FM transmitters to be switched off as early as 2022 and 2023
Radio stations will switch from FM to digital broadcasting via DAB+ as early as 2022 and 2023. Originally, the end of FM stations was planned for the end of 2024 at the latest.
The radio industry has now already agreed on an earlier shutdown of FM transmitters, according to the newsletter published Monday by the Federal Office of Communications Bakom. Accordingly, the SRG will switch off its FM transmitters in August 2022, the private radio stations will follow in January 2023 at the latest. Urps. Bakom intends to cancel the FM radio licenses on the agreed dates.
In recent years, the Federal Council has created the legal basis for the switchover from analog FM technology to DAB+. It is also providing radio broadcasters with substantial financial support for DAB+ broadcasting during the transition phase until FM switch-off.
According to a survey conducted by GfK Switzerland in spring 2020, digital radio usage has increased by 22 percentage points since fall 2015, Bakom further writes. Radio listeners thus received 71 out of 100 radio minutes per day via digital means, 39 percent via DAB+ and 32 percent via internet and cable TV.
At the same time, FM usage had fallen by 22 percentage points to 29 percent. Only 13 percent of the Swiss population still listened exclusively to analog FM radio in June 2020. Today, virtually all new cars are also equipped with a DAB+ device as standard. (SDA)
