Germany

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

• National multiplexes: 2 Regular
• Regional multiplexes: 50 Regular
• Local multiplexes: 8 Regular

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.

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: 20.08.2024 - older versions

WorldDAB and Digitalradio Deutschland e.V. proudly announce the launch of the "Automatic Safety Alert (ASA)" system after two years of intensive collaboration. This pioneering innovation in DAB+ digital radio technology aims to protect the public during emergencies by delivering reliable safety alerts without requiring an internet connection.

Benefits for listeners

Listeners will benefit from a system that alerts them even if mobile or internet connections are disrupted. ASA operates automatically in the background, can be regionally adjusted for the location, and boasts high resilience thanks to the robust DAB+ radio transmission network. The new standard will be published globally shortly, with initial tests scheduled for the IFA Berlin and the nationwide Warntag in Germany in September. By mid-2025, new generations of DAB+ radios will support the ASA standard. 

Jacqueline Bierhorst, President, WorldDAB said: “Radio is consistently named as one of the most trusted media around the world. It’s also rightly recognised for its critical role in times of crisis. Now, with this important digital innovation, DAB+ is future proofing this, offering listeners the reassurance of receiving Automatic Safety Alerts, tailored to their location.”

Collaboration of public and private organisations

Public and private radio broadcasters, device manufacturers, and German safety authorities such as the Federal Office of Civil Protection and Disaster Assistance (BBK) have joined forces to create a critical component for crisis communication using DAB+ digital radio. With powerful transmitters covering large distances, DAB+ can send regionalised warnings, ensuring people in affected areas receive timely and accurate alerts.

The catastrophic flood in the Ahr Valley three years ago, which resulted in numerous fatalities, spurred this development in Germany. Given the current global instability and climate change, ASA holds significant international importance as DAB+ is available in around 70 percent of Europe. ASA allows radio broadcasters worldwide to enhance the safety of their listeners.

Enhanced warning clarity

Additional text and image information accompanying spoken alert messages make warnings clearer and more understandable for affected individuals. International standardisation and resource-efficient programming further ensure the system's future viability on a global scale.

ASA functionality

• Alerts: Spoken alert messages convey all relevant information about the emergency.
• Wake-up Function: Radios can be activated by DAB+ signals, crucial for future generations of radio alarm clocks.
• Switch Function: Receivers analyse references to alerts on other radio stations, increasing the flexibility and reach of warnings.
• Location Codes: The DAB+ signal indicates warning areas accurately, ensuring only those in affected regions are notified.
• Synchronisation: Wake-up cycles are very short, reducing power consumption and conserving battery power for portable receivers. Synchronisation with the radio signal ensures that all devices activate simultaneously and receive alerts concurrently.

Hardware development

WorldDAB, Digitalradio Deutschland e.V., and chip manufacturer Frontier Smart Technologies are working closely with manufacturers such as TechniSat and JVCKenwood to bring ASA-compatible devices to market, via their Siena Pro module and Kino 4 Pro chip with a new software SDK version.

With the standard's release, all DAB+ radio manufacturers worldwide are encouraged to integrate ASA into their product lines to ensure public safety through a wide range of brands. Frontier Smart Technologies have announced that the production version of ASA-compatible solutions will be available in Q4, enabling manufacturers to offer new devices to the market next summer. Other chip manufacturers are expected to follow suit.

Certification and ASA brand logo

To save lives, certification of new devices is mandatory. Digitalradio Deutschland e.V. and WorldDAB have developed a certification scheme for hardware manufacturers, based on the well-known "Digital Radio Tick Mark," which additionally tests typical ASA scenarios such as waking from standby and evaluation of location codes. An internationally recognised testing lab will ensure compliance with the standard. The ASA logo, found on certified device packaging and radios, highlights the consumer benefits and builds trust in the technology. The ASA brand logo is a registered trademark with the EUIPO for the EU, UK, and Switzerland.

IFA Berlin and Warning Day in Germany

Frontier Smart Technologies will present an initial platform test of ASA for B2B customers and the device industry at the upcoming IFA in Berlin (6-10 September). The exhibition will demonstrate how the new functions can be integrated into future generations of devices. On the nationwide Warntag (Warning Day) in Germany on 12 September, public and private radio broadcasters, in collaboration with Fraunhofer IIS, will conduct the first tests based on the ASA standard with selected devices.

Details of the new DAB+ ASA standard

The new specification for ASA "Automatic Safety Alert" via DAB+ is expected to be standardised globally by ETSI in September. ETSI, the European Telecommunications Standards Institute, develops international standards for telecommunications and digital technologies, ensuring global compatibility and safety of devices and systems.

• ASA is standardised as ETSI TS 104 090 "Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB); Emergency Warning System (EWS); Minimum requirements and test specifications for receivers."
• The corresponding system definition is ETSI TS 104 089 "Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB); Emergency Warning System (EWS); Definition and rules of behaviour."