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Norway Is Set To Become The First Country To Get Rid Of FM Radio

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Radio is changing around the world, with the move to digital speeding up. Nowhere is that more apparent than Norway, where new formats are quickly becoming king.

This week, Radio.no, a site that reports on all things radio-related in Norway, has confirmed (via the Ministry of Culture) that the country will be the first to shut down FM radio for good. This does not signify the end of radio, but perhaps radio as we know it. Norway is not going to be the first nation to do away with radio entirely, instead moving to a digital format.

The government of Norway has been talking about making this transition for years already, and after careful consideration of all that goes into switching formats, they have now decided on a date. By January 11th, 2017, the format will start being phased out, starting in one area and hitting every transmitting tower by the end of the year. This gives those companies involved in the industry about two years to get their affairs in order.

The new format, called DAB (Digital Audio Broadcasting) has actually been around in Norway for twenty years. Since then, an updated, more advanced version called DAB+ has also emerged, so making the switch isn’t coming as much of a surprise to anyone in the country.

According to the ministry that made the announcement (via The Verge), this is going to make radio much better for everyone involved, including the stations broadcasting. Transmitting on DAB is many times cheaper than on FM radio, which will allow new stations to emerge and smaller ones to survive. The format is also of a higher quality, which should please true audiophiles.

Norway is only the first nation to formally announce a set date for the end of FM radio, but they are by no means the only country mulling the idea over. Other nations around the world might move forward with the plan now that one entity has stepped forward and is leading the charge.

While it won’t likely be a huge problem for broadcasters to make the switch, infrastructure in the country still has a little ways to go before everyone is ready for the change. Radio.no reports that while 56% or Norwegian radio listeners tune into a DAB station once a day, only 20% of privately-owned autos come equipped with a DAB-ready radio. Two years from now, listening to the radio in the car or home in Norway may prove to be difficult for some.