Switzerland plans to phase out FM earlier thanks to positive DAB+ listener numbers

At this morning's Swiss Radio Day the radio sector announced its plan to phase-out FM in two stages between 2022/2023. 71 percent of the Swiss population now receive radio programmes digitally, while the proportion using only analogue FM transmissions has fallen to just 13 percent. Public broadcaster SRG SSR has agreed to decommission its FM transmitters in August 2022, to make it easier for commercial operators to deactivate their FM transmitters in January 2023. Switzerland's regional radio associations have requested their members to approve the agreement by end-November 2020. If a majority agree then the FM phase-out plan becomes legally binding for all broadcasters. For more detail read the OFCOM press release. Watch this morning's presentation by DIGIMIG - the industry's digital migration working group (remember to switch on English subtitles).