Print

Mail

wiki links

Applications to be taken for digital radio licenses

The nation's radio broadcasting system is set to enter a new era with the advent of digital audio broadcasting (DAB) as the Government Information Office (GIO) announced yesterday that it would allow private radio stations to apply for eight available DAB frequency licenses.

DAB promises a wider choice of radio listening, less interference and higher sound quality. The GIO envisions a four-year test run involving 19 stations, with full operability coming one to four years after the test run's completion. Service providers are required to begin a first phase of broadcasting within three years after obtaining their licenses.

Those who do not begin broadcasting within three years will have their licenses revoked.

To receive DAB, listeners will need to buy receivers, which cost between NT$5,000 and NT$15,000. The GIO hopes that the price will eventually fall as low as NT$1,000 or NT$2,000.

Although DAB receivers are more expensive than standard FM radios, the cost of the receiver is the only outlay that consumers will have to make.

DAB broadcasts, like FM broadcasts, are subscription-free.

A wide range of DAB receivers is available, including handheld, tabletop, clock radio, hi-fi and in-car, as well as models that can be used with a PC.

According to GIO Deputy Director-General Hung Chiang-chuan (洪瓊娟), DAB is sometimes confused with radios that have a digital display or with digital radio services available on the Internet.

"Many radio stations found in these ways can also be found on DAB, but the distinction has to do with the way DAB is transmitted," she said.

DAB, like FM radio, is broadcast over the air via a transmitter, but multiplexing allows more DAB channels to be broadcast than FM technology allows, Hung said.

"Also, because it's digital, DAB is less susceptible to interference, hiss, fading, atmospherics and multi-path," she said.

The frequencies for which the GIO is taking applications are divided into national and regional multiplex collections of stations, or ensembles. The programming that listeners will receive will depend on the region in which they live.

The eight DAB licenses include three national licenses, which will allow broadcasters to offer services throughout Taiwan as well as the islands of Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu, and three regional licenses, which will cover northern, central and southern Taiwan. The two remaining licenses will be reserved for the time being for official and emergency purposes.

Media outlets interested in filing applications must do so between Aug. 1 and Aug. 15. The GIO's web address is www.gio.gov.tw.
This story has been viewed 2407 times.