The Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation launch new coastline weather service on DAB in March

19.02.2009 - Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation (NRK) WorldDAB Member - Norway

With its long coastline, Norway is a country where boats are popular, for private use or for professionals like fishermen, rescue crews etc. For these people, knowing the weather is essential. For this reason, NRK has started a service unique to the DAB-network called NRK Båtvær – a weather service aimed at people in boats along the Norwegian coastline. The content is simple, but effective: A weather report updated every 4 hours, broadcast around the clock, every day, throughout the year. Ideally you should check the forecast before going to sea, but even while at sea you can utilize this service. The southern and western parts of Norway will each have their own dedicated service, on separate channels (Båtvær Sør, Båtvær Vest). In March, NRK will introduce a third service, expanding into the northern region. The channel will be called Båtvær Nord and will complete the coverage of the Norwegian coastline. The expansion will coincide with the annual boat-fair in Oslo, where it will be presented in cooperation with a respected rescue-company called Redningsselskapet. Representing an important security factor for Norwegians at sea, this company is more than happy to see this new service and supports DAB with it’s easy to use radios. The expanded weather service is further proof of DAB being able to host useful, niche radio-channels that could not have been realized on FM.