Photo via Pixabay.
Norway will eliminate its FM radio broadcasting this year, becoming the first country in the world to do so.According to Reuters and the Chicago Tribune, the shutdown begins on Wednesday in the town of Bodoe and by the end of the year, all FM broadcasts in the country will be replaced with Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB) transmissions. The new transmissions offer better sound quality and reportedly cost 8 times less than FM broadcasting."Radio digitization will open the door to a far greater range of radio channels, benefiting listeners across the country," said then-Minister of Culture Thorhild Widvey in a statement in 2015. "Listeners will have access to more diverse and pluralistic radio content, and enjoy better sound quality and new functionality."Sixty-six percent of Norwegians polled by the daily newspaper Dagbladet do not support the switch from FM to DAB. Only 20% of cars have DAB radio systems and most Norwegians will need to purchase an adapter for 1,500 Norwegian crowns ($174.70) to utilize the new transmission system.Norway will not be the only country to begin eliminating FM radio broadcasting. According to Reuters, Switzerland will also switch from FM by 2020.