Nigeria’s Kano State Executive Council has approved the release of funds for the purchase of a new AM digital transmitter for the state Radio Corporation, Radio Kano. Briefing the press on the outcome of the council’s meeting, the State Commissioner for Information, Barr. Haruna Isa Dederi, said that the decision is part of the government’s effort to comply with the directives of the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) that all radio stations must switch over from analogue to digital transmitters nationwide.
(Source: Daily Triumph)
Andy Sennitt adds: The Kano Broadcasting Corporation is listed with a 50 kW transmitter at Tukan Tawa on 549 kHz, and 25 kW at Jogana on 729 kHz. It’s not clear from the report which transmitter is to be upgraded, or whether both will be. A pattern is beginning to emerge which suggests that the future of DRM will be in countries with a large land mass, where building a network of FM or DAB transmitters would be prohibitively expensive. DRM was originally developed with international shortwave broadcasting in mind, but came several decades too late. However, the effort will not have been in vain if it can be utilised to help improve the listening experience of millions of people in developing countries. But we’re still waiting for a major receiver manufacturer to commit to mass production of DRM receivers.
on Dec 3rd, 2008 at 16:13
“we’re still waiting for a major receiver manufacturer to commit to mass production of DRM receivers”
it would be interesting to know why.
on Dec 3rd, 2008 at 16:28
It’s a chicken and egg situation. The manufacturers want evidence that there is a market for DRM, while most of the broadcasters don’t want to spend a lot of money broadcasting a signal than most people can’t receive. There are a few DRM receivers on the market, but they have been manufacured in small quantities so far. Now, with the economic recession, there’s even less reason for a company to invest in the technology.
on Dec 4th, 2008 at 09:03
actually, it\\\’s five years most BCs broadcast DRM programs.
BBC and DW can now be received in W.Europe in DRM only.
What BCs should do to make such evidences ?