How to Move Industries, Broadcasters, and Governments Toward a Digital Radio Standard?

I stood out among the most powerful broadcasters in my region by producing in-depth analyses of listener behavior, often based on massive amounts of streaming data that revealed the impact of our programming adjustments. By combining my background as an engineer with my near-completed training as a psychologist, I’ve gained deep insights, through various experiments, into what truly attracts the listener.

I bring together elements that many see as separate, numbers and people, in a human-centered way of studying and translating audience behavior to broadcasters. For this reason, my questions will likely fall outside the usual patterns.

My goal is to shed light on many aspects of digital radio that listeners, broadcasters, and even investors have yet to fully grasp.

I would say I’m asking questions like a distant friend, without the rigor of major professional journalists. In fact, I don’t feel like, nor do I have the pretension of being, a journalist; I am much more of an analyst on the subject.

Reason for the First Question

I want to understand how the mind of a millionaire, or even a greedy billionaire, in the communications sector (Radio/TV), with plenty of money and acting like a typical capitalist player, could come to realize that a digital radio standard is truly viable, even for those who only think about profit.

I believe that even if they think this way, if they discover the right opportunities and decide to support a specific standard, they will ultimately be helping the most human and democratic digital radio system we have.

Yes, I understand, this is the kind of question that could easily come from a cold, numbers-driven investor. And perhaps there are people out there who simply aren’t yet aware of the opportunities that digital radio offers.

I’m not bringing answers to the questions in this post, especially since I’m not the one who would provide them. Although I do have opinions on several of them, I’ll leave them open, at least for now. Who knows, maybe opinions will come in voluntarily

I will focus on a series of questions initially centered on the DRM digital radio standard:

1. We know that DRM is one of the most democratic standards among those aiming to bring digital radio to the world. But what would attract major investors to see DRM as a strong opportunity for financial returns? Would it be the receiver manufacturing industry, the commercial sector, or the broadcasting stations? What, for example, could make an investor from anywhere in the world look at a country like India, notice the DRM rollout, and say: “I want to put my money into this, and I’ll likely get a good return”?

2. It’s not difficult, for those with some knowledge of digital radio, to recognize that it is revolutionary. However, it’s clear that there is a certain slowness in adoption, even in economically strong countries, when it comes to choosing a digital radio standard. Many of these countries already have digital TV, for example. So, what services could DRM offer that would bring significant benefits to disadvantaged populations — benefits that even the most technology-averse governments should take notice of?

3. How would the industry be boosted by the adoption of DRM as a standard? What economic movements would be triggered, what new value chains would be created? Would governments know how to take advantage of the resulting economic growth? And if they don’t yet fully understand it, could the Consortium provide clarifications about the potential impacts on job creation and tax revenue?

4. Many radio stations are already operating in DRM, and certainly some are making more assertive use of the technology’s full potential. What would be a good example of efficient use of DRM’s features, and how is it implemented? Is there any extraordinary tool, unavailable in analog radio, that DRM has introduced and that has generated an unexpected impact?

5. For a country interested in exploring the possibility of adopting DRM as its digital radio standard, what conditions should it provide for tests, demonstrations, meetings, and other necessary steps to make the process efficient? And while we’re at it, on average, how are the costs typically divided?

6. Let’s consider a hypothetical scenario in which Brazil decides to adopt DRM in the AM band. How many stations could be supported in fully digital operation within that frequency range? In addition to allowing for new broadcasters, could mirroring FM stations be a strategy to entice FM broadcasters to help repopulate the nearly deserted AM band in Brazil? Would they be drawn by the promise of better audio quality, wider coverage, and additional digital services such as Journaline? To me, this seems like a significant potential source of tax revenue through new licenses. Am I right?

7. What kind of precautions would need to be taken for DRM radio broadcasting, for example in Brazil, to avoid interfering with countries like Argentina if Brazil opted for digitalization and its neighbors did not? With years of studies and experience, is there full knowledge of the conditions, power, and transmission infrastructure to guide a new regulation in Brazil that makes all the necessary provisions to limit DRM licenses in AM?

8. How many shortwave radio stations can be estimated to be heard in Brazil today? Their range, programming, and whether there are DRM listeners in our country?

9. DRM has been around for several years, and its development is ongoing. We also know that, in the industry, many innovations only become known to the world when they’re just about to be launched, for obvious reasons of market protection. However, are there any upcoming implementations or developments that can be revealed or anticipated in advance?

10. The Consortium has always been in contact with listeners, and I ask: what most amazes listeners about DRM? What kind of observations do they make about the novelty they are experiencing?

11. What requests from listeners or broadcasters reach the Consortium to be implemented in the standard, whether these requests are possible or impossible?

12. Is there any type of customization possible per country or per station that DRM transmitters can use to differentiate themselves, such as adjusting transmission bandwidth, sending data, etc.? Along the same lines, are there different capabilities among receivers regarding their functions, and would you highlight any in particular?

13. What arguments from the DRM Consortium should the world hear before deciding which digital radio transmission standard to adopt?