He worked with the French for more than a century. With technological developments and new expectations of listeners, Arcom presented its plan for the transition to fully digital broadcasting. This transformation will take place in two distinct phases: a preparatory phase between 2024 and 2027, followed by a migration phase until 2033.
Goodbye analog radio
” The radio medium has continued to transform and strengthen since the first programs broadcast from the Eiffel Tower in 1921.“, reminds Roch-Olivier Maistre, president of the Regulatory Authority for Audiovisual and Digital Communications.
In the White Book prepared on the occasion of the Radio Conference. This new phase is therefore a logical continuation of the evolution of broadcasting.
The first phase, the preparatory phase, aims to establish a solid and favorable framework for digitization. This includes the simplification of advertising regulations and the adaptation of quotas for French-speaking songs to the new reality of the audio landscape.
One of the key goals is to increase awareness of DAB+ (Digital Audio Broadcasting), a technology already used by more than 60% of the city’s population in March 2024.
Arcom’s white paper states that ” only innovative broadcasting technology, which allows improving the quality of listening, strengthening the pluralism of the offer can enable the radio to project itself into the future with confidence and optimism.
Promotion of DAB+ is therefore key, with multi-channel advertising campaigns and training for retailers.
The second phase, from 2028 to 2033, will mark the completion of the transition to full digital broadcasting.
During this period, it will be essential to increase the rate of equipping homes and vehicles with DAB+ receivers. The goal set by Arcom is ambitious: to achieve an equipment rate of 70% by 2033.
The authorities also plan to continue promoting DAB+ to reach at least 50% of the digital audience.
In order to achieve this, it will be necessary to continue and intensify the awareness campaigns launched during the first phase.
The president of Arcom emphasizes the importance of this transformation: ” In order to move forward into its future, the radio medium must emerge from uncertainty.
To ensure a successful transition, public assistance could be established to support publishers in this dual FM and DAB+ broadcasting.
In addition, Arcom is committed to identifying areas that may be disadvantaged by this transition in order to offer them specific support, which will ensure homogeneous radio coverage throughout the territory.
With almost 40 million listeners a day, radio remains a key medium in France. However, its economic model, which is based mainly on advertising, has been weakened by the decline of FM audiences and competition from new digital players.
The transition to full digital will of course be complex, but it seems necessary to guarantee the future of radio.