DRM (Digital Radio Mondiale) offers broadcasters the opportunity to reach audiences on an international level.

“Broadcasting a radio service from Malta into the heart of Europe would provide a useful information facility and will also ensure that the Maltese national voice and cultural identity could be heard by fellow Europeans”.

“The service would widen awareness of Malta as a business, holiday and cultural destination. A Maltese English radio service (‘secondary channel’) into the heart of Europe would help fuel Malta’s tourism industry as well as inciting visits from those foreign to the country”.

FM broadcasting is slowly moving towards DAB standard, but coverage is limited.

The implementation of digital on ITU allocated frequencies on AM (long, medium and shortwave) will mean that broadcasters will reach high audiences with a sound quality close to FM.

Digital radio offers many advantages to potential international broadcasters.

Whilst BBC World Service and Germany's international broadcaster Deutsche Welle have announced plans to launch a joint radio service to Europe on DRM Shortwave, we feel there is a business opportunity to create a commercial popular English language service for Europeans.

DRM (Digital Radio Mondiale) uses the existing AM broadcast frequency bands and is designed to fit in with the existing AM broadcast band plan, based on signals of 9 kHz or10 kHz bandwidth. It also has modes requiring only 4.5 kHz or 5 kHz bandwidth, and modes that can take advantage of wider bandwidths - 18 kHz or 20 kHz - allowing DRM to operate alongside AM transmissions in every market of the world.

DRM Broadcasting from Malta into Europe
(Prime ABC are official supporters of the DRM Consortium (http://www.drm.org/))

Our current DRM pitch to the Malta Communications Authority (http://www.mca.org.mt/) and The Malta Broadcasting Authority (http://www.ba-malta.org/home) is with a view to transmitting from Delimara.

“By basing our transmission and broadcast operation in Malta we would actively seek to employ Maltese residents, bring business investment into the country and create significant media, business and tourism interest to the islands from a broad-ranging audience and international commercial participation”.

“As we would be using a frequency allocated to Malta under the ITU agreement we would seek to negotiate a licence arrangement with the Malta Communications Authority for transmission and the Broadcasting Authority Malta for matters in relation to editorial regulation. We would also plan to work closely with Maltese planning, government agencies, departments and NGOs in relation to this project”.

“We feel the estimated regulatory fees built into the preliminary financials are fair and practical bearing the mind the start-up status of the business and technology as well as incalculable business and tourism value this company will bring to the country. We look forward to positive discussions and to the prospect of working with the Broadcasting Authority Malta and the Malta Communications Authority”.

Objectives for DRM Broadcasting – Europe

It is our intention to provide the best possible international digital broadcast service in English to the broadest audience range of Europeans and visitors to Europe. In so doing we have drawn up a realistic plan for setting up a business to fulfil these aspirations from an editorial and technical point of view.

Prime ABC will own and operate the transmission infrastructure and buildings as well as the broadcast studio facilities. The overall system will be known as ‘Prime ABC’ although station marketing to the consumer will be linked and identified with the station on-air name.

Transmission (Licensed by the Malta Communications Authority):

DRM transmission on a single currently available ITU MF frequency allocated to Malta.

Good technical quality stereo and/or mono audio to as much of continental Europe as possible achieving highest audience levels and therefore substantial commercial revenue.

Channels (Licensed by the Broadcasting Authority Malta):

We currently anticipate a capacity of two international digital broadcast stations:

01. Radio Europe (‘primary channel’). Owned and operated by Prime ABC. Full news, information, business and leisure service for Europeans living in Europe and visitors to the continent. Licensed by the Broadcasting Authority Malta.

02. Malta Europe Radio (working title) (‘secondary channel’). Franchised by Prime ABC to an independent business. Preferably a station reflecting life in Malta and promoting Maltese interests into the heart of Europe.

Consumer Target:

01. Capital and large populated cities and towns of countries across Europe.

02. European and visiting car drivers, travellers by rail and sea, listeners at home, in hotels and business establishments.

03. Prime ABC channels and programme services will be simulcast online and made available by arrangement for rebroadcast in whole or part on other transmission platforms worldwide.