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Is Digital Audio Broadcasting viable for South Africa?

Is Digital Audio Broadcasting viable for South Africa?. Presented by Thabani Mkhize and Andy Leve Radio goes Online course 2012. Discussion points. Introduction explanation of Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB) Positives Negatives South African context. Introduction.

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Is Digital Audio Broadcasting viable for South Africa?

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  1. Is Digital Audio Broadcasting viable for South Africa? Presented by Thabani Mkhize and Andy Leve Radio goes Online course 2012

  2. Discussion points • Introduction • explanation of Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB) • Positives • Negatives • South African context

  3. Introduction • Broadcast and telecommunications networks like radio, are being digitised worldwide • Quality service, greater choice, interactivity and multimedia are important now. • DAB is one of the ways radio is achieving this

  4. How does DAB work? • audio is encoded to a digital signal. • This goes to a multiplexer and is transmitted to a network distributor on AM/FM and then to the receiver. • Multimedia • Carries “radio text”

  5. Positives • real time information, song titles, genre, album details, programme guides etc (similar to RDS found in some cars) • Better functionality- no frequency finding • More stations on spectrum • Pause and rewind feature • Less pirate stations • Clear sound

  6. Negatives • If the signal is weak you get no transmission at all. • Expensive to maintain ( equipment, transmission sites ) • Questionable audio quality because we are “squashing “more stations “on spectrums • High humidity could damage the internal parts thereof not working at all

  7. Digital Radio in South Africa • in the “thought stage” so the viability is still in question... • Radio is the most popular medium- if we go digital what will it mean for the common man ? • expensive for consumers -will people afford the headsets ? • Rise in transmission costs of stations?

  8. South African situation • No clear direction • More focus on TV • Trial runs from 1997 -2010 on 5FM, Highveld, Metro FM, Radio Pulpit,YFM,702, and Classic FM only.

  9. South African situation SADIBA says: Radio in SA requires • Expansion into new markets • No FM frequencies in key metro areas • Universal access to all language services in all centres • New broadcasters

  10. Niche services • Lower / new cost structures • FOR THEM DAB CAN DO THIS

  11. Government released a digital migration document and noted the developmental issues we face : • Digital divide • social cohesion • Employment • Common identity SO HOW WILL DIGITAL AID THIS?

  12. For government: • DAB = Curbing the divide: more platforms to provide information • Facilitating e-government services • ICT services for all • Digital content hubs

  13. Jane Duncan ( 2010) wrote with TV : • digital migration can lead to more channels with fewer owners. • They could only broadcast commercially-driven programming that fails to address even the most basic informational and educative needs of society. • Is that what could happen with radio ?

  14. What must be done to give it a shot? • commercial broadcasters, broadcast network operators and industry collaborate • quality assessment trials countrywide • Transmitter network rollout – how and cost • Clear regulations and licensing • Inform the public

  15. References Duncan, Jane. 2012 A Political Economy of South Africa's Digital Broadcasting Transition The future of Terrestrial broadcasting : Technical report 013 http://www.southafrica.info/about/media/digitaldzonga-250810.htm#ixzz22N6uBt89 SADIBA “Digital radio in SA presentation : December 2011. retrieved from www.sadiba.org Broadcasting Digital Migration Policy document :electronic communications act 2005).

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