DAB Thread

Every station is on the web, what's the problem?

The commercial FM stations in the Republic of Ireland don't want DAB or DAB+, they fear competition

I doubt it tbh, the existing providers would dominate the DAB channels as well. Most of the space would be taken up with Today FM 90s, 98fm Throwback, Nova Classic, etc etc - it's very unlikely that a whole lot of actual radio content would emerge, it will just be playlisted services.

it's more likely that the commercial providers just realised that streaming delivers the same benefits with little to no upfront cost or risk.

No, they won't. Reason being that they are in financial difficulty, and can't afford to keep the automated cost-next-to-nothing stations on Saorview going, never mind fund the rollout of a whole new nationwide transmission network which almost nobody in Ireland has a compatible radio for (except maybe in their car).

The commercial stations just aren't interested, they have streaming.

The real question isn't so much DAB vs FM but how long broadcast radio can survive at all. Ten years time, RTE will probably still be on FM but commercial might not. Twenty years time…?

I agree that broadcast radio is hugely important. My only beef with this argument is that most of the benefits of DAB can be delivered just as well and better by the internet.

it doesn't play on a Roberts Stream200 anymore

The Stream 200 is quite an old model AFAIK. This is always the problem with developing tech, that the hardware becomes obsolete. A lot of radios of that vintage would be DAB, not DAB+, so your radio might also be bricked for DAB reception if it ever became available again.

And it is factually incorrect to say that 'everyone' has broadband and mobile internet

Right - but the people who do not will not adopt any new tech like DAB. These are the same people who kept LW going for much longer than it should have, they are no target market for anything.

Broadcast radio via the internet is awfully inefficient. You have to route N packets for N listeners, so power consumptions and networking requirements scale with listeners

Proper broadcast radio via LW, FM or DAB is a true 1 to all with same power consumption and no extra infrastructure needed other than broadcast towers.

That's before you look at emergency and other scenarios

Look at TV - traditional terrestrial and satellite broadcasts are in decline. On demand (Netflix, Prime) as well as live streaming (Sky Stream, Eir TV, Now TV, IPTV) are growing and will be dominant. TV uses vastly more bandwidth than radio. Radio streaming is practically negligible in comparison.

So you can't tune into a radio station in your car now without it phoning home and revealing your location? F that.

FM too - why do you think all the stations now displaying track info?

the record companies love that data

DTS AutoStage is an in-car infotainment platform by Xperi, designed to provide broadcasters and media content providers with enhanced visibility into how their content is consumed in vehicles. One of its key features is generating a heatmap for broadcasters. This heatmap is used to visualize audience engagement and content consumption patterns across different geographic locations.

Here’s how DTS AutoStage creates heatmaps and what data is exchanged in the process:

1. Vehicle Location Data

• DTS AutoStage collects anonymous GPS data from vehicles equipped with the system. This data is used to determine the geographic location of the vehicle while media content (e.g., a radio station) is being played.
• The system tracks the location of vehicles across different regions, creating a geographical footprint of where the broadcaster's content is being consumed.

2. Broadcast Consumption Data

• Information on what media content (such as radio stations or streaming content) is being played is collected.
• This data includes metrics such as:
  • Which station or show is being played.
  • Duration of the content being played.
  • Switching behavior, like when users change stations or stop playback.

3. Anonymized Listener Data

• DTS AutoStage aggregates and anonymizes data on listener behavior. No personal identifying information is shared with broadcasters, ensuring privacy. However, this anonymous data still provides valuable insights, such as:
  • Audience size at specific times or in certain locations.
  • Engagement levels: How long the content is being consumed, and how frequently.
  • Device and vehicle type (without personal identification).

4. Data Processing & Visualization

• Using the GPS data and broadcast consumption metrics, DTS AutoStage generates a heatmap for broadcasters. The heatmap shows:
  • Hotspots: Areas where there is high content consumption.
  • Cold zones: Areas with low or no engagement.
  • Time-based trends: Changes in consumption patterns over time.

The heatmap helps broadcasters understand where their audience is located and how they engage with their content across various regions and times.

5. Data Exchange

• Real-time feedback is exchanged between vehicles and the DTS AutoStage system via a cloud-based infrastructure. This includes:
  • GPS coordinates.
  • Broadcast metadata: Such as station identification and specific content being played.
  • Listener interaction: Information on channel switching or stopping playback.
• Broadcasters receive access to the aggregated data via a dashboard, allowing them to view heatmaps and detailed analytics on audience behavior in real-time or for specific timeframes.

Summary of Data Exchanged:

• From Vehicle to DTS AutoStage:
  • GPS data (vehicle location).
  • Content consumption data (station or media played, duration).
  • Vehicle metadata (e.g., make/model, type).
• From DTS AutoStage to Broadcasters:
  • Aggregated and anonymized heatmaps.
  • Audience size and location data.
  • Engagement and switching behavior.

The heatmaps and analytics provided by DTS AutoStage allow broadcasters to optimize content delivery, tailor programming to specific regions, and better understand their audience's preferences across different locations.

People do not understand GDPR. Its perfectly legal

No personally identifiable data is transmitted. And presumably you have to agree to the privacy policy when you initialize it.

Yes, but DAB would offer more choice FM does not. FM can't offer much choice as it's way too costly.

The rest is most likely correct, radio in general is in decline, in most countries. The internet, the mobile smart phone would offer the most choice.

It's not only a generational thing. I am used to DAB, thus I am used to more choice, FM doesn't offer this, thus I hardly ever listen to radio in Ireland. And I don't exactly belong to the younger generation.

Is the Newry Mux still on or on reduced power. I used to be able to pick up up on the M1 towards Dungannon but seems to have got harder or non existent closer to Dungannon for about a week now.

I am looking for better sound quality music and looking at DAB. Using Windows 10 pc and Soundblaster and DTS 5-1 speakers. Quality is important but also English .

Just installed Mini Radio Player but only a few DAB channels all foreign.

Anybody suggest where to look to get better and more choice please.

Based in Dublin and know we lost DAB which i might have used on my Roberts I Stream.