Swiss Public Broadcaster to shut down FM transmissions by the end of 2024

TAFKAlawhec

Announcement by SRG SSR (The Swiss Public Broadcaster) in German & French…

In general…

• FM listening now accounts for >10% of radio listening in Switzerland.
• SRG SSR is engaging in a cost cutting exercise & regards continuing and/or upgrading the current FM networks as an expense they can do without.
• There has been no requirement for stations that are dual radiating (FM & DAB+) to maintain their FM transmissions since 2020.
• Though not mentioned in their press release, they are closing their networks down two years early as all current FM licences in Switzerland have an expiry date of 31/12/26 - presumably some commercial stations will continue on FM between 31/12/24 and then.
• Listeners that have not transferred over to DAB+ or internet radio are being encouraged to do so and messages for them to do so will start in the autumn.

Though not yet a complete FM switch off in the country (yet), it puts Switzerland on course to be the second country after Norway to effectively abandon FM radio broadcasting (though a few local stations still remain on FM in parts of Norway).

If you're into your FM DX'ing then this will be the last summer of attempting to receive the SRG SSR stations.

Declan A Walsh

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058357649/swiss-public-broadcaster-to-shut-down-fm-transmissions-by-the-end-of-2024

Should this :

• FM listening now accounts for >10% of radio listening in Switzerland.

be: FM Listening now accounts for < 10% of radio Listening in Switzerland?

TAFKAlawhec

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122315002#Comment_122315002

Correct! Wrong arrow! (D'oh!)

tinytobe

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058357649/swiss-public-broadcaster-to-shut-down-fm-transmissions-by-the-end-of-2024

I would guess the Benelux and Denmark will probably be next. Regarding the UK, I don't know.

Most countries who decide to abandon FM broadcasting make that decision conditinal of low usage, mostly something between less than 10 to less than 30 percent.

zg3409

Similar article says

DAB+ deployments have failed in several countries, Finland, Ireland, Hungary, Canada and Hong Kong among them

https://www.theregister.com/2024/07/02/switzerland_to_end_2024_with/

Reading between the lines it seems they want to save money by dropping FM and forcing listeners to move to dab+. New cars must have had dab tuners from year 2020....

I would love to see the statistics that show FM is dead is Switzerland. I suspect they are fudging the figures to make it sound like it's an easier transition. Such as lots of homes have access to dab+ receivers but these may only be in the car and not the home. How many radios will go to scrap in the next year?

ZaK23-54

Will DAB be reconsidered by RTE following the recent strategic document?

Shan Doras

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122338543#Comment_122338543

Are you on drugs ? They'd shutdown Saorview tomorrow if they could, let alone invest in another terrestrial platform

Tow

I went by the Atlantic 252 transmitter site today. It is almost a year since Dee had the mast knocked, despite money being spent on it's long term maintenance only two or three years ago. It really is a disgrace how RTE has managed the transmission network.

Shan Doras

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122339808#Comment_122339808

How did it look? Has the mast metal been all picked up and removed from the site? Is the TX building still in tact? Have any new phone/broadband towers been erected on the site?

TheBMG

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122339808#Comment_122339808

I’m guessing that’s fairly decent farming land so presume they’ll sell it?

Tow

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122340035#Comment_122340035

I did not get close enough to look at the state of the mast.

The ground would be full of copper, which operates as a ground plane/counterpoise to the antenna. There is money in that land! The problem is RTE are quick enough to knock down the mast, but they could not afford to replace if they had to.

Shan Doras

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122340035#Comment_122340035

The locals have been told 2rn are planning to keep it for telecommunications, in 2020 they got planning permission for an new antenna https://www.eplanning.ie/MeathCC/AppFileRefDetails/RA200784/0