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On November 9th and 10th, 2016, the international radio industry gathered in Vienna for the General Assembly of WorldDAB. More than 200 participants, including political decision-makers, broadcasters and representatives of industry, discussed the growth of DAB+ throughout Europe and beyond.

On Thursday, the WorldDAB Forum took place in Vienna. More than 200 participants, political representatives and regulators from Germany, France, Norway, the UK and Slovakia discussed the future of digital radio and the introduction of DAB+ in key European markets.

At the WorldDAB Forum in Vienna, representatives talked about the most important aspects of the introduction of digital radio via DAB+. According to Graham Dixon, Head of Radio at the EBU three aspects are essential for DAB: first, universality, so that it is available to all. Secondly, it needs diversity, that is, new programmes to meet new and changing needs. Innovation is also the key to success.

More than 200 attendees gathered in Vienna for the WorldDAB General Assembly. The European Commission joined political representatives and regulators from Germany, France, Norway, United Kingdom and Slovakia to discuss the future of digital radio and the adoption of DAB in major markets.

Asian broadcasters are watching intently as European government ministers, broadcasters, regulators and technology vendors gathered at the WorldDAB General Assembly in Vienna on Thursday to set out their vision for the future of digital radio. With a theme of "New content - New markets", the General Assembly focused on the new audiences and revenue opportunities being delivered by digital radio.

At the WorldDAB General Assembly, held on Nov. 9–10, delegates heard from Ministers across Europe on the future of DAB. They were joined by regulators, broadcasters and manufacturers. Patrick Hannon, WorldDAB president opened the event by highlighting the progress of DAB adoption and how 56 percent of European citizens can now receive DAB services.

Minister, Rundfunkanbieter, Regulierer und Industrie versammelten sich heute in Wien, um eine gemeinsame Vision über die Zukunft von Digitalradio zu erläutern. Neben Vertretern von Politik und Regulierungsbehörden aus Deutschland, Frankreich, Norwegen, Großbritannien und der Slowakei beteiligte sich auch die Europäische Kommission an der Diskussion über die Zukunft des Digitalradios und die Einführung von DAB in europäischen Schlüsselmärkten.

At the WorldDAB Forum in Vienna, one thing was clear: around Europe, Europe is on its way to digital radio DAB +, and there is no way around. Representatives from Germany, Norway, Great Britain or France drew on their progress with digital radio, which is of particular relevance for Austria in the context of the recent decision of the regulatory authority on a nationwide call for tenders" said Wolfgang Struber, Deputy Chairman of the association Digitalradio Austria, at a press conference.

Since spring 2015, a DAB + pilot has been operating in Austria. Many European countries already show that the digital radio via DAB+ can succeed. During the WorldDAB General Assembly, Graham Dixon, Head of Radio at the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) said that "DAB+ is like a semi-finished highway construction site. Now it is time to build the roads across Europe."

During the WorldDAB General Assembly,Wolfgang Struber Radio-Arabella CEO said that ORF should be allowed to offer "two new, nationwide, non-regional and ad-free radio stations" for DAB+. He noted how DAB+ needs new original content to be successful in the market.