Bakom increases DAB+ funding contributions for 2021
Covid-19 has caused radio broadcasters to suffer severe revenue losses from advertising and sponsorship. The Federal Office of Communications (OFCOM) is therefore also providing higher technology subsidies for 2021 than originally planned.
The Radio and Television Act (RTVA) provides that the introduction of new technologies for broadcasting programs is supported for a limited period by contributions to cover the costs of technical broadcasting of digital radio (DAB+). Bakom is responsible for granting the support contributions.
According to Bakom, the subsidy payments amounted to a maximum of 80 percent of the costs charged by the DAB+ platform operator to the program broadcaster until 2019. In summer 2019, Bakom set the subsidy shares for all radio broadcasters at 50 percent of costs for 2020, 30 percent for 2021 and 10 percent for 2022.
However, based on the available funds as well as taking into account the costs for possible new broadcasters on planned DAB+ platforms, Bakom has now set higher shares for 2021, according to a statement in its newsletter on Tuesday.
Higher contributions for 2021, 2022 and 2023
Specifically, next year's share will be 45 percent for all FM broadcasters with a levy share, and 35 percent for 2022 and 2023 (January).
For all other licensees subject to reporting requirements, the share will be 40 percent in 2021. Whether support can still be provided to these broadcasters in 2022/2023 depends on the number of broadcasters, the further development of network expansion and also on the prices for a broadcasting slot as estimated by the network operators, writes Bakom. Bakom can only announce the definitive shares when the final accounts of the broadcasters are available.
In May, Bakom had already decided to pay higher shares for the current year than originally communicated. Specifically, the shares for all FM broadcasters with a share of the fee were increased from 50 to 65 percent and from 50 to 60 percent for all other licensees subject to reporting requirements. (SDA)
