VT Merlin Communications, a member of the AIB, will participate in the world’s first, daily
Digital Radio Mondiale* (DRM*) broadcasts on June 16th, 2003.

VT Merlin will be providing the DRM transmission platform for a number of international broadcasters, including BBC World Service, Wales Radio International and Christian Vision as part of DRM’s Inaugural Broadcasts event in Geneva during the International Telecommunications Union’s (ITU) World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC 2003).

VT Merlin has two high
power short wave transmitters converted to DRM capability, which will deliver digital AM transmissions for Geneva and Western Europe. In addition, they will also be using their new DRM capable high power medium wave transmitter at their MF site in Orfordness, Suffolk, UK to carry BBC World Service DRM programming. The precise moment of the world’s first DRM broadcasts will be marked at a spectacular reception at Geneva’s Château de Penthes.

Peter Gordon, VT Merlin’s Programme Manager, Digitalisation said: “As a founder member of the DRM consortium, VT Merlin is very proud to be playing a high profile role in these inaugural DRM broadcasts. It marks the beginning of what we expect to be a revolutionary new technology for AM broadcasting. VT Merlin has made significant investment in its DRM platform and we look forward to demonstrating the full range of DRM’s capabilities in Geneva, including AM transmissions in near FM quality.”