DRM Will Extend Its System
The DRM consortium reached a landmark decision this spring, when it voted to begin extending the DRM on-air system to the broadcasting bands up to 108 MHz.
This will enhance the range of non-proprietary, digital radio solutions offered worldwide by the DRM Consortium and the World DAB Forum, which work together on projects of mutual interest.
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DRM, a non-proprietary system endorsed by the ITU, IEC and ETSI, currently covers the broadcasting bands below 30 MHz (short-wave, medium-wave/AM and long-wave).
“Broadcasters and regulators in many countries are closely examining the digital options available to them, in search of non-proprietary systems that fit their own, unique technical and market criteria,” says DRM Chairman Peter Senger. “DAB Digital Radio has established itself as a successful solution for the higher-frequency bands in many countries, and broadcasters are increasingly implementing DRM for the medium-wave and short-wave bands. DRM’s expansion will supplement these existing solutions.”
"The clear message coming from our cooperation is that the World DAB Forum and the DRM Consortium continue to actively pave the way for digital radio’s future," says Annika Nyberg, President of the World DAB Forum. More than 1.5 million DAB-capable receivers have already been sold, and more than 150 different DAB receivers are now on the market.
DRM will begin work on its band extension project right away.
The design, development and testing phases are expected to be completed by 2007-2009.
DRM Members
Antenna Hungaria (Hungary)
Atmel Germany GmbH (Germany)
BBC (U.K.)
Broadcast Electronics, Inc. (U.S.A.)
Coding Technologies GmbH (Germany)
Continental Electronics Corporation (U.S.A.)
Deutsche Welle (Germany)
DeutschlandRadio (Germany)
Digital One Ltd. (U.K.)
Digita Oy (Finland)
Dolby Laboratories Incorporated (U.S.A.)
Fraunhofer IIS (Germany)
HARMAN/BECKER Automotive Systems GmbH (Germany)
Harris Corporation (U.S.A)
Hitachi Kokusai Electric Ltd. (Japan)
IBB/Voice of America (U.S.A)
Imagination Technologies Ltd. (U.K.)
Kintronic Laboratories, Inc. (U.S.A.)
Libyan Jamahiriya Broadcasting (Libya)
Micronas GmbH (Germany)
Nautel Ltd (Canada)
Nero AG (Germany)
NHK (Japan)
Nozema (Netherlands)
QinetiQ (U.K.)
Radio Canada International/CBC (Canada)
Radiodifusao Portuguesa (Portugal)
Radio France (France)
Radio France Internationale (France)
Radio Netherlands (Netherlands)
RadioScape Ltd. (U.K.)
Radio Vaticana (Vatican City)
Riz Transmitters (Croatia)
Robert Bosch GmbH (Germany)
RTL Group (Luxembourg)
RTRN/The Voice of Russia (Russia)
Samsung Electronics Co, Ltd. (Korea)
Sangean America, Inc. (U.S.A)
Sender Europa 1 (Germany)
Sony International Europe (Germany)
Swedish Radio International (Sweden)
SWR Südwestrundfunk (Germany)
TCI International, Inc. (U.S.A.)
TDF (France)
TDP (Belgium)
TELEFUNKEN SenderSysteme Berlin AG (Germany)
Telenor/Norkring (Norway)
Thales Broadcast & Multimedia (France)
Texas Instruments Incorporated (USA)
T-Systems International GmbH (Germany)
Voice of Nigeria (Nigeria)
VT Communications (U.K.)
WRN (U.K)
DRM Associate Members
Academy of Broadcasting Science (China)
ADDX (Germany)
Agentschap Telecom (Netherlands)
A.P.R. Arbeitsgemeinschaft Privater Rundfunk (Germany)
Arab States Broadcasting Union (Tunisia)
Asia Pacific Broadcasting Union (Malaysia)
BasamadCollege, Tehran (Iran)
Broadcasting Centre Europe (Luxembourg)
CCETT (France)
Christian Vision (U.K.)
Commercial Radio Australia (Australia)
Communications University of China (China)
Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation (U.S.A.)
DLM Direktorenkonferenz der Landesmedienanstalten (Germany)
DRF Committee
European Broadcasting Union (Switzerland)
ESPOL (Ecuador)
Georg-Simon-Ohm, University of Applied Sciences Nuremberg (Germany)
Government of Catalonia (Spain)
HCJB World Radio (Ecuador)
HFCC (Czech Republic)
Institut für Rundfunktechnik (Germany)
International Committee of the Red Cross (Switzerland)
International Telecommunications Union (Switzerland)
Kymenlaakso Polytechnik (Finland)
Medienanstalt Sachsen-Anhalt/Digitaler Rundfunk Sachsen-Anhalt (Germany)
National Association of Short-wave Broadcasters (U.S.A.)
National Communications Authority Hungary (Hungary)
Radio New Zealand International (New Zealand)
TDP Radio (Belgium)
TechnicalUniversityDelft (Netherlands)
Universidad del Pais Vasco (Spain)
University of Applied Sciences, FH Merseburg (Germany)
University of Hannover (Germany)
University of Ulm (Germany)
Via Licensing Corporation (USA)
VPRT (Germany)
VT Communications Delivers Commercial Broadcasts to the UK in DRM Trial
DRM member VT Communications is providing the first DRM pilot service in the UK to include commercial broadcasters.
Virgin Radio, Asian Sound Radio, Classic Gold Digital, Premier Christian Radio and CVC are participating in the 2-month trial, which was announced at the Digital Radio Show in London in early June.
This trial is the first of its kind targeting the UK. It allows commercial broadcasters to assess the benefits of DRM, such as superb reception, real time text and data-based information services.
The programming is being broadcast from transmission facilities in Western Europe reaching the whole of the UK as well as northwest continental Europe, demonstrating the exceptional coverage offered by DRM, which enables broadcasters to cost-effectively reach mass audiences from a single transmitter.
VT Communications owns and operates three DRM-capable transmitters in the UK.
Following successful service trials in 2004, these transmitters already carry programming for several international broadcasters into Europe.
Bryan Coombes, General Manager for Broadcast at VT Communications, commented: “VT Communications is delighted at being able to offer our customers the opportunity to evaluate the benefits of DRM technology on their home territory. This really is an exciting taste of the future of radio, today.”
Virgin Radio's Development Director Jason Bryant said: "Virgin Radio is committed to making its program services available on a wide variety of platforms. We believe that DRM is an exciting, and potentially wide appeal new platform and have been impressed with the technology on this trial.”
John Baish, Managing Director at Classic Gold Digital, commented: “We’re all excited by the opportunities that DRM will create, and this trial has given us a lot of encouragement about the potential of the platform. This is a groundbreaking initiative.”
Asian Sound Radio's Managing Director Shujat Ali commented: "We see DRM and other digital radio platforms as an excellent means for covering the ethnic and Asian community niche markets, enabling us to stayat the forefront of this key market area."
Samsung and HARMAN/BECKER Join DRM, Boosting Consortium to a Record 90 Members
As DRM’s global implementation increases, DRM Consortium membership continues to rise. With the addition of new DRM members Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. from Korea and HARMAN/BECKER Automotive Systems GmbH from Germany, the DRM Consortium has achieved a record high of 90 members from 30 countries.
The DRM Consortium formed in 1998, when a small group of pioneering broadcasters and manufacturers joined forces to create a universal, digital system for the broadcasting bands below 30 MHz.
With access to the DRM consortium’s private meetings and information, DRM members are instrumental in shaping the promising future of digital radio.
DRM’s members are broadcasters, broadcasting associations, network operators, manufacturers, research institutions, regulatory bodies, NGOs, and others.
DRM offers two types of membership – Full Membership and Associate Membership. Associate Membership is for non-profits only.
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Full members have the right to vote and participate in DRM General Assemblies, Commercial Committee, Technical Committee and other groups, while Associate members have the right to participate, but not vote.Full members may also be nominated to serve on DRM’s Steering Board.
If your company is interested in the benefits of DRM membership, please contact the DRM Project Office at .
TDF Launches DRM France Web Site
In May, DRM member TDF launched a French Web site dedicated to DRM, at
Created with the participation of several of DRM’s French members, the Web site showcases DRM promotional activitiesin France as the European commercial launch of DRM approaches.
The site contains a multitude of technical information about DRM, including audio files comparing DRM to analogue AM.
Visit DRM Online at
DRM France
DRM Koordinations-Komitee Deutschland
Цифровоемировоерадио
USA DRM Group
DRM Project Office
P.O. Box 360
CH-1218 Grand-Saconnex
Geneva, Switzerland
Phone: + 49 228 429 3510
Fax: + 49 228 429 3110
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