PSOE and PP overturn the promotion of DAB+ digital radio in the Senate

“We do not understand how the PSOE, despite ensuring that they would support the 2011 DAB+ development plan, now rejects a Framework Law to digitize the medium as our European environment is already doing,” highlights Carlos Maudet, spokesperson for Compromís in the Senate, a group that has presented a Bill.

If in 2018 it was the PP's sole vote to reject the creation of a special study commission for the implementation of DAB+, now it has been the PSOE that has rejected the Proposal for a Law on Urgent Measures to promote digital terrestrial sound broadcasting in the Senate Plenary held this Wednesday, November 4, 2020.

This was the final result of the Senate plenary vote: yes, 39; noes 219; 15 abstentions (with a total of 263 telematic votes).

The spokesperson for Compromís, the group that presented the Bill, Carles Mulet, recalled that “there are numerous radio listeners who ask for more plurality of information, more sound quality and services on the radio to guarantee their future” and highlighted that “the Compromís proposal has passed the alternatives phase without qualms and has the support of the World Radio Forum.”

The senator has reproached the socialists for going eleven years without lifting a finger regarding digital radio. "While in Europe it is growing at an annual rate of 8% and already has almost 1,400 private stations broadcasting with very good results, here the PSOE refuses to admit taking it into consideration and must explain why it resists it or who it works for, since it is inexplicable," he highlighted.

The senator thanked groups such as Ciudadanos or the PNV for their willingness to contribute their collaboration in the face of an issue that has been delayed for years compared to the countries around us and that is putting the sector in danger. "This proposal is a good start to unlocking digital radio as was done with digital TV and in 2018 the PSOE committed when it was in opposition to developing digital radio as soon as possible to be able to continue enjoying the radio without being at the mercy of platforms, technological giants or internet connections, just plugging in the radio as we have done until now."

The Compromís spokesperson recalled the exhaustion of current FM and spectrum in large cities and the need to adapt to digital technologies after nine years of inaction in this matter and cutting DAB coverage.

"The European directive now requires the incorporation of digital radios in cars and buses starting next December and here we will continue without stations or concessions despite the fact that almost 60 million receivers have been sold in Europe that cost from 20 euros, so we do not understand this anti-evolutionist refusal that turns us into Europe's technological island," added Mulet.

“The PSOE thing is serious and serious because they have censored opening the processing of a Law that could be modified and improved in the parliamentary phase, despite not having presented a single amendment and there being a transitional period between the different technologies as happened with DTT and when its Government promoted a Technical Plan in 2011,” he lamented.

Twenty years of setbacks

Although Spain approved its National Technical Plan for Digital Terrestrial Sound Broadcasting in 1999, digital terrestrial radio has failed to take off 20 years later.

This plan included the essential elements for the development of this new service under the European standard. Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB) and the different networks destined to the emission of the different services were characterized, with direct and indirect management, in the different territorial areas.

Although in 2000 regular broadcasts began on the national coverage networks (FU-E, MF-I and MF-II) contemplated in the aforementioned Technical Plan, the same did not happen with the rest of the services of the other regional and local networks. Only the regional competitions for concessions for the exploitation of the service under indirect management provided for in said Royal Decree were held in Catalonia and the Balearic Islands, although broadcasts only began in Catalonia.

Nor was it possible to achieve population coverage of 80% before June 2006, as anticipated in the aforementioned Royal Decree. The figure stagnated years before when it reached 51% and it was the national coverage networks (FU-E, MF-I and MF-II) that made it possible to reach it.

Despite this 51% coverage, citizens did not begin to consume DAB radio in a significant way. The main reason was lack of knowledge, since the essential communication strategy typical of this type of transition processes was not developed and therefore no adequate promotional campaign was carried out to present the new programming, the new technology and the advantages that it offered to all citizens.

Apart from that, the lack of exclusive and attractive content differentiated from those available in analogue broadcasts, did not motivate the start of consumption, since the DAB offer was based, for the most part, on stations that broadcast the same programming on FM. To this we had to add that the offer in traditional distribution channels for home and vehicle receivers was scarce, with unaffordable prices. The same happened with the adaptation kits for the existing vehicle fleet.

After almost two decades of the beginning of digital radio broadcasts with DAB technology, the service penetration remained practically zero. For this reason, there was an attempt to relaunch through the development of a digitalization plan for the terrestrial sound broadcasting service, approved by the Council of Ministers and published by Resolution of July 13, 2011 of the Secretary of State for Telecommunications and the Information Society.

Despite this, the planned objectives were not achieved due to lack of execution. In addition, the coverage obligation was temporarily reduced from 50% of the population to 20%, establishing a period of 1 year from its approval to achieve 20% population coverage with DAB+ technology. This coverage should also be similar to the existing FM coverage (indoors, tunnels...), in those areas where it is provided.

However, far from resolving the migration from DAB to DAB+ and laying the foundations for an effective deployment, the effect obtained was contrary to what was intended. In fact, there was no migration in DAB+ and coverage in DAB was reduced to 20% of the population.

In this way, the service deteriorated noticeably and what was a temporary situation became permanent. Furthermore, a very small but loyal audience that had started receiving DAB throughout the national territory was left without coverage, with the exception of the metropolitan areas of Madrid and Barcelona, ​​which concentrate the aforementioned coverage of 20% of the population.

Since then, June 2011 until today, there has been no progress. A situation that after yesterday's setback in the Senate has no signs of changing.