The Digital Radio Mondiale (DRM) consortium has succeeded in running live DRM transmissions from the BBC Thailand relay station to China, writes Barbara Marshall
The trials were part of a demonstration held two weeks ago at the Euro China Cooperation Forum in Beijing. Conducted by DRM partners BBC World Service, Merlin Communications and Thales, the trials pave the way for the mass adoption of DRM technology, including the transfer of BBC World Service broadcasts from analogue AM to digital.DRM is a consortium of leading broadcasters, equipment manufacturers and network operators who joined together in Gangzhou, China in 1998 to create a universal, digital system (also called DRM) for the broadcasting bands below 30 MHz.DRM, which will launch in 2003, is the only non-proprietary digital AM system for short, medium and long wave with the ability to use existing frequencies and bandwidth across the globe.Merlin and Thales engineers have converted the new BBC Thales TSW 2250 transmitter in Thailand to DRM capability. Short-wave test transmissions, involving live audio and multimedia programming, have been aimed at China since 15 April.Merlin's programme manager for digitalisation Peter Gordon said: 'Conversion of the Thailand transmitter and demonstration of high quality DRM short wave in Beijing are critical steps for visibility of the DRM system.'

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