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Germany

Last update: 24.08.2023 - older versions

DAB+ in Germany in the first half of 2023: More use, more variety, more radio
DAB+ radio continued its successful course in the first half of 2023. The use of DAB+ stations is growing, while network expansion continues regionally and nationally. Broadcast launches in Lower Saxony, Saxony and Schleswig-Holstein bring more choice for listeners. According to ma 2023 Audio II, 52 million people use radio services daily (Mon.-Fri.). In the current study published by the Arbeitsgemeinschaft Media-Analyse (agma), DAB+ radio is holding its own with some growth: DAB+ is listened to by 28.6 per cent (ma 2023 Audio I: 28.5 per cent) in the "widest listener group" (WHK) segment. According to agma, it is also the services broadcast nationwide via DAB+ that are recording increases in listener numbers. For example, the "Absolute" radio programmes: With a growth rate of 21.4 per cent in listeners in the average hour, the stations are achieving new record values.

Read the Digitalradio Büro Deutschland press release

 

Launch of second national multiplex

In October 2020, Antenne Deutschland launched a second DAB+ multiplex that will host up to 16 new national commercial radio stations. In addition to distributing its own programs, Antenne Deutschland also plans to offer stations to third parties. The NRJ Group will be also be broadcasting its popular Nostalgie station on the multiplex from January 2020.

DAB+ regulation

According to Germany's Telecoms Law, all new car radios should be capable of receiving digital terrestrial radio from 21th Dec 2020 – as required by the European Electronic Communications Code.

The law also requires all new consumer radios, capable of displaying a station’s name, to be able to receive digital signals (for example, DAB+ or IP) – from the same date. Read the press release on the new German national legislation here

An overview of the status of DAB+ digital radio in Germany is available at www.dabplus.de/sender

Last update: 08.10.2020 - older versions

Digital radio is available in all metropolitan areas. The total coverage (combined coverage of ARD multiplexes and the national multiplex) is 98% of the population.

The 1st level road coverage of the national network is 12,700 km which is equal to 98%.

Detailed information on the network coverage can be found on www.digitalradio.de/empfang.

 

 

Last update: 10.05.2023 - older versions

In this country there are

on air.

An up-to-date overview of the DAB+ digital radio services on air in Germany is available at www.dabplus.de/sender.

Please note:

(a)    These web pages are updated regularly to reflect current services on air, however they may not be exactly up to date.

(b)    The logos shown on these pages are for illustrative purposes only – manufacturers and broadcasters are directed here for information on implementing station logos.

 

 

Simulcast on AM / FM Exclusive on digital Total of services
DAB+ programmes 200 70 270

Last update: 16.02.2022 - older versions

94% of new cars sold equipped with DAB+

In Germany, as of H2 2021, 94% of new cars were sold with digital radio as standard (Source: JATO Dynamics 2022).

Amendment to the Telecommunications Act, Section 48, para. 4 and 5

According to Germany's new national legislation on digital radio, all radios in new cars should be capable of receiving digital terrestrial radio from 21 Dec 2020 – as required by the European Electronic Communications Code. The law also requires all new consumer radios, capable of displaying a station’s name, to be able to receive digital signals (for example,DAB+ or IP) – from the same date.

The new German national legislation with explanatory text is available in English here.

Last update: 04.03.2021 - older versions

Receiver sales and revenues

In 2020, over 1.83 million DAB+ receivers were sold in Germany - this represents a 15.2 percent growth compared to 2019. 

Revenues from DAB+ receiver sales also grew by 13 percent, from €216 million in 2019 to the current record of €244 million in 2020.

As of Q2 2020, cumulative DAB/DAB+ receiver sales stood at 16,623,000 (including line fit automotive).

German Government mandates Digital Interface in most radios 

In September 2019, the German federal parliament reiterated its commitment to DAB+ by passing a revision to its Telecoms Law. The law was approved, and made official in November 2019.

The law requires all new consumer radios, capable of displaying a station’s name, to be able to receive digital signals (for example, DAB+ or IP) – from the same date. The new German national legislation with explanatory text is available in English here.

Initiative Digital Radio Deutschland Product Finder

Overview list of the digital radio receivers available on the German market

 The 2020 Digitisation Report carried out by Die Medienanstalten during IFA 2020 is available here (in German)

Digital Radio Germany's 2020 DAB+ report is available here (in German)

Last update: 18.07.2022 - older versions

There are currently no news available for this section.

Last update: 01.12.2022 - older versions

What about the radio button in the car?

Are audio systems and voice assistants in car user interfaces within the meaning of the State Media Treaty? This question is the subject of a legal opinion commissioned by the Media Authority of North Rhine-Westphalia. On 23 November 2022, the expert opinion by Prof. Dr. Ralf Müller-Terpitz entitled "Rechtliche Einordnung von Audiosystemen und Sprachassistenten mit dem Fokus Auto" (Legal classification of audio systems and voice assistants with a focus on cars) was published and can now be downloaded from the Authority's website.

The conclusion of the expert opinion is that integrated audio systems represent a user interface for linear radio reception in the car. The same applies to the manufacturers' own voice assistants which are responsible for the navigation of the audio system. Thus, car manufacturers fall under the Treaty and must in future comply with the regulations for linear radio reception in the integrated audio system. "The result of the expert opinion is essentially: What looks like a user interface and is operated like a user interface is a user interface. This is good news for radio, for journalism and for users," said Dr. Tobias Schmid, Director of the Landesanstalt für Medien NRW, commenting on the results of the expert opinion.

Read the full press release from Landesanstalt für Medien NRW

 

DAB+ regulation in Germany

In September 2019, the German federal parliament reiterated its commitment to DAB+ by passing a revision to its Telecoms Law.

The law was approved, and made official in November 2019. According to the revised law, all radios in new cars should be capable of receiving digital terrestrial radio from 21st Dec 2020 – as required by the European Electronic Communications Code.

The obligation only applies to new cars, and does not apply to quads, trucks or other vehicles for goods transport. The law also requires all new consumer radios, capable of displaying a station’s name, to be able to receive digital signals (for example, DAB+ or IP) – from the same date.

The new German national legislation with explanatory text is available in English here.

Last update: 08.09.2020 - older versions

The following websites provide information on all available services, the latest marketing and receivers for home and on the move. 

dabplus.de

Rundfunk Forum

DAB+ promotion campaigns

In this 3-minute DAB+ promotional video published by German broadcaster ARD Digital, media personality Anni Dunkelmann explains to consumers the various benefits of DAB+, such as improved sound quality, a wider choice of listening and the ability of certain receivers to show visual displays.  

 

 

YouTube tip: to see video subtitles in your local language, click on the settings icon located at the bottom right of the video,  select settings, then auto translate, then your preferred language option. 

Summer 2019

The German digital radio industry (public and commercial radio) organised a DAB+ promotion week from 13-24 May 2019. Cross-media activities included on-air radio spots, consumer and B2B print advertisements and advertorials, social media and on www.dabplus.de.  The week included also training and promotion within the retail sector. 

Summer 2018

A new German multimedia campaign promoting DAB+ will launch on 27 August, with the slogan "DAB+. Mehr Radio" (DAB+, More Radio) to be branded across TV, radio, print and online. On 30 August, an "Editorial Theme Day" will be held at IFA Berlin by German broadcaster ARD and other commercial radio stations to discuss the benefits of DAB+. The initiative is a collaboration between German broadcaster ARD and other commercial radio stations, as part of a nationwide rebrand of DAB+.

Christmas 2017


Christmas promotion "Give a DAB + Radio"   Starting November 27th, in the four weeks leading up to Christmas, radio and TV spots will once again be broadcasting spots and actions about the DAB + listening experience at ARD, Deutschlandradio, private radio stations and other partners.

 

 

May 2017

ARD and Deutschlandradio started a cross-media nationwide marketing campaign for DAB+ radio from 2 May 2017. The campaign will include radio, television and internet, as well as images for print and online use. DAB+ has also received an eye-catching new logo, with which broadcasters, manufacturers and retailers can promote the new radio standard.

Examples of the implementation of new DAB+ logo can be viewed here:   http://www.digitalradio.de/index.php/de/haendlerbereich. Download the Press Release.

Under the motto "As clear as if I were there", the ARD has a nationwide marketing campaign for DAB+ together with Deutschlandradio and other partners. This includes TV commercials as well as on numerous online channels. In the ARD, with Deutschlandradio and private broadcasters are broadcasting various radio adspots. In addition, there are print and online motifs on the new website www.dabplus.de.

Last update: 08.09.2020 - older versions

There are currently no news available for this section.

35 DAB+ radio stations now receivable on the M-net cable network
01.02.2023 - Germany Germany
Bavaria's leading fibre-optic provider M-net is expanding its radio station offering and doubling the number of stations fed into the cable network via the high-quality DAB+ standard. 35 radio stations can now be received in the best quality via the modern FM successor technology. In 2019, M-net was the first provider in Germany to feed 16 private and public radio stations in the digital DAB+ standard into its Munich cable network. M-net has now expanded the number of DAB+ stations that can be received via the conventional cable sockets in the home by 19 programmes, including mainly Bavarian local radio stations.

(M-net) Read more

Antenne Deutschland continues to expand transmitter network of the second nationwide DAB+ platform
25.01.2023 - Germany Germany
In the next two years, Antenne Deutschland will significantly expand the nationwide transmitter network for reception of the 16 private radio stations via its DAB+ platform. By the end of 2024, the platform operator plans to set up a total of 18 new transmitter locations, so that a total of around 59 million inhabitants in Germany will be able to receive the stations at home. "We are pleased to be able to offer our digital terrestrial radio station services to more than 7 million new listeners for reception at home with the expansion that has now been decided. Mobile reception in the car will also be possible in significantly more areas. Stations of almost all genres are represented in the programme package. The extensive network expansion, which has now been determined together with the broadcasters, is at the same time proof of the increasing importance of DAB+ in their distribution and marketing mix," said Mirko Drenger, CEO of Antenne Deutschland.

(Antenne Deutschland) Read more

DAB+: first tests from the Chemnitz local mux
24.01.2023 - Germany Germany
The launch of the long-planned DAB+ multiplex in Chemnitz is apparently imminent. Listeners report in the "Rundfunkforum" about first tests in the planned channel 5B. On 19 January, the stations Radio UNiCC and egoFM were broadcast from the transmitter tower in Chemnitz-Reichenhain. Network operator Divicon Media had announced the launch of the platform for spring 2023.

(SatelliFax) Read more

75th NDR DAB+ transmitter launching in Papenburg
23.01.2023 - Germany Germany
With the commissioning of another DAB+ transmitter, radio listeners in Papenburg will be able to receive NDR radio programmes in even better quality from 24 January 2023. The new transmitter at NDR's 75th transmitter site serves the region between Surwold, Dörpen, Rhede, Weener and Saterland and can be received on block 10A. The DAB+ programme range continues to include the NDR programmes also broadcast on FM, such as NDR 1 Niedersachsen, NDR 2, NDR Kultur, NDR Info and N-JOY. In addition, NDR Schlager, NDR Blue and NDR Info Spezial can be heard exclusively on digital radio.

(Norddeutscher Rundfunk) Read more

90s90s Radio: Portrait of the new station on the second DAB+ federal mux
17.01.2023 - Germany Germany
Regiocast has taken over the slot previously operated by Sportradio Deutschland on the second DAB+ Bundesmux. The previous offering will be replaced by 90s90s Radio. Since its launch in 2016, 90s90s has been there for everyone who loves the music of the 90s and wants to rediscover it in the here and now: From 90s house to rock to boy bands. The station complements Regiocast's existing national DAB+ portfolio with brands such as Radio Bob! Deutschlands Rockradio, 80s80s Radio and Sunshine Live.

(Digital Fernsehen) Read more

DF interview: Digital radio strategist Carsten Zorger on the future of DAB+
16.01.2023 - Deutschlandradio WorldDAB Member - Germany Germany
Carsten Zorger has been head of the Digital Radio Office Germany, based at Deutschlandradio in Berlin, for over six years. The time under his aegis has certainly been a formative one for the new DAB+ radio standard. In an interview with Digital Fernsehen, however, he looks to the future of radio. "We expect many more stations to be launched in 2023, especially in the north. And because every new car is now delivered with DAB+ radio on board, we are counting on car drivers who want to discover new stations or listen to their favourite programmes in digital quality while driving," said Zorger.

(Digital Fernsehen) Read more

DAB+ in Jasmund and Wittow
16.01.2023 - Germany Germany
NDR radio stations in the north-east of the island of Rügen can be received even better via digital radio DAB+ from 17 January. With the commissioning of another transmitter near Sagard, DAB+ coverage of NDR stations has improved for radio listeners on the Jasmund and Wittow peninsulas. For the most part, they can now also be received there indoors via digital radio, on Block 8B (197.648 MHz). The Baltic resort of Binz and other towns along the Prorer Wiek also benefit from the NDR's new DAB+ transmitter.

(Norddeutscher Rundfunk) Read more

Further details on the second WDR Mux in NRW
13.01.2023 - Germany Germany
As reported, Westdeutscher Rundfunk (WDR) is planning a second DAB+ digital radio multiplex. In response to a SatellliFax enquiry, the ARD broadcaster confirmed the plan and has now announced further details: "The second DAB+ multiplex will cover part of NRW as a conurbation multiplex and supplement the existing first (state-wide) multiplex," it says. "In this way, the regionalisation of WDR 4 can be reflected and the audio quality of the content offered can be increased at the same time". According to WDR, the transmission of private stations is not planned on the second mux.

(SatelliFax) Read more

DAB+: Radio Holiday launched in Berlin on DAB+
12.01.2023 - Germany Germany
Radio Holiday is now also broadcasting in Berlin. The private radio station all about holidays and leisure was switched on via DAB+ on the local multiplex (channel 7B). After North Rhine-Westphalia, Saarland and Thuringia, this is the fourth broadcast area in digital radio. The station also has a licence in Hesse, but is not yet active there via DAB+.

(SatelliFax) Read more

DAB+ coverage on the Upper Moselle improved
11.01.2023 - Germany Germany
Südwestrundfunk (SWR) continues to expand its transmitter network for digital radio reception DAB+. The commissioning of the Palzem site, on Wednesday, 11 January 2023, will improve DAB+ coverage in frequency block (channel) 11A on the Upper Moselle along the B419 and in the area of Palzem, Kreuzweiler, Dilmar, Esingen, Helfant, Wehr and Wincheringen. From Südwestrundfunk, the stations SWR1 Rhineland-Palatinate, SWR2, SWR3, SWR4 Rhineland-Palatinate (with the regional programmes SWR4 Kaiserslautern and SWR4 Koblenz, SWR4 Ludwigshafen, SWR4 Mainz and SWR4 Trier) as well as SWR Aktuell and DASDING can be received.

(Südwestrundfunk) Read more

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Key Information

Status: regular
Population: 83.8 million
Population coverage: Sparkline Graph 98%
Services: 270 DAB+
New cars with DAB/DAB+ as standard: Sparkline Graph 95%
Total Sales (cumulative): 25,800,000 devices
Penetration by household: Sparkline Graph 34%
Last update: 26.02.2024

Useful Links

Intelligent transport systems Action Plan and Directive
Bill of the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy - Fourth Law amending the Telecommunications Act 
The Action Plan for the Transformation of Radio Broadcasting in the Digital Age Roadmap - Progress Report for the Digital Radio Board
dabplus.de
Digitization Report
DAB Technical Forum