A system and method for estimating sample clock frequency offset (εs) in a digital radio mondiale (DRM) system such as, for example, DRM receivers. The system and method includes using a relationship given by the following equation: ɛ s = linearfit ( angle ⁢ ( P G m P G ⁢ _ ⁢ tr m P G m ⁢ - ⁢ cycle P G ⁢ _ ⁢ tr m ⁢ - ⁢ cycle ) , l ) × N 2 ⁢ π × cycle × ( N + L ) wherein the PGm is the gain pilot received in the mth symbol and PG—trm is the gain pilot transmitted in the mth symbol, the PGm-cycle is the gain pilot received in (m-cycle)th symbol, the PG—trm-cycle is the second gain pilot transmitted in (m-cycle)th symbol, the l is the index of the sub-carrier associated with the gain pilot, the N is a factor of a sample point number of a useful symbol, the L is a sample point number of a guard interval, and the cycle is the interval of two symbols which are inserted gain pilots at the same sub-carriers (l).