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Last update: 19.07.2024 - older versions

Radio Nacional de España begins DAB+ broadcasts

You can listen to the following broadcasts on DAB+:

- Radio Nacional and Radio 5 in Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia, Seville, Murcia and Bilbao.

- Radio 3 in Valencia, Seville, Murcia and Bilbao.

These broadcasts are in addition to the existing DAB broadcasts of Radio Nacional, Radio Clásica, Radio 3, Radio 5 and Radio Exterior in Madrid and Barcelona.

On a monthly basis, RNE's offer on DAB+ and the coverage of the service will be progressively increased, starting broadcasts in other Spanish cities.

On 19 March 2024, Radio Nacional, Radio 3 and Radio 5 launched on DAB+ in the metropolitan area of Santiago de Compostela. On 18 April 2024, DAB+ broadcasts launched in Pamplona; on 17 May 2024, in Santa Cruz de Tenerife; on 18 June 2024, in Mijas, covering Málaga, Torremolinos, Benalmádena and Fuengirola; and on 18 July 2024, broadcasts started in Mallorca, from Cellnex Telecom's broadcasting centre in Alfàbia.

Once deployed throughout Spain, DAB+ will allow Radio Televisión Española to provide the public radio broadcasting service in the terms currently entrusted to it by law, providing maximum geographical and social coverage, with the best quality and additional services specific to DAB+ and with free-to-air broadcasts and free reception.

Regional DAB+

In January 2020, the regional government in Navarra advertised capacity for six DAB services on a future ensemble for the region, designated FU-Nav. Simultaneously, the regional government advertised a total of 72 DAB licences across 12 ensembles, each of which will have local coverage.

In Mallorca, a multiplex licensed by the Autonomous Government of the Balearic Islands began broadcasting in February 2024, broadcasting four stations from the Serra de Alfabia.

In July 2024, The Govern de les Illes Balears will implement, through DAB+ technology, IB3's digital radio in the first quarter of 2025. The Balearic Islands becomes the first Autonomous Community in which all three radio coverage (local, regional and national) will be offered in DAB+.

Last update: 18.04.2024 - older versions

RNE DAB+ services are on air in Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia, Seville, Murcia, Bilbao, Santiago de Compostela and Pamplona.

These broadcasts join the existing ones on DAB in Madrid and Barcelona.

RNE will increase monthly its content offer and coverage on DAB+ until the end of 2024.

RNE coverage: > 30% population

Rest of national stations: 20% population

Last update: 04.03.2024 - older versions

In this country there are

National multiplexes: 3 Regular

on air.

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.

A total of 18 DAB and 4 DAB+ legal audio services are on air, but enhanced features as text, images or programme guides are not available.

	Simulcast on AM / FM	Exclusive on digital	Total of services
DAB programmes	17	2	19
DAB+ programmes	3	0	3
Total	20	2	22

Last update: 04.03.2024 - older versions

In Spain, 98% of new cars sold in 2023 have DAB+ as standard (Source: JATO Dynamics 2023).

Last update: 04.03.2024 - older versions

Almost a 5% of digital radio receivers sold in retailers includes DAB/DAB+ receiver, although no DAB/DAB+ national promotion has been carried out.

It is estimated that nearly 3 million cars already have a DAB/DAB+ receiver in Spain.

Last update: 21.10.2019 - older versions

Spanish Broadcaster Radio Maria (http://www.radiomaria.es/) started DAB+ test transmissions in Madrid and Barcelona on 2014 December 30th.

This is the first time DAB+ has been used for radio broadcasting in Spain. This DAB/DAB+ network is operated by the Broadcast Network Operator Cellnex Telecom.

Last update: 04.03.2024 - older versions

National station licenses are issued by the central government, while local and regional licenses are the responsibility of the regional government. Licenses are valid for 15 years with an automatic renewal for a further 15 years. Advertising and sponsorship are permitted under the same rules which exist for analogue radio, and data is permitted on up to 20% of multiplex capacity.

Digital Audio Broadcasting is allowed by law in Band III.

There are three layers of services set out by law:

National, with 1 SFN multiplex and 2 MFN multiplexes
Regional (Comunidad Autónoma basis), with 1/3 SFN multiplex (nowadays without transmissions) and 2/3 MFN multiplex (not implemented)
Local, with 237 areas covered by different frequency blocks in Band III

Nowadays, due to the entry into force of the Digitalization Plan for Terrestrial Broadcasting, DAB services are on air only to cover a 20% of the Spanish population (Madrid and Barcelona including their metropolitan areas). It is the minimum population coverage required by the current National Technical Plan for Digital Audio Broadcasting.

RNE is providing DAB+ services covering a percentage of the population above that minimum.

Audio: "In less than three: The identity of radio"

15.03.2024 - RTVE WorldDAB Member - Spain

"The other day I was at an event where many people said that the future of radio is that its content will end up exclusively on large third-party platforms. And it must have given them a great deal of satisfaction, because there is nothing like a renewal of votes for great and much-applauded nonsense. But no major radio broadcaster in the world is giving back its broadcasting licences to place its content offer exclusively on third party platforms. Among other things, because there seems to be nothing worse than ending up as something with no personality and hardly recognisable, with your content offer diluted among audio products of all kinds. But yes, there may be something worse: that radio loses its identity as a medium, which is what has brought it this far over the last hundred-odd years."

(RTVE audio) Read more

RTVE Director Castillejo calls for national plan for digital radio

11.03.2024 - RTVE WorldDAB Member - Spain

English text of the speech by Ángel García Castillejo, RTVE's Director of Audiovisual Policies, Public Service and International, at the launch of DAB+ broadcasts in Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia, Seville, Murcia and Bilbao on World Radio Day, 13 February 2024. "If we are not able to offer the DAB+ service, they are not going to come to the radio. If we are not able to take those steps, radio will disappear. There are no more excuses," he says. "We need, and I believe that this is the challenge where the whole radio sector has a common denominator, a new national technical plan for digital radio, where we can somehow redress the mistakes made in the past and where the whole radio sector feels comfortable to evolve to this new offer that is closer and more appropriate to the reality that our listeners, the Spanish citizens, are demanding of us today."

(RTVE) Read more

"We have no intention of going it alone in extending DAB+".

05.03.2024 - RTVE WorldDAB Member - Spain

Gorka Zumeta writes: Last World Radio Day was the date chosen by Radio Nacional de España, the public radio station, to switch on its DAB+ broadcasts. On that day, Ángel García Castillejo's words closed the speeches at the event. Due to their special interest and relevance, we consider it important to share them. "If we are not capable of offering new and innovative content in the DAB+ service that attracts those sectors that, if we do not offer them what they want to hear, will not come to radio and will go to other areas, then let's not fool ourselves, radio will disappear. I insist: there is no more room for excuses... we have the obligation, as National Radio of Spain, as providers of public service broadcast radio and as members of the radio family, to walk this path of Digital Terrestrial Radio, with everyone. We have no intention of going into this process alone."

(Gorka Zumeta) Read more

10 facts about DAB+ in Spain (part 2)

04.03.2024 - Spain

Gorka Zumeta continues his analysis of strengths and weaknesses of Digital Terrestrial Radio after the start of RNE broadcasts. "What has changed to revive Digital Terrestrial Radio in Spain? Undoubtedly the European Directive that obliged new vehicles marketed in Europe from 20 December 2020 to have a radio receiver as standard that would pick up the DAB and DAB+ signal. Four years later, according to ANFAC data used by RNE, we are in a position to state that this spring the car (and digital radio) fleet will reach three million receivers. And at this rate it is possible to find five million in a couple of years."

(Gorka Zumeta) Read more

VIDEO: Radio Nacional de España starts DAB+ broadcasts

01.03.2024 - RTVE WorldDAB Member - Spain

To coincide with the celebration of World Radio Day and the centenary year of radio in Spain, Radio Nacional de España has started digital radio broadcasts in DAB+ together with Cellnex Telecom on 13 February 2024, with the firm intention of deploying this digital radio standard in the country, which is set to replace FM in the long term. (Registration required for video)

(RTVE) Read more

10 facts about DAB+ in Spain

26.02.2024 - Spain

Gorka Zumeta writes: DAB+ is here, now what? In the following lines, we analyse the reality surrounding DAB+ in Spain. Radio Nacional de España announced on 13 February, World Radio Day, that it was launching DAB+ broadcasts in Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia, Seville, Murcia and Bilbao. In principle, only RNE (formerly Radio Uno), Radio 3 and Radio 5 Todo Noticias. Radio Clásica, Ràdio 4 (in Catalonia) and Radio Exterior de España (which does broadcast on DAB) are left out for the time being. Little by little, public radio will gradually bring its digital broadcasts to other cities in Spain, subject to the corresponding announcement. At the same time, the Government of Navarra has granted its first 19 DAB stations with local coverage.

(Gorka Zumeta) Read more

Government of Navarre awards first 19 local DAB licences

22.02.2024 - Spain

The Government of Navarre has awarded the first 19 digital radio licences (digital audio broadcasting or DAB) in the Autonomous Community of Navarre, after the Evaluation Committee made public the evaluation of the 45 proposals received. The 19 licences will be distributed in the following locations: Pamplona / Iruña (5 licences), Altsasu / Alsasua (2), Baztan (2), Estella - Lizarra (2), Larraun (2), Lesaka (2), Tudela (2), Sangüesa / Zangoza (1) and Tafalla (1). The largest number of licences was obtained by Abian Media S.L., with licences in the nine areas in which licences will be awarded.

(Government of Navarre) Read more

The example of British radio: the strongest and most profitable in Europe

22.02.2024 - Spain - United Kingdom

Gorka Zumeta writes: The obvious delay in the introduction of Digital Terrestrial Radio in Spain gives us a competitive advantage over those who have been working with it for years: we know, without taking any risks, the rights and wrongs. While British radio must now migrate from DAB to DAB+, in the case of Spain, we should start the new expansion, practically from scratch, with the DAB+ standard, forgetting the remains of DAB (Madrid and Barcelona). The most notable success of British radio repeats the story of the arrival of FM: new stations, mainly music stations, which have brought the younger audience into radio, so that listeners and also commercial radio revenues have increased.

(Gorka Zumeta) Read more

RNE makes DAB+ launch official

15.02.2024 - RTVE WorldDAB Member - Spain

On World Radio Day 2024, Spanish radio listeners in six cities can begin turning in to the future of radio in the country. In line with plans announced in December, Spanish public-service broadcaster RTVE threw a symbolic switch at the Torrespaña to officially launch new DAB+ services. Starting 13 February, listeners in Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia, Seville, Murcia, and Bilbao can now tune DAB+ broadcasts of Radio Nacional and Radio 5, as well as Radio 3 in Valencia, Seville, Murcia and Bilbao. The new DAB+ channels join RTVE’s existing DAB broadcasts from Radio Nacional, Radio Clásica, Radio 3, Radio 5 and Radio Exterior in Madrid and Barcelona. Additional DAB+ services are slated to launch in other cities across Spain on a monthly basis, according to a RTVE announcement.

(Radio World) Read more

Radio Nacional de España begins DAB+ broadcasts

15.02.2024 - RTVE WorldDAB Member - Spain

Coinciding with the celebration of World Radio Day and the centenary year of radio in Spain, Radio Nacional de España has started digital radio broadcasts in DAB+ together with Cellnex Telecom on 13 February 2024, with the firm intention of deploying this digital radio standard in our country, which is set to replace FM in the long term. This Tuesday saw the symbolic 'switch-on' of DAB+ at an information day in Torrespaña inaugurated by Verónica Ollé Sesé, Director of the Office of the President of RTVE: "We are looking to Europe, learning from the experience accumulated by our neighbours over the last few years, and committing to a technology that helps to guarantee the provision of this public radio service, with a vocation for universality, in the open, for everyone and everywhere, with no exclusions", she pointed out.

(RTVE) Read more