Abstract

Radio broadcasting has been present in our lives for over 100 years. The transmission of speech and music signals accompanies us from an early age. Broadcasts provide the latest information from home and abroad. They also shape musical tastes and allow many artists to share their creativity. Modern distribution involves transmission over a number of terrestrial systems. The most popular are analog FM (Frequency Modulation) and digital DAB+ (Digital Audio Broadcasting plus). It is worth mentioning that the same content is delivered simultaneously in several techniques, referred to as simulcasting. In addition, the vast majority of radio stations broadcast the same audio content online as well. Their signals are available through dedicated mobile applications for popular mobile devices running the Android or iOS operating system. In turn, other broadcasters offer content through their own website or third-party services associating several radio programs. Such a situation may be observed both on the local (regional) and national (state) market all around the world in America, Europe, Asia, etc. When it comes to terrestrial radio, contrary to analog FM broadcasting, digital signals are grouped into a set, referred to as the multiplex ensemble. It should be emphasized that the costs associated with regular broadcasting of radio programs are much lower in case of the digital standard. The entire process and fees related to the collection and processing of audio signals and associated additional data, as well as the formation and emission of the multiplex collective signal, can be distributed among several or even a dozen shareholders. The total net bitrate can be flexibly distributed depending on the broadcaster’s profile and target audience, played music genre, etc., according to the established needs. Another approach related to the digital broadcasting of radio signals is the on-demand availability of content in the form of the so-called podcast. The listener is able to choose a previously recorded material through the web browser or a mobile application. Considering the number of available radio programs and the broad range of content they create, this form seems perfectly justified. In case of broadcasting radio programs online, referred to as streaming, speech and music signals and associated multimedia (e.g., album cover, author information, etc.) are available live in real-time. Of course, the transmission medium is different.

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