The Dutch public broadcasters have chose ... / 2011-11-27

The Dutch public broadcasters have chosen clearly to invest in a DAB+ future but the Dutch commercial broadcasters are mainly concerned with not losing listeners. The association of Dutch commercial broadcasters predicts FM radio will be active for at least the next 20 years.

I guess this is a result of commercial broadcasters being in it for the money: big changes like DAB+ are only interesting to them when there is clearly a business case for it. A higher number of services is not necessarily a good thing: it dilutes the advertising market.

There is an upside for the commercial broadcasters: coverage on DAB+ will be easier eventually. But in those 20 years there will be overlapping coverage between FM and DAB+, and the first time a commercial radio station will advertise having better reception in a region via DAB+ is a long way away. DAB+ radios being standard in cars will help: drivetime radio is very important to commercial broadcasters.

Source article (in Dutch) 'Uitzenden via FM nog twintig jaar - Broadcastmagazine.
More (in Dutch) "DAB had 8 jaar geleden al moeten zijn gestart" - Radio.NL