Germanys international broadcaster Deutsche Welle is forging ahead with a technical revolution in broadcasting that is promising to make listening to the radio much easier and more pleasurable – digital short wave transmissions. With the new digital technology, radio stations will retain the same national and international reach as with their conventional AM short and medium wave broadcasts, but listeners will benefit from near-FM quality sound and additional data services. The new digital system DRM (Digital Radio Mondiale) will take the crackle, interference and hiss out of international broadcasting so it can compete for listeners on equal terms with domestic services.
DW’s Director of Marketing and Engineering, Peter Senger, heads the 25-nation DRM consortium spearheading the introduction of the new technology. He said that there is now “no alternative to digital broadcasting” and the DRM standard offered “a bit rate that could supply near FM quality”. DRM would also be cheaper that conventional AM, saving between 40% and 60% in transmitter costs. DRM can also be used to transmit text messages and pictures, and it can pack several radio channels into the same frequency, offering the listener a far greater choice
of programmes.
DW will start weekly DRM broadcasts from 5 July 2004 ( 6140 KHz, 7125 KHz; 16.00 – 19.00 UTC).