At IBC this year the DRM Consortium chose to focus on the efficiency aspects of DRM. Preparations for our presence in Amsterdam started a couple of months back.
Three key Consortium members offered to help and hosted presentation and networking events highlighting a new system for enhancing SW (Thomson), how to save energy using DRM transmitter systems (Transradio) and the efficient use of DRM + and DRM30 with a live LW transmission from Denmark to prove it (Nautel). Courtesy of transmission infrastructure provider Teracom A/S, DRM transmissions were heard during the Nautel event. A BBC programme was broadcast on 243 kHz (LW) from Kalundborg – Denmark throughout much of Northern Europe during IBC. This attracted the attention of quite a few listeners who wanted to get the technical details of the transmission. The signal got as far as the UK, Finland and even Japan. One listener wrote to us: “I had great pleasure listening to DRM Kalundborg on 243 kHz. I was surprised about the reception quality. Simple the best I have ever heard on AM or DRM” Veli-Matti Anttila, Kello (Northern Finland)
In between these events the DRM Consortium held for the first time its first networking “brunch” on Sunday 9th in the courtyard pavilion of BBC on a hot and brilliant day. The event saw the launch of the new complete “DRM Introduction and Implementation Guide”. Nigel Laflin, its editor, stressed that the Implementation Guide is a “must-have” document aimed at the management of radio broadcasting organisations in the areas of policymaking, programme making and technical planning. The Guide can be freely downloaded at tmp.drm.org .
And as a happy coincidence the next day, on September 10th , the radio and television public broadcaster in India Prasar Bharti launched a Digital Radio Mondiale (DRM) Super Power Transmitter (1000 kwatt) of All India Radio in Jamnagar district of Gujarat. The Thomson transmitter with DRM technology is capable of broadcasting in DRM, AM and simulcast modes – first for India. The frequency of the transmitter is 1071 kHz for AM mode and 1080 kHz for DRM mode.
At the launch the Prasar Bharati Chief Executive Officer, Jawahar Sircar, said at the launch that, “All India Radio is going to install DRM digital technology transmitters at other stations very soon.”
The India good news, developments in Brazil, Russia and other key markets, the latest activity of the technical and commercial committees were all on the agenda of the Steering Board, held on September 10th in Amsterdam. During an intense but friendly meeting, the Steering Board members considered the activity of the Consortium for the next three or four months. Among the key decisions taken by the Steering Board was to strengthen the commercial and marketing activities of the Consortium.
Ruxandra Obreja, DRM Consortium Chair
