Frontier Silicon: National DAB+ Launches in Germany

BERLIN--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Frontier Silicon, the market leading supplier of digital radio and connected audio technology, today welcomed the switch-on of the new national DAB/DAB+ network in Germany. Twenty-seven transmitters covering 40 million consumers were switched on by Media Broadcast, and listeners across the country are now presented with the opportunity to listen to an array of exciting new radio services all delivered with crystal clear digital technology.

“Today marks an important date in the development of radio across Germany.”

The new digital services include:

90elf – offering exclusive live soccer coverage from the world-leading Bundesliga
Absolut Radio
Radio Bob
LoungeFM
NRJ
ERF
Klassik Radio
Radio Horeb
Kiss FM
Deutschlandfunk
Deutschlandradio Kultur
D-Radio Wissen

Alongside the launch of the national commercial and Deutschland Radio services, the regional ARD stations are also in the process of launching a number of new services that will complement the strong national offering.

In addition to these ground-breaking audio services, further value-added data services will be provided in the national and regional broadcasts. These data services include advanced text information (DL Plus), slideshow, Electronic Program Guide and TPEG services.

“This is a game-changing event for broadcast radio in Germany, and will have a significant impact on the roll-out of digital radio across Europe,” commented Anthony Sethill, CEO of Frontier Silicon. “The public and commercial broadcasters in Germany have put together a powerful package of content and data services that will be really compelling to the listener, and we are looking forward to a strong commercial launch.”

“Today marks an important date in the development of radio across Germany.” commented Helmut Bauer, CEO DRD. “With the new transmitters turned on, the stage is set for German consumers to benefit from new radio content, vastly expanding the choice of listening available right across the country. We have been delighted to work with Frontier Silicon, who have been instrumental in making this launch a reality.”

“Football in Germany has a new home on digital radio” said Christoph Kruse, CEO of REGIOCAST DIGITAL, the broadcaster of 90elf. “Germany is a football-loving country, and we are delighted to be able to provide football fans with a new way to absorb the action and passion of the Bundesliga on the national DAB+ platform. Our cooperation with Frontier Silicon has enabled us to fully exploit the power of digital radio and bring our programmes to a wide range of radios.”

“When we decided to launch our digital radio platform, we set ourselves the tough goal of switching on the transmitters on 1st August 2011, and I’m happy to say that with a lot of hard work we achieved this goal.” commented Thomas Waechter, Head of Product Management of BU Radio at Media Broadcast. “As we have been building the network, we have worked closely with Frontier Silicon as the major supplier of DAB+ solutions to ensure a successful launch.”

"ARD is strongly committed to moving radio into the digital age. ARD does have a hybrid strategy allowing both the reception of a radio service via terrestrial broadcast, and also via the Internet, which finally offers a new, modern and service-focussed user experience on digital radio. The start of the soft launch of ARD on August 1st is an important step on the way towards the radio of the future," says Joachim Kraus, ARD coordinator for Digitalradio.

About DRD Digitalradio Deutschland GmbH

DRD is an initiative from private broadcasters on the national multiplex. The company organises and coordinates the launch of digital radio together with ARD and Deutschlandradio. The company also offers preferred partnerships to the radio industry for the support of digital radio.

About 90elf

90elf is Germany’s football radio station. The programme broadcasts all matches of the 1st and 2nd Bundesliga, the complete German Football Federation Cup, and selected matches of the Euro and Champions Leagues live. Reaching more than one million listeners per match day via Internet distribution, 90elf has access to 57 million new potential listeners through broadcast via digital radio.

The new digital radio standard DAB+ not only enables 90elf to broadcast a 90-minute match, but also allows the parallel distribution of full-length matches via so-called sub-channels. This is nothing less than a revolution, compared to the football-snippet-broadcastings via FM distribution, and is the most compelling reason for every football enthusiast to buy a new digital radio. In addition, 90elf will use all the possibilities of DAB+ by offering additional services like in-game news updates, displaying live score updates and other sports news.

The broadcaster of 90elf is REGIOCAST DIGITAL. A subsidiary of the German radio company REGIOCAST, REGIOCAST DIGITAL focuses on all activities in the fields of content production, business model development and technology for the world of digital media.

As one of nine broadcasters (public and private) that will broadcast nationwide via the new digital standard DAB+, REGIOCAST DIGITAL is the largest private broadcaster. With three channels (90elf, RADIO BOB! and ReMix), REGIOCAST DIGITAL will contribute substantially to making the ”Radio of the Future“ a reality.

About Media Broadcast

MEDIA BROADCAST is Europe‘s largest full service provider for the broadcast and media industries. The company’s core business comprises the planning, installation and operation of multimedia transmission platforms in Germany and internationally for television and radio companies, based on modern transmitter, cable and satellite networks. As part of the TDF Group, MEDIA BROADCAST supports some 750 national and international customers: public and private broadcasters, TV and radio production companies, international broadcasters and network operators, media companies and the cinema industry. The portfolio encompasses almost all the services of the transmission process chain, from production via content management through to transmission. Information on MEDIA BROADCAST can be found under www.media-broadcast.com, and on the TDF Group under www.tdf-group.com.

About ARD

As a consortium of broadcasting institutions of the Federal Republic of Germany under public law, the ARD group is the biggest broadcaster in Germany and also the world's largest public broadcaster:

with an annual budget of round about 6.3 Billion Euros (about 9 Billion Dollars) and about 23,000 employees
with more than 60 live radio services
with more than 1,400 hours radio programme every day
with a stable market share of over 50%, equating to around 37 million listeners every day.

ARD was founded in 1950 in West Germany and is today a group of nine affiliates across Germany:

acting on a regional basis
under public law
financed by license fees.

About Frontier Silicon Limited

Frontier Silicon is the world’s leading supplier of integrated circuits and modules for digital audio receiver products and mobile digital TV. Established in 2001 as a privately funded fabless semiconductor company, Frontier Silicon has over 140 employees. The company is based in London, England, with design centres in Cambridge and Shannon. Frontier Silicon also has branch offices and technical support representation in France, Germany, Hong Kong, China and Japan. Products include complete solutions for digital audio systems including DAB, Internet radio and mobile TV, from silicon through software to production-ready platform designs.

Customers include Bang & Olufsen, Bose, Bush, Cyrus, Denon, Dual, Gear4, Goodmans, Grundig, harman/kardon, Hitachi, JVC, Magic Box, Ministry of Sound, NAD, Onkyo, Panasonic, Philips, Pinell, Pioneer, PURE, Revo, Roberts, Sanyo, Sharp, SIRIUS XM, Sony, TEAC, Tivoli Audio, Vita Audio and Yamaha.

Frontier Silicon is a trademark or registered trademark of Frontier Silicon Ltd.

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