DAB channel 11a in Flanders

Broadcast Partners wins race to operate commercial rural mux 11A in Flanders.

DAB+ 11A in Flanders

Broadcast Partners will operate the channels for DAB ensemble 11A (commercial multiplex) in Flanders. So far, the license is held by Norkring Belgium. In late 2023, the bidding process was launched by the Flemish Media Regulator (VRM) after which several bids were evaluated based on a beauty contest. VRM, after reviewing the submissions, identified Broadcast Partners’ bid as the best proposal. Effective June 21, the current operator’s license will be transferred to Broadcast Partners. Due to the change of operator, adjustments must be made to the transmission towers. “Preparations are in full swing. Listeners are not expected to be affected by the operator transition.”

Broadcast Partners is also the station operator for commercial stations in Flanders on FM such as Q-Music, Joe and Nostalgie. Also, Broadcast Partners has been managing the DAB network for VRT since 2018.
As a broadcaster, would you like to have your broadcasts heard on DAB+ 11A? If so, please fill out the contact form below so we can get in touch!

About Broadcast Partners

Ever since 1979, Broadcast Partners has been there for all radio stations in the Netherlands and Flanders when it comes to FM and DAB transmitter parks. Winning the race for 11A gives Broadcast Partners another license to manage a major network in Belgium. Broadcast Partners is already active for VRT in Belgium and NPO, Q-Music, Radio 538, 100% NL and many more in the Netherlands, among others. The company with about 70 employees has two offices in the Netherlands; its headquarters in Terneuzen, Zeeland, Flanders, and an office in Hilversum. Many things are taken care of in these offices: monitoring, design, frequency planning, etc. But it also provides software and hardware for radio stations around the world.

If you would like to broadcast on 11A, please contact us.

Access model – DAB+ channel 11A

1. Subject to signing a confidentiality agreement, interested parties will be able to obtain copies of the model access contract and relevant technical documentation. This agreement will also include a clause that the candidates accept the access model and waive any demand or claim following its application by Broadcast Partners.

2. The call will specify the deadline by which interested parties must submit a contracting request to Broadcast Partners, the manner in which they must do so and the minimum information they must communicate. This “window of opportunity” will be open for at least a month.

3. The basic model that Broadcast Partners will apply for allocation of capacity in Channel 11A is that of issuance in order of receipt of applications (“first come, first served“), as this model best reflects actual market demand.

When two or more applications must be deemed to have been submitted at the same time, the order will be determined by drawing lots, under the supervision of a judicial officer or a notary public.

4. If at the expiration of the deadline mentioned in marginal number 2, there are fewer requests for contracting than there is capacity available on channel 11A, Broadcast Partners will enter into negotiations with each of these candidates based on the model access contract.

If these negotiations result in the non-conclusion of an access contract with one or more candidates within the first month after the deadline mentioned in marginal number 2, the free, available capacity on channel 11A will be published on Broadcast Partners’ website and will be negotiated with new candidates who apply within the deadline then specified on the website, in order of receipt of applications, based on the model access contract with the same deadline for closing negotiations with an agreement.

This course of action is repeated as long as there is free, available capacity on channel 11A.

5. If, at the expiration of the deadline mentioned in margin number 2, there are more requests for contract closure than there is capacity available on channels 11A, Broadcast Partners will act as follows.

6. Hypothesis that the number of requests, by a well-defined date exceeds the capacity available on channels 11A.

Broadcast Partners will first conduct negotiations with the Broadcasters currently broadcasting on channel 11A. These broadcasters already have the capacity in use and therefore fall under the “First come, First served” principle, moreover, the broadcasters have been allowed on this channel by the current operator under non-discriminatory conditions. Broadcast Partners is offering these broadcasters the option of a contract based on their current take-up of digital capacity.

If these negotiations lead to the non-conclusion of an access contract with these candidates, given the available capacity, within the three weeks following the expiration of the deadline mentioned in marginal number 2, negotiations will be held with subsequent candidate(s) on the list.

If no access contract is concluded three weeks after the start of these negotiations, negotiations will take place with the next on the list, each time with a time frame of up to three weeks of negotiations. This course of action is repeated until there are no more candidates or no available capacity left.

7. Hypothesis that the number of applications, by a well-defined date is less than available capacity on channel 11A, the free, available capacity, if any, will be negotiated with the other applicants, in order of receipt of applications.

8. If, after the negotiations in the manner described in marginal numbers 2 to 7 as a result of the call referred to in marginal number 1, there is still free, available capacity, this will be reported on the Broadcast Partners website and will be the subject of negotiations with new candidates who apply spontaneously, in order of receipt of applications.