The end of FM broadcasting in Europe

While the transition to digital radio (DAB+) was supposed to seal the fate of our good old FM band by 2025–2026, reality on the ground is forcing European governments to revise their plans. Caught between driver resistance, public safety imperatives, and spectacular U-turns, FM radio refuses to die.

At the dawn of the 2020s, the roadmap seemed clear: frequency modulation (FM), introduced in the 1950s, was destined to suffer the same fate as analog television and fade away permanently in favor of DAB+ (Digital Audio Broadcasting). More frequencies, better sound quality, no interference on the move—there was no shortage of technical arguments. Yet, in 2026, it is clear that the "black screen" moment for FM radio will not happen anytime soon.

The Swiss Fiasco: The Wake-Up Call That Changed Everything

For years, Norway stood as a pioneer—and an exception—by shutting down its national FM transmitters as early as 2017. The second country scheduled to take the leap was Switzerland. In fact, the Swiss Broadcasting Corporation (SRG SSR) took the plunge at the end of 2024 by cutting the signal of its public stations.

The result? A textbook case for European regulators. Faced with a sharp drop in overall listenership (estimated at over 15% in just a few months) and a backlash from drivers and private radio stations, the Swiss Parliament had to intervene urgently at the end of 2025.

The outcome: a historic about-face and a vote extending FM broadcasting until 2031, forcing the public broadcaster to plug its transmitters back in.

France and Belgium: The Strategy of Prolonged Coexistence

This Swiss warning cooled the enthusiasm of neighboring countries, which are now opting for caution.

In France: Arcom (the media regulator) is maintaining its course for the rollout of DAB+ but refuses to rush users. The current strategy relies on "simulcast" (dual broadcasting). No shutdown of FM is seriously being considered before the 2028–2033 window.

In Belgium: While the digital transition is progressing, Flanders and Wallonia have also pushed back their deadlines, aiming for the early 2030s for a potential abandonment of the analog signal. However, this remains conditional on a household equipment rate close to 90%.

The Three Pillars of FM Resistance

Why is a 70-year-old technology resisting the digital wave so successfully? Three main factors explain this status quo:

1. The Fleet Renewal Bottleneck

Even though 100% of new cars rolling off factory lines today come equipped with DAB+ chips, it will take years for the used car fleet to turn over. Depriving millions of drivers of traffic updates or music without them purchasing a third-party adapter remains a politically and economically sensitive decision.

2. The Economic Model of Local Radio

For small community or local stations, dual broadcasting (broadcasting on FM while simultaneously paying for transmission on a DAB+ multiplex) represents a suffocating financial burden. Prematurely shutting down FM would directly threaten the survival of this local media fabric.

3. The Ultimate Civil Safety Argument

In times of major crises (wars, cyberattacks, massive power outages), FM remains the most resilient network. A powerful FM transmitter can cover a vast territory with simple infrastructure, and any battery-powered radio (or smartphone using headphones as an antenna) can pick up the signal without depending on an internet network or complex digital protocols.

The Key Figure: 2031

This is now the realistic horizon shared by the majority of European countries to consider, at the earliest, a definitive transition to all-digital.

Toward an Invisible Transition

The death of FM will not happen overnight with a grand finale, but rather through slow erosion. As listening habits naturally shift toward DAB+ and streaming (4G/5G), and old receivers eventually end up at the recycling center, FM will fade out on its own, quietly. Until then, drivers and transistor purists can rest easy: the 87.5 - 108 MHz band still has bright days ahead.