The Southern Ontario/WNY Radio-TV Forum / Another Country Readies To Switch Off All FM Broadcasting

**Posted by RadioActive** June 20, 2024 5:08 pm

It's France, which has announced it will cease all FM broadcasting by 2033, which will obsolete many current radios in use in the country - hence the near decade-long date before the final change. Instead, listeners will tune in via DAB and the Internet.

The hope is the long lead time - and plenty of warning - will make the country ready by the time the full conversion is done. But the people behind it know it will take a long time for some in the country to adjust.

"This move from FM to DAB+ and the Internet will lead to significant changes for users. Old, non-compatible car radios and sets will need to be replaced with models capable of receiving them. This risks distorting classic vehicles or collectibles, and will force you to separate yourself from your good old morning alarm clock that has followed you for years."

France is soon abandoning analogue radio

It used to be it was TV that was different between North America and Europe, with NTSC vs. PAL. Soon you won't be able to take a radio with you when flying over there, because it won't receive anything. This conversion is taking place in many countries. And yet the CHUM-led DAB experiment here was a disaster and we seemed to have opted for HD Radio instead - which is not even talked about on air anymore.

Does North America risk falling behind the rest of the world?

**Posted by turkeytop** June 20, 2024 5:38 pm

Almost makes me glad I don't have many years left on this world.

**Posted by RadioActive** June 20, 2024 5:46 pm

If you're not in Europe, this won't affect you at all. But I can't help but wonder if North America will wind up going it alone on AM & FM, while the rest of the world converts to a different standard.

Usually, it's the U.S. that jumps on these trends first. Not so much this time. And if they do one day decide to follow everyone else, how long will it take to make the change?

**Posted by Adrian106072** June 21, 2024 12:09 am

I took a quick skim at the report from ARCOM, the digital communication department of France. It isn't really strictly suggesting that 2033 will be the absolute deadline of FM switch off in France, unless a certain threshold is being met at around 2028 if the DAB+ penetration rate is above their minimum expectation.

Even though the nearby UK has already proposed since 2010s that there will be a FM switch-off plan after a decade, Ofcom and BBC however constantly postpone the switch-off until they consider feasible in terms of DAB+ penetration rate.

Norway and Switzerland are mountainous countries and each with less than 10 million population, therefore FM switch-off can be quickly carried out. However, UK and France are much heavily populated, and FM radio still carries out significant importance for elderly listeners there. So I assume that FM radio will still hold on for some years in the densely populated areas of Europe.

**Posted by RadioActive** June 22, 2024 11:19 pm

Alan Cross muses about why a nearly all DAB world might one day be a problem for North American radio.

France will cease all FM radio broadcasting by 2033. This portends a problem for North America.

**Posted by RadioActive** June 27, 2024 7:10 am

Adrian106072 wrote:
Norway and Switzerland are mountainous countries and each with less than 10 million population, therefore FM switch-off can be quickly carried out.

And now Switzerland has officially decided to shut off all FM transmitters in favour of DAB only. They'll all be gone by the end of December.

Swiss Broadcasting Corporation to pull plug on FM radio

**Posted by RadioActive** September 9, 2024 10:08 am

RadioActive wrote:
Adrian106072 wrote:
Norway and Switzerland are mountainous countries and each with less than 10 million population, therefore FM switch-off can be quickly carried out.
And now Switzerland has officially decided to shut off all FM transmitters in favour of DAB only. They'll all be gone by the end of December.

Swiss Broadcasting Corporation to pull plug on FM radio

Turns out, they may not all be gone by December after all. A lot depends on where they're located. Seems those cities located in places where FM reception comes in from other countries or areas won't be shutting down their stations in such a hurry.

If the country truly thinks abandoning FM for DAB is the way to go, then the competition shouldn't matter. But it would seem it does.

"...stations in the French-speaking western part of Switzerland, plan to maintain FM operations until year-end 2026, in large part =18pxdue to strong competition from broadcasters from across the border in France."

Swiss Radio Day Discusses FM ‘Fade Out’

**Posted by Johnny B** September 9, 2024 11:11 am

As long as 24/7 Jesus Talk is around, especially in the mid-west and southern USA, AM/FM will be around to appease the religious radicals.

**Posted by turkeytop** September 9, 2024 3:55 pm

RadioActive wrote:
Adrian106072 wrote:
Norway and Switzerland are mountainous countries and each with less than 10 million population, therefore FM switch-off can be quickly carried out.
And now Switzerland has officially decided to shut off all FM transmitters in favour of DAB only. They'll all be gone by the end of December.

Swiss Broadcasting Corporation to pull plug on FM radio

Back in the days of International short wave broadcasters, Swiss Radio International was one of the best.

On their final English language broadcast, before they shut it down, the host of the program mocked and derided the listeners for using such an obsolete technology.

**Posted by RadioActive** September 9, 2024 3:57 pm

turkeytop wrote:
Back in the days of International short wave broadcasters, Swiss Radio International was one of the best.
On their final English language broadcast, before they shut it down, the host of the program mocked and derided the listeners for using such an obsolete technology.

What an insult to their listeners! Just for that, I'll never tune them in on SW again!

**Posted by Binson Echorec** September 9, 2024 5:36 pm

RadioActive wrote:
Usually, it's the U.S. that jumps on these trends first.

The metric system says "Hi".