A consortium comprised of the ABC, the Australian Radio Network, Austereo and 2KY Racing Radio have launched the first trials of digital radio broadcasting in Sydney.
The transition to digital radio broadcasting is expected to cost over $200 million and is likely to go live in late 2001 or early 2002. The trial of the technology will use the Eureka 147 standard, which was developed by a group of European firms.
The Australian government is yet to specify a standard for digital broadcasting, however it is expected that the Eureka standard will be adopted. Eureka 147 is currently being tested in Europe, Canada, the UK and will soon be rolled out in Mexico.
Today's launch was kicked off by the transmission of a broadcast from the consortium's Paramatta transmitter. The Eureka system uses a MPEG2 Layer 2 audio compression and 48 KHz sampling. During the trials each station will be allocated a 256 Kilobit broadcast stream which can be used to transmit one stereo, CD quality signal, or a number of lesser quality, mono signals.
Along with the transmission of sound, broadcasters also have the potential to deliver a data signal which may be used to transmit advertising images or other graphics to digital radio sets equipped with screens.
Launching the service, former NSW Premier, and consortium spokesperson, Barrie Unsworth, said that the new technology will allow radio operators to keep up with the pace of technological change.
"These trials will allow radio operators to create programming for the digital age," Unsworth noted. "There is no substitute for the real thing and only through such trials is the industry going to be able to progress digital radio and develop creative programming opportunities."
He also commented that the consortium had brought together a number of competing interests in the radio industry to work together towards the new digital age.
"The Sydney consortium represents an unprecedented level of co-operation amongst fierce competitors and will hopefully symbolise radio's commitment to maintaining relevance in an increasingly technological age."
