Brazil Will Study DAB+ at IBC 2025 in Amsterdam, Backed by Radio Associations and Industry

The Minas Gerais Radio and Television Association (AMIRT), the Pernambuco Association of Radio and Television Companies, streaming platforms, and radio content producers will sponsor the participation of Brazilian representatives at the International Broadcasting Convention (IBC) 2025 in Amsterdam, focusing on DAB+, the most widely used digital radio standard in Europe.

DAB+ is drawing more attention in Brazil due to its aggressive and straightforward rollout abroad, without relying on hybrid solutions. What was once considered a disadvantage locally is now better understood. I recall many warnings we issued at the time: hybrid radio was not the best path for migration from analog to digital.

This initiative is one of the clearest signs that Brazilian radio is finally seeking a digital alternative, after years of lacking clear direction and with debates cooling off following an initial wave of tests—conducted more than a decade ago but later abandoned.

This is no small step. The growing interest in DAB+ may even be considered surprising, since this standard has never aroused as much enthusiasm in Brazil as HD Radio or DRM. However, it is undeniable that the strength of DAB+—by leaving no room for hybrid models or IBOC systems—makes it particularly assertive. And now we see: Brazilians are showing a willingness to understand what this DAB+ is all about.

Brazil flirting with DAB+ may serve as a wake-up call for the other standards: there is an urgent need to improve communication, provide lectures, establish contacts, and offer clarifications directly within Brazil. Otherwise, the country’s radio sector may be drawn to the allure of DAB+, which in the early 2000s barely paid attention to Brazil.

Attending IBC 2025 does not necessarily mean that DAB+ is already the chosen path, but it is certainly an accepted invitation to “start dating.” This standard presents itself boldly, offering its adopters diverse monetization opportunities. It is not a system that asks for favors—it advances as a real business ecosystem, determined to replace analog radio with a straightforward proposition: “let’s change, let’s make money.”