RTE launches digital radio

RTE today announced details of new digital radio station 2XM, one of four trial stations it’s now testing.
The station promises to provide new music for students and young adults, and is likely to be in direct competition to Dublin indie/alternative station Phantom FM.
2XM will play music from bands like CSS, Broken Social Scene, Editors and Director and will be talk free, without any ads or DJs.
The digital station is DAB-only, which means it is available to anyone living in the Greater Dublin and North East coast area that owns a Digital Audio Broadcasting radio.
Digital radio promises clearer sound, with no need to search for frequencies as DAB radios allow to you select a channel by name. Track details are available on screen the same as on an mp3 player.
Some new DAB radios also allow you to pause and rewind live broadcasts, and most will receive FM radio too.
The other three stations now on trial are RTE Junior (pop radio for children), RTE Gold (classic hits service) and RTE Digital Radio News (rolling news bulletins).
Later this summer two more trial stations will be launched: RTE Digital Radio Sport and RTE Choice, featuring a mix of comedy, documentaries, vintage shows and music.
The six services will remain on public trial until November 2007.