Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Gérard Koopal, who writes:
Dear Thomas,
The Mighty KBC has left their DAB+ frequency in the Netherlands and are now changing to MW 891 kHz. from September 1.
The original text From the Mighty KBC is below.
Gérard Koopal
Almere, The Netherlands
The Mighty KBC
August 31, 2024!!!
Today is the last day for The Mighty KBC on DAB+.
Because we have our headquarters outside the EU, we have been refused a license extension, despite the fact that we have been broadcasting on DAB+ for almost 10 years and pay all taxes here.
But from December 1, KBC Radio will be heard on AM 891 kHz.
Just enjoy today:
10:00 – 11:00 The Salty Hour – Marc van Amstel & Bob van Beeten
2:00 PM – 3:00 PM The last hour of Veronica and the North Sea
3:00 PM – 4:00 PM The Salty Hour – Marc van Amstel & Bob van Beeten (repeat)
6:00 PM – 7:00 PM Wind force 6 to 7 – Music from the time of the offshore radio stations
https://www.kbcradio.nl/2020/radio.html
Enjoy real radio!
KBC Radio, Your Hits, Your Station!
Where is the transmitter located? Good am antenna?
Huissen, The Netherlands
https://www.mwlist.org/mwlist_quick_and_easy.php?area=1&kHz=891
Here is the text why we were refused:
Statutory status
the applicant is a legal entity established in accordance with the law of one of the Member States
of the European Union or one of the other States party to the Agreement on the European
Economic Area and has its registered office, central administration or principal place of business within the
European Economic Area.
I’d like to know what radio that is pictured in the photo above the post. Thanking all ya’ all in advance. Appreciate any info. N2ZNQ
Stan –
the radio in the photo is the Radio Shack Model 20-629
DAB+ is crap anyway. Poor codec quality, poor range. frequent buffering and receivers that are hit and miss.
AM is still king for reliability and greater range. Going back to AM will give them a bigger audience.
https://www.kbcradio.eu/index.php?dir=news
They have HF broadcasts which are continuing and now MF broadcasts both in AM.
What a downgrade in sound quality, but they weren’t given an option.
KBC ha capito le potenzialità delle onde medie ed ha scelto di usare questa banda per farsi ascoltare. Siamo sicuri che la radio DAB con le sue leggi e regole sia usata in modo democratico e accessibile a tutti? Dopo 10 anni di concessione si accorgono di tale situazione? Le onde medie e corte permettono di evitare ciò e pertanto non gradita ai nuovi monopolisti dell’ etere. Ottima scelta da parte di KBC.
Don’t you find it strange that a DAB+ frequency is refused but MW is granted?
Gerard,
The reason they were refused a licence is that the owners of the station are not from the licensor country.. This is a political/ competition issue.
The drop in sound quality will be quite noticeable.
https://www.kbcradio.eu/index.php?dir=news/detail&id=497 shows that their program is broadcast on HF (Short Wave) from the USA. Be quick because the website is soon to disappear.
https://www.worlddab.org/news/14442/new-local-dab+-licences-bring-changes-to-the-airwaves gives more meaning.
Another reason is that none of the broadcasters want AM. There are millions of DAB+/FM radios in Europe that don’t receive AM. Also AM radio costs a lot more to run as DAB+ broadcasters can share costs for a single transmitter at least 18 ways.
So the “another reason” why KBC is going back to AM is that “none of the broadcasters want AM”? Doesn’t make much sense if you ask me.
As for the receivers, they have been on the market for a century, it’s not really difficult to get one.
Moreover, I have a serious doubt about your claim that “the reason they were refused a licence is that the owners of the station are not from the licensor country” because in fact they have a company registered in the Netherlands. Moreover, one of the stations available via DAB+ in the Netherlands (with much greater coverage compared to KBC) is the BBC World Service, which undoubtedly does not come from the Netherlands, yet was not taken off the air.
Is there a regulation in place in the Netherlands that prohibits foreign stations from broadcasting? Is KBC considered a foreign one? Could you provide some additional background on that matter?