25 Years of ProFM: Our Story in Parts

Part 4: Agility, Innovation, and the Broadcast Horizon

After years of enormous growth and the move to the Gouwepark, a period began that truly put our agility as a company to the test. It was precisely during moments of crisis that we demonstrated that ProFM Broadcast is not just a supplier, but a partner that thinks proactively and leads the way.

Agility During the Crisis

When the banking crisis broke out and global trade came to a standstill, we knew: we had to rethink. Instead of holding on to a building that was too large, we decided to return to the core. We moved to a more compact, efficient building closer to home. In hindsight, this was the best decision ever. It gave us the financial stability and focus to remain flexible. Here, too, we built a beautiful demo studio, because as a customer, you need to be able to experience the ‘radio feeling’.

Pioneering with DAB+ and Radio 182

While the world changed, we continued to pioneer technically. We participated in one of the first trials for DAB in the Netherlands and built our own DAB transmitter for this purpose. To truly bring this trial to life, we launched our own local station: Radio 182. This station is still on the air via AM and the internet to this day, and in 2020 we officially and professionally transitioned to DAB+.

Innovation during the Pandemic

When the corona period arrived, we had to shift gears again. Because everything shut down, there was an enormous need for remote communication. We developed our special “event transmitter packages.” Thanks to these FM transmitters, funerals, weddings, and drive-in events could still go ahead. It proved to be a gap in the market and ensured that we came through this difficult time strong. During that same period, we also continued to innovate in terms of products, such as with our own designed signaling box for microphone arms: an affordable and professional solution that we developed in-house.

The Circle Is Complete: RTW Radio Waddinxveen

One of the finest projects of recent years was the new studio for local radiostation RTW. This is where my own roots lie; I started there as a young programme maker in 1987. The fact that we were able to handle their complete relocation and the realization of the new studio and technical space, almost 40 years later, felt like the ultimate crowning achievement of our work.

Looking to the Future

Today, we are a modern organization with a revamped website, chat functions via WhatsApp, and top brands such as Angry Audio and Aqua in our range. We notice that customers have a need for convenience, which is why we now also offer ready-made studio and transmitter packages for the less technically savvy radio maker.

The future of broadcasting will continue to change. We see how local broadcasters are merging into regional broadcasters. Much nostalgia will disappear, but more professionalism is also emerging. Whether DAB+ will completely replace FM, or whether FM will remain as a safe haven in this uncertain world, is something we will experience together. Whatever happens: ProFM Broadcast is following it closely and will continue to adapt the technology to the years to come.

Thank you for being with us the last years…Here’s to the next 25 years!