In Germany, the Media Council for Berlin and Brandenburg (MABB) has stopped
issuing licences for Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB). In that part of
Germany, DAB has not proved popular with the public. Sales of DAB receivers
have been below expectations, and consumer satisfaction with reception
quality has been low. Especially troublesome is the poor reception of DAB
inside buildings, whereas FM signals can still be received. A number of
Berlin radio stations have already stopped relaying their FM services on
DAB. They have been replaced by other services such as Roadradio (a motoring
station), YOYO (a children's station) and the BBC.

The MABB says the technical quality of DAB, which dates from the 1980's and
is still based on MPEG 2, has been superceded by superior technology. This
view is not shared all across Germany. For instance, in Bavaria and
Baden-Württemberg DAB is still being heavily promoted. But the MABB is
already looking at the next generation of broadcasting technology such as
DVB-H and DMB (Digital Multimedia Broadcasting). This is expected to be
demonstrated on a large scale at the Internationale Funkaustellung 2005 in
Berlin.

(Media Network)