4.12.2023 Media industry
DAB+ Radio. What is Digital Radio Broadcasting?
Krzysztof Fiedorek
Digital radio broadcasting technology, compared to traditional analog radio, provides higher sound quality, better resistance to interference, and more additional features during transmission. However, it’s not without drawbacks and raises concerns among broadcasters.
w wydaniu polskim
illustration: bing.com/createThe latest generation of Digital Audio Broadcasting technology, known as DAB+, uses digital audio encoding to transmit radio signals. Unlike analog radio, which uses amplitude modulation (AM) or frequency modulation (FM), DAB+ uses digital frequency modulation (DFM). DFM allows for transmitting more data using the same amount of bandwidth, providing higher sound quality and better resistance to interference.
Advantages of DAB+
Higher sound quality. DAB+ offers better sound quality than analog radio. DAB+ can transmit audio at resolutions up to 24-bit/96 kHz, delivering clarity and detail unavailable with analog radio.
Better interference resistance. DAB+ is more resistant to interference than analog radio. This means cleaner and more audible sound in areas where signal interference occurs.
More features. DAB+ allows broadcasters to offer additional services, such as:
- text accompanying audio
- subtitles
- weather information
- traffic information
- news updates
Disadvantages
Hardware requirements. To listen to DAB+ radio, you need a DAB+ receiver. DAB+ receivers are available on the market but may be more expensive than analog radio receivers.
Availability. DAB+ is still in the implementation phase in many countries, including Poland. Not all radio stations offer DAB+ yet, and DAB+ coverage may be limited. According to Poland’s National Broadcasting Council:
- 94% of new cars in Europe come with built-in DAB+ digital radio
- in Poland, this percentage is 92%
DAB+ is a technology with great potential that could change the way we listen to radio. Whether it will become a universal radio standard will impact radio’s future as a medium.
Improving DAB+ receiver availability and expanding DAB+ coverage are the main challenges facing this new technology today. If successful, DAB+ could paint the future of radio in entirely new colors.
COMMERCIAL BREAK
New articles in section Media industry
Greenwashing storms media in Poland. Business feel the impact too
BDw
A surge in media coverage reveals a new reality: ESG isn't just a corporate responsibility buzzword anymore - it's a battlefield. According to the Institute of Media Monitoring (IMM), Polish media mentioned "greenwashing" in 619 publications and "eco-hypocrisy" in another 545 in Q1 2025.
Algorithmic personalization study. Who and how understands digital media
KFi
Most internet users believe that everyone sees the same content online. Meanwhile, algorithms personalize messages so effectively that a young woman with higher education receives different information than her father. Researchers reveal who truly understands the mechanisms.
Digital media addiction. Why the brain can’t cope
KFi
Digital media can hijack the brain's reward system in ways similar to drugs and alcohol, warned psychiatrist and author Anna Lembke. She emphasized that compulsive use of digital platforms can become a serious addiction. Not just a bad habit or risky behavior.
See articles on a similar topic:
Yellow Press. What is Yellow Journalism?
Krzysztof Fiedorek
The terms "yellow press" and "yellow journalism" are often used pejoratively to describe journalistic practices focused on sensationalism, gossip, and emotions rather than objective facts. Let’s explore their origins, distinctive features, and impact on society.
Radio in Europe. How Are Listener Habits Changing?
KFi
Radio remains one of the most popular media in Europe, but data from the European Broadcasting Union's report "Audience Trends: Radio 2024" shows clear changes in listener habits. The average European spent 2 hours and 13 minutes per day listening to the radio in 2023. This is 18 minutes less than five years ago but only one minute less than the previous year.
Numbers Stations in Radio. For Puzzle and Cryptography Enthusiasts
Krzysztof Fiedorek
They broadcast seemingly meaningless strings of numbers and letters, sometimes short, encrypted messages. Some even play music between coded transmissions or broadcast propaganda. For over a hundred years, number stations have puzzled radio enthusiasts and mystery hunters. What do we know about them?
Poles on the Internet. RegionyNEXERY 2024 Report
KFi
The Internet not only connects people but also changes their daily habits in ways that seemed unattainable just a few years ago. Over 40% of Poles work remotely, and IoT devices are gaining popularity in rural areas. The #RegionyNEXERY 2024 report reveals surprising facts about the digital reality.
