Paris - Dec 11, 2007 - On Dec. 5, French Minister of Culture Christine Albanel signed a decree to confirm the adoption of Digital Radio Mondiale (DRM) and Terrestrial Digital Multimedia Broadcasting (T-DMB) in Band III and in the L-band as the digital radio standards in France. The adoption of DRM in France is the result of long-term experiments and discussions conducted with or under the scrutiny of the regulatory and governmental bodies. The statements of industry ministers along the past years have paved the way for the decision made by the Minister of Culture and Communication. Both T-DMB and the DRM standard were named as driving technologies.

The DRM and T-DMB adoption will boost the commercial launch of digital radio in France, scheduled for next year. Early in 2008, the Conseil Superieur de l'Audiovisuel (CSA) will invite tenders for radio stations and program editors to broadcast digital radio. The first digital radio programs are expected to be on air in France in the last quarter of 2008.