In her speech to the Australian Broadcasting Summit, Commercial Radio Australia’s CEO Joan Warner came down on the side of Eureka 147 as Australia’s preferred Digital Radio broadcasting technology.

After signalling CRA’s preference for this technology Warner also compared it with the other technologies available at this time on world markets.

She said

So – if we have decided to adopt Eureka,

Where does that leave other digital radio technologies?

I hear you ask.

IBOC

Well, despite the hype
surrounding the launch of HD receivers by JVC, Kenwood, Onkyo, Panasonic and Visteon
at the Consumer Electronics Show in January
there is little evidence of their promised availability in (northern) early spring
the only reference we can find to receiver availability is at
the Crutchfield online site which promises the Panasonic HD
radio receiver in October 2004 at US$999…

ISDB-tsb

There is some progress on the long awaited ISDB-tsb standard. Tests started in Tokyo and Osaka last October and recent announcements detail
trials of ticket sales and music-downloading services linked to terrestrial digital radio broadcasting.
The trials will use a prototype mobile receiver.

Commercial terrestrial digital radio broadcasting is scheduled
to be launched in Japan in 2011, making it possible for radio stations
to transmit detailed program listings and even promotional music videos to listeners
with digital radio receivers.

That’s could be all good news for Japan
But we have had these sorts of announcements before …and I think we all know how impressed
the television industry in Australia would be if the radio industry
proposed to broadcast video!

DRM

of course is of interest. The recent strategic alliance
between DRM and Eu 147 is encouraging – especially
as my recent discussions with a senior DRM proponent,
the BBC’s John Sykes makes it clear that they have a high priority
on low cost receiver development for wide underpopulated area broadcasts

DRM will be of interest to the national broadcasters in Australia,
and potentially to extend coverage of the EU147 system in regional Australia.

…and some anecdotal observations about Eureka

…. “it was commented at last week’s
WorldDAB Technical Committee meeting
that Australia seems
to have made an incredible sprinting start
to DAB”

and from a DAB proponent
who thoughtfully provided us with
a … realistic picture of DAB across Europe.

“In summary, not enough stations and
not enough new features.
Germany’s getting better,
but it still lacks variety.
Belgium was mediocre,
but the Netherlands was slightly better.
Austria is a dismal monopoly
of the state broadcaster,
French coverage in the north coast is non-existent at present.

The 12 station trial in Sydney
makes it certainly on a par with Germany.
A few new services, or sub-layers
would push it beyond.

The commercial radio industry believes that any discussion
about digital radio in Australia is a discussion about the future of our industry,

And indeed, the future of the entire incumbent in-band industry which includes the public broadcasters, community stations and narrowcasters.

Commercial radio broadcasters have a commitment to this industry and to its future.

We want that same commitment from the Federal Government as well as the Government’s recognition of the importance of the incumbent inband industry and its rights to first consideration in
developing the digital future.

The Australian commercial radio industry has had a strong and vibrant past and with the continued loyalty of our listeners will have a strong and vibrant future.