Netherlands - Current situation - History

24.08.2011

 National commercial stations have now obtained a multiplex license for a minimum of 16 DAB stations - this can be used as of 1 September 2011.

Regional stations (both public and commercial) had until 10 June to inform the minister if they will use a commercial regional mux, or piggy back on an already issued mux (operated by MTVNL). Services also not to commence before 1 September.

National Public radio will extend their existing DAB mux from 80% to 100% in the coming years and switch from DAB to DAB+.

Local radio is assigned L-band frequencies. 

By the end of 2011 DAB+ will be starting to roll-out in The Netherlands, resulting in over 50 stations to be eventually received in any location.

Older news

Digital radio in The Netherlands has had ups and downs over the years and, until now, has failed to find traction with commercial broadcasters. This is due in part to the added costs involved in dual transmission.

In 2009 the Ministry agreed that, when analogue licences expire in 2011, instead of auctioning them off to the highest bidder, it would reissue them to the incumbent broadcaster if it in turn agreed to go digital. Commercial broadcasters haduntil September 2010 to take advantage of this offer.

The issue was further complicated by a recent change of government.

Also in 2009, the Ministry auctioned two broadcast licences, one in Band III and one in L-band. Broadcasters can opt to transmit in DAB, DAB+ or DMB and it is likely that DAB+ will be the standard of choice for most.

For those broadcasting in L-band, it therefore becomes necessary that radio sets receiving DAB+ broadcasts in L-band are available.

The National Public Broadcaster, PO, broadcasts audio nine stations and three data channels on a national multiplex operated by NOS.  The services are all simulcasts of existing PO stations, including pop, classical, oldies, current affairs and news.  Coverage of this multiplex is about 70% of the population.

Licences have also been issued in Band III to MTVNL which is currently testing DMB transmissions in The Hague, and in L-band to CallMax which plans testing in the Eindhoven area.

There is no FM switch off date, but FM licences will be extended for 6 years until the end of 2017. Formal policy is that ultimately 1-2 year before the end of the FM licences, there will be a full review regarding FM switch off.

19.08.2010

Digital radio in The Netherlands has had ups and downs over the years and, until now, has failed to find traction with commercial broadcasters. This is due in part to the added costs involved in dual transmission.

In 2009 the Ministry agreed that, when analogue licences expire in 2011, instead of auctioning them off to the highest bidder, it would reissue them to the incumbent broadcaster if it in turn agreed to go digital. Commercial broadcasters have until September 2010 to take advantage of this offer however there remains an issue over the cost of these licences.

The issue is further complicated by a recent change of government.

Also in 2009, the Ministry auctioned two broadcast licences, one in Band III and one in L-band. Broadcasters can opt to transmit in DAB, DAB+ or DMB and it is likely that DAB+ will be the standard of choice for most.

For those broadcasting in L-band, it therefore becomes necessary that radio sets receiving DAB+ broadcasts in L-band are available.

The National Public Broadcaster, PO, broadcasts audio nine stations and three data channels on a national multiplex operated by NOS.  The services are all simulcasts of existing PO stations, including pop, classical, oldies, current affairs and news.  Coverage of this multiplex is about 70% of the population.

Licences have also been issued in Band III to MTVNL which is currently testing DMB transmissions in The Hague, and in L-band to CallMax which plans testing in the Eindhoven area.

A national Band III multiplex licence will be issued to commercial radio in late 2010 or early 2011.  A regional Band III multiplex for combined public and commercial services will be issued in late 2010 or early 2011.

There is no FM switch off date, but FM licences will be extended for 6 years until the end of 2017. Formal policy is that ultimately 1-2 year before the end of the FM licences, there will be a full review regarding FM switch off.

16.08.2010

The National Public Broadcaster, PO, broadcasts audio nine stations and three data channels on a national multiplex operated by NOS.  The services are all simulcasts of existing PO stations, including pop, classical, oldies, current affairs and news.  Coverage of this multiplex is about 70% of the population.

Licences have also been issued in Band III to MTVNL which is currently testing DMB transmissions in The Hague, and in L-band to CallMax which plans testing in the Eindhoven area.

A national Band III multiplex licence will be issued to commercial radio in late 2010 or early 2011.  A regional Band III multiplex for combined public and commercial services will be issued in late 2010 or early 2011.

There is no FM switch off date, but FM licences will be extended for 6 years until the end of 2017. Formal policy is that ultimately 1-2 year before the end of the FM licences, there will be a full review regarding FM switch off.