Switching off FM radio makes Norway an isolated case and country
Most Norwegians are not impressed with the move to digital-audio broadcasting — and nor are Canada, Finland, the US or UK
Stockholm — As Norway switches off its FM radio network this week, other nations have abandoned similar plans, leaving the Scandinavian country a lonely beacon of digital-only broadcasting in a world that’s rapidly moving on to music streaming and podcasts. The switch to digital audio broadcasting (DAB), a first for any country, will be watched closely by other European nations, which are starting to question the benefits of shutting down analogue networks. Success in Norway may be the last hope for enthusiasts and electronics retailers to revive digital-radio plans that have largely ground to a halt in the rest of the world. "Norway is a thought leader, certainly a technology leader," Ford Ennals, CEO of Digital Radio UK, said. "In the UK, we are definitely more cautious. We want it to be listener-led. We don’t want to force everyone to do this." Norway’s blueprint to replace FM has been in place for years, originating with its first digital broadcasts back in 1995. The technology ...
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