Broadcasters’ Urgent Call: Keep radio in cars
Paris (Feb 13) - On World Radio Day 2024, UNESCO and broadcast organizations worldwide are issuing call to technology and automotive industries that radio remains available in cars.
The rise of electric vehicles has led to the design of future automobile models without built-in broadcast radio, favouring internet-connected features instead. However, a significant portion of radio listening takes place in cars, where people rely on it for breaking news, traffic updates, weather forecasts, entertainment and crucially, emergency information.
Radio is particularly robust in crisis. In emergency situations private vehicles are normally part of the solution keeping its occupants safe and informed when broadband is jammed, and electricity is cut.
“Radio has its place in the digital transformation of the information ecosystem, complementing the internet and digital platforms. The evolution of communication technologies should advance people’s right to receive information and ideas through any media – instead of regressing it,” the joint statement asserts.
Given the scale of manufacturing, the exclusion of radio from vehicles would limit people’s access to information solely to online platforms.
“We call upon governments, regulatory bodies, the technology and automotive industries, and all members of the global radio community to put safeguards in place to ensure that radio continues to thrive; to protect the free and unfettered access radio provides to a plurality of opinions and to trusted information” the communiqué states.
The signatories of this joint call include:
- AER – Association of European Radios
- AMARC International – World Association of Community Radio Broadcasters
- ASBU – Arab States Broadcasting Union
- Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union
- Caribbean Broadcasting Union
- EBU – European Broadcasting Union
- EGTA - egta: association of television and radio sales houses
- PMA - Public Media Alliance
- UNESCO - The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
- URTI – International Radio and Television Union
- World DAB
- World Radio Alliance
