To explore the progress and potential of Digital Radio Mondiale (DRM) in South Africa and the Southern African region, the DRM South Africa Group in Johannesburg organised its first DRM Southern Africa Webinar on October 22. The event brought together broadcasters, industry experts, and technology partners to discuss the progress and potential of DRM in the region. Presentations by South African experts and colleagues from the umbrella DRM Consortium highlighted DRM’s efficiency in energy and spectrum use, its ability to broadcast multiple channels on a single frequency, and its applications in education and emergency communication.
To increase live communication and interactivity, participants engaged in live Slido polls, providing real-time feedback and sharing their own perspectives. These showed that over half of the participants were already familiar with DRM, while another 25% were somewhat familiar.
Interestingly, 43% identified commercial radio and advertising as the sectors most likely to benefit from DRM, followed by community radio (29%). A strong vote of confidence and interest was shown for the potential of DRM in education and distance learning (29%).
Regarding the challenges and barriers to implementation, costs and limited awareness were cited as the most important, though 56% rated DRM’s energy and spectrum efficiency as “very valuable” to broadcasters.
As for the next stage, participants in this first locally organised webinar recommended on-air demonstrations, business plan development, and public education campaigns as priority next steps for the DRM Southern Africa Group.
The webinar concluded with a strong call for on-air demonstrations, business plan development, and broader public education, as those involved in the event reaffirmed their collective commitment to advancing digital radio adoption across Southern Africa.
Please also check: DRM Africa Newsletter – 1st 2025.
If you want to join the DRM family in South Africa or globally, please check: DRM Membership Options.
