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France

Last update: 04.07.2024 - older versions

Arcom White Paper on Radio

The result of more than 30 hearings and consultations with the main players in radio, Arcom has published its White Paper on the future of radio in France, which provides a broad overview of the sector and its economic, legal and technical aspects, as well as changes in usage.

The White Paper on Radio was presented by Roch-Olivier Maistre, President of Arcom and by Hervé Godechot, Arcom member and chairman of the Radio and Digital Audio working group, at the Assises de la radio 2024 conference on Tuesday 18 June at the Arcom headquarters in Paris.

Arcom is proposing a two-phase trajectory, aiming to achieve predominantly digital broadcasting by the end of 2033 and requiring the mobilisation of the entire ecosystem:

• Phase 1: Preparation (2024-2027): Establishing a balanced radio ecosystem within a legislative and technological environment that facilitates continued digitisation under optimal conditions.

• Phase 2: Migration (2028-2033): Completing a market-initiated transition to a digital broadcasting model, six years after the preparation phase and nine years after the publication of the White Paper in 2024.

The transition will require regulation, metrics, planning, marketing and then resources.

DAB+ : a structural choice for the radio industry

Launched in 2014 in Paris, Nice and Marseille, DAB+ is now seen as critical to contribute to the future of radio and to address the saturation of FM. It is a means to preserve diversity and plurality. As DAB+ is reaching a turning point, the regulator, Arcom, is launching in 2023 a consultation with the radio industry which will include the switchover from FM to DAB+ both in the metropolitan area and overseas. The economics of radio are a key element of the expected white paper, as well as the potential acceleration of the deployment.

Deployment of DAB+

On 12 October 2021, France launched two new national multiplexes broadcasting 26 DAB+ stations, including national services from Radio France, leading private broadcasters and four new national services. The new multiplexes are broadcast along the major motorway corridors of Paris-Lyon-Marseille. The 26 services include four new DAB+ only stations and 22 stations that are also broadcast in FM. Extension to more main roads and highly populated areas is planned for the end of 2023. These 26 radios are in addition to the hundreds of radio stations already available regionally and locally on DAB+

The CSA rollout plan, the so-called "nodes and arcs strategy" described in 2017, which also includes continued regional and local rollouts alongside the launch of national services, was updated in 2021.

Arcom says that "In total, it is expected that 17 multiplexes, extended or local, will have started broadcasting during the summer of 2023. At the end of these start-ups, the coverage of the metropolitan population by DAB+ will exceed 50%."

French DAB+ Broadcast Networks Factsheet

A new factsheet on DAB+ digital radio in France has been produced for automotive manufacturers, as the country achieves over 50% DAB+ population coverage.

The factsheet from WorldDAB - the global industry forum for DAB digital radio - was produced as part of the work of its Automotive Working Group, in partnership with network operator TDF, and RadioDNS which promotes hybrid radio.

France DAB+ Broadcast Networks

Receiver legislation

Older pieces of legislation in France related to DAB+ in cars have been superseded by the transposition in November 2020 of the EECC into French legislation. This law passed the last stage and was made official in December 2020, with the transposition of the EECC into French law officially published on 28 May 2021. Domestic receivers, for which the reception function of radio services broadcast is not purely incidental, and have an alphanumeric screen, must be capable of receiving digital terrestrial radio. Discussions are ongoing to make DAB+ mandatory in all receivers.

Last update: 06.01.2025 - older versions

DAB+ digital terrestrial radio continues to roll out across France. With its arrival in 2023 in towns such as Bayonne, Besançon, Brest, Clermont-Ferrand, Metz, Nancy and Pau, in summer 2023 DAB+ passed the symbolic milestone of covering 50% of the French population. A trial has also been underway in Martinique since January 2023, and La Réunion since March 2024.

Regulator Arcom announced that "In December 2024, more than 62% of the population of mainland France was covered by DAB+, compared with 50% at the end of 2023."

In December 2021, the French media regulator CSA, published an updated DAB+ roadmap highlighting DAB+ developments plans for the 2022-2024 period.

According to the new roadmap, calls for applications will be launched for 50 local allotments in that period of time – these primarily concerned the cities of Dijon, Lyon, Marseille, Rennes, Caen, Nancy, Paris, Bordeaux, Clermont-Ferrand, Poitiers and Toulouse.

Last update: 22.09.2023 - older versions

In this country there are

on air.

French DAB+ Broadcast Networks Factsheet

A new factsheet on DAB+ digital radio in France has been produced for automotive manufacturers, as the country achieves over 50% DAB+ population coverage.

France DAB+ Broadcast Networks

Please note:

(a) These web pages are updated regularly to reflect current services on air, however they may not be exactly up to date.

(b) The logos shown on these pages are for illustrative purposes only – manufacturers and broadcasters are directed here for information on implementing station logos.

An interactive map showing all services currently on air in France, as well as those licensed to go on air, can be found at: Ma radio DAB Plus - CSA - Conseil supérieur de l’audiovisuel.

	Simulcast on AM / FM	Exclusive on digital	Total of services
DAB+ programmes	358	102	460

Last update: 18.07.2024 - older versions

In France, as of H2 2023, 98% of new cars sold are equipped with DAB+ as standard (Source: JATO Dynamics 2023).

Last update: 05.02.2021 - older versions

Receiver legislation

In December 2018 DAB+ coverage reached 21.3% of the French population, which triggered a law requiring that all radio receivers (including in-car) sold in France be compatible with the broadcasting standards (ie DAB+). This 2018 law was amended in June 2020 to align with the EECC deadline of 20 December 2020.

In November 2020, the French parliament voted in favour of a law to transpose the EECC into French legislation. This law passed the last stage and was made official in December 2020, enabling the government to take a final decree which is expected by early 2021. The decree will confirm that new passenger cars in France will be required to include digital terrestrial radio from 20 December 2020, in line with the EECC. Additional obligations regarding consumer receivers have yet to be agreed and may also be included in that decree enacting the EECC.

More detailed information is in the WorldDAB EECC Factsheet.

Last update: 04.07.2024 - older versions

La Réunion: Arcom has authorised two trials of DAB+ radio broadcasting in Saint-Denis from March 1, 2024.
La Martinique: trial authorised since January 2023 ; three sites in Martinique and 11 stations: Radio Fusion, Fusion 100 % Infos, Fusion Compas, Fusion Salsa Kl@moson, Fusion Gold, Maknet Jazz, Mixx FM Martinique, Radio Évangile Martinique, Radio Actif Martinique, Identité Radio and Martinique La 1ère.

Last update: 04.07.2024 - older versions

DAB+ regulation in France is outlined on the French Media regulator's website.

Arcom's annual report

Arcom's White Paper on the future of radio

Last update: 04.07.2024 - older versions

Ensemble pour le DAB+

“Ensemble pour le DAB+” is an association created in 2022 on the instigation of the Bureau de la Radio, Radio France and SIRTI, with the aim of setting up and coordinating communication and marketing actions around the development of DAB+, both nationally and locally. The French Ministry of Culture is a partner of the Association.

The first global campaign took place in January 2024. The objective was to raise awareness of DAB+; the reach was 70% of the French population over 13 years old with a 1000 audio spots played during a week. It was completed by a social media campaign and a billboard campaign in the Paris metro, outdoors in the Ile-de-France region and in Nantes, Strasbourg, Lyon and Lille.

DABplus.fr

The website DABplus.fr was set up to summarise the deployment of DAB+ in France. It is paid by and for stakeholders of DAB+ in France. www.DABplus.fr

Digital radio gains ground in France with DAB+ and Radioplayer France

20.03.2023 - Radioplayer WorldDAB Member - France

DAB+ continues to roll out progressively in France and in the regions. Today, 45% of French people are able to receive digital terrestrial radio, compared to 40% in October 2021. This increase will continue in 2023 with the arrival of transmitters in new cities such as Montpellier, Béziers, Narbonne, Nîmes Alès, Perpignan, Prades, Reims, Épernay, Vitry-le-François, Châlons-en-Champagne, Charleville-Mézières and Troyes! It is important that the 39.3 million French listeners have access to a simpler and more qualitative radio listening experience.

(dabplus.fr) Read more

Radio Classique expands on DAB+

17.03.2023 - France

As the digital transition of radio accelerates and mobile audio consumption becomes an increasingly important part of French people's lives, Radio Classique is responding to this transformation in usage with a project to develop its DAB+ network throughout 2023 and the launch of a new mobile application from 21 March. For Radio Classique, which has five times fewer terrestrial transmitters than its main competitors, DAB+ is an opportunity to increase its coverage and offer continuity of listening on the move.

(La Lettre Pro de la Radio) Read more

Arcom launches work on a white paper on the future of radio in France

15.03.2023 - France

Last January, Arcom's president, Roch-Olivier Maistre, announced the Authority was preparing a white paper on the future of radio. Arcom's board of directors today determined the main themes of this study, which the regulator intends to complete within a year. The white paper will provide the broadest possible overview of the radio sector in France. It will also cover the major challenge of the transition from FM to DAB+ (digital terrestrial radio) broadcasting throughout the country, both in metropolitan France and the French overseas territories.

(Arcom) Read more

DAB+ has arrived in Occitania for the best listening

10.03.2023 - France

The Occitanie region has been covered by the DAB+ radio network for several weeks now. This technology offers better sound quality, simplifies the search for stations and avoids interruptions in the car. It is also more environmentally friendly than the traditional FM band. "This is the first time in a long time that we have had space on the broadcasting bands," smiles Arcom's Hervé Godechot.

(France Bleu) Read more

TDF celebrates the deployment of DAB+ digital radio in Montpellier, Nîmes and Perpignan

09.03.2023 - TDF WorldDAB Member - France

Today, Thursday 9 March, TDF is making official the large-scale deployment of digital radio in the south-east of the Occitanie region, at its Montpellier-Bionne broadcasting site. In total, more than 60 digital radio services have been launched by TDF. In each of the urban areas of Montpellier, Nîmes and Perpignan, the population can receive up to 26 radio stations in digital DAB+ quality (grouped into two DAB+ multiplexes) via TDF transmitters. TDF is commissioning DAB+ broadcasting at its sites in Montpellier-Bionne (Hérault), Nîmes-Capitelles (Gard), Perpignan-Cabestany (Pyrénées-Orientales), Ille-sur-Têt (Pyrénées-Orientales) and Villefranche-de-Conflent (Pyrénées-Orientales).

(TDF) Read more

DAB+ starts in Montpellier, Nîmes, Perpignan, Alès, Béziers and Narbonne

09.03.2023 - France

Hervé Godechot, member of Arcom and chairman of the "Radio and digital audio" working group, took part on Thursday 9 March at the Montpellier-Bionne transmitter site in the press conference for the launch of digital terrestrial radio in Occitania organised by the operator TDF. "DAB+ is now rolling out an extended offer in Nîmes and, above all, is making a massive entry into the radio landscape in Montpellier, Perpignan and the surrounding area. Listeners in the region are joining the more than 45% of French people who can listen to digital terrestrial radio in mainland France. Arcom will continue to support the deployment of DAB+, which combines the best of both worlds: the quality of digital radio and the resilience and free access to FM radio," said Hervé Godechot, a member of Arcom's board.

(Arcom) Read more

Registration open for WorldDAB Automotive 2023

08.03.2023 -

- France

Registration is now open for WorldDAB Automotive 2023 in Paris on June 15. The event is from 9 a.m. to 3.30 p.m. CET at Maison de la Radio, Radio France, 116 avenue du Président Kennedy. It is also online. The event will allow attendees to discover the latest initiatives broadcasters and auto manufacturers are working on to enhance the radio listener’s experience in the car. Leading car brands and radio broadcasters will share their vision of the opportunities and challenges presented by connected cars and why DAB+ remains essential for radio’s future.

(RedTech) Read more

Gard: Alliance Plus, Lenga d'Òc and Aviva radios switch to DAB+ technology

07.03.2023 - France

Until now, to receive Radio Alliance Plus in Nîmes, you had to go to FM or connect to the website. From now on, this Protestant cultural radio association, like its cousins Lenga d'Oc (Occitan culture) and Aviva (Jewish culture), is present on DAB+, while remaining on the FM band. If DAB+ was adopted late in France, it is already very present in many European countries and could in the future relegate FM to the dustbin. Norway has already stopped using the FM band. "We had to seize this opportunity," say Redouane Es-Sbanti and Bruno Cécillon. "If we don't jump on the train, we'll stay on the platform."

(Midi Libre) Read more

Support for FM / DAB+ dual broadcast

07.03.2023 - France

On 16 February 2023, the Government issued a new decree amending the 2006 decree on the Fund to support local radio broadcasting (FSER). It introduces a new support for dual FM-DAB+ broadcasting. "The mechanism provides for the application of a coefficient for increasing the operating subsidy by 5%. The majority of eligible radio stations will receive a bonus of between €1,700 and €2,000, i.e. approximately one third of the costs of broadcasting on DAB+", the Confédération Nationale des Radios Associatives (CNRA) said.

(La Lettre Pro de la Radio) Read more

The death of Roland Faure, "a visionary thirty years ahead of his time"

03.03.2023 - Radio France WorldDAB Member - France

The CEO of Radio France from 1986 to 1989, and co-creator of Europe's first all-news radio station in 1987, Faure contributed to the transformation of journalism in the 20th century. Interested in the idea of bringing new technologies to radio, he campaigned for digital terrestrial radio, chairing Club DAB from 1991 to 2002. He passed away on 25 February at the age of 96.

(Le Monde (€)) Read more

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Key Information

Status:	regular
Population:	65.2 million
Population coverage:	54.8%
Services:	460 DAB+
Line-fit automotive sales (cumulative):	6,346,000 devices
New cars with DAB/DAB+ as standard:	98%
Total Sales (cumulative):	8,394,000 devices
Penetration by household:	13.7%
Last update: 18.07.2024