News

In the latest of this year's series of short interviews with WorldDAB members exhibiting at IBC2025, Carlo Perotta, Sales & Business Development, Aldena, says they will unveil several exciting innovations, including the WOLRD’s first FM+DAB multiband antenna. Aldena is a leading Italian company with over 45 years of experience in the design and manufacturing of professional broadcast antennas and RF systems for broadcast (DAB+, FM, TV) and telecommunication services.

Metropol FM has been broadcasting in Hamburg since 1 September 2025. The radio station, which has seen itself as the voice of Turkish immigrants in Germany for years, is expanding its broadcasting area in response to long-standing demand from the Hanseatic city. The programme is set to be broadcast via DAB+ shortly. Those responsible for the station emphasise that Hamburg plays a strategically important role for Turkish-language media consumption in Germany. The expansion is not only a technical step, but also an expression of a closer connection to the local community. ‘We are delighted to have started broadcasting in Hamburg,’ said a statement from the station's management.

As of today, ROCK FM is available throughout North Rhine-Westphalia via DAB+. The station is aimed at rock fans and promises music from big names such as Led Zeppelin, Metallica, the Rolling Stones and Linkin Park. The station is hosted by Pfeffer and Lange, among others, who are looking forward to an audience that is enthusiastic about classic and modern rock music. The station belongs to Audiotainment Südwest, which is further expanding its reach with the launch in North Rhine-Westphalia. Managing Director Kai Fischer sees this as a strategic step to drive the company's growth and exploit the potential of the North Rhine-Westphalian market.

In the latest of this year's series of short interviews with WorldDAB members exhibiting at IBC2025, Lars-Peder Lundgren, CEO Paneda Sweden, says it will present its latest advancements in DAB Head-End systems, including support for the newest DAB standard for emergency warnings, ASA. Paneda develops advanced systems for radio break-in in road tunnels, as well as complete DAB Head-End solutions.

Jatin Aythora, Director, BBC Research & Development, writes: "I’m always incredibly proud to be the Director of BBC Research & Development and today is no exception as the Television Academy has announced that we have been given the Philo T. Farnsworth Corporate Achievement Award. This prestigious Engineering, Science & Technology Emmy® recognises how BBC R&D’s profound and sustained contributions have significantly shaped the news and media industry for nearly a century and will be officially awarded next month. Since we formed around 1930, BBC R&D has been a key long-term partner of much of the broadcast industry. Our teams have consistently delivered breakthroughs that became everyday essentials, such as NICAM, Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB), and the award-winning Piero sports graphics system."

Since September 1, it has been possible to receive 12 radio stations via digital radio broadcasting. The latest addition to Slovak DAB+ broadcasting is Radio Viva. The operator Towercom added the new station to the DAB+ multiplex shortly after 2 p.m. today. Radio Viva is one of Slovakia's established private radio projects. It has been broadcasting since 2006, undergoing several changes in name and format. The nationwide Slovak DAB+ multiplex, divided into three regional networks (West, Central, and East), currently broadcasts a total of 12 radio stations. The portfolio of the public broadcaster STVR consists of eight program services (e.g., Rádio Slovensko, Rádio Devín), which are complemented by four commercial broadcasters: Rádio Rock, Rádio Mária, Rádio Lumen, and the new Rádio Viva.

RADIO BOLLERWAGEN is now expanding its programme offering in Switzerland on digris AG's DAB+ network. The number one party station has been on the market since 2017 and proves that they still exist: real success stories in the radio industry. At this year's report card day for German radio stations, RADIO BOLLERWAGEN more than doubled its reach: more than half a million people now listen to the station's “Xtreme Party Music” every day. Harald Gehrung, CEO of ffn-mediengruppe: "I am delighted that RADIO BOLLERWAGEN is now completing its coverage of the D-A-CH region with its market entry in Switzerland: from Winterthur-Schaffhausen to St. Gallen and south-eastern Switzerland, the station is now broadcasting “Xtreme Party Music”. The biggest party hits can also be received on DAB+ across a large area around Basel."

Radio Altstadtwelle, which has so far only broadcast on the internet, will also go on air via DAB+ at the beginning of 2026. The responsible state media authority in Düsseldorf has granted the programme a licence. The technical launch still depends on the completion of the transmission sites by the network operator Media Broadcast. Radio Altstadtwelle has been operating as an internet radio station since 2009 and specialises in music in the Cologne and Rhineland dialects. In addition to well-known groups such as Höhner, Brings and Paveier, up-and-coming bands and artists will also be featured regularly. Among other things, the station supports the ‘Kölschen-Musik-Bandkontest’ (Cologne Music Band Contest), which provides a stage for young talent.

Studio Alphen can now be listened to via DAB+ on channel 8A. The local broadcaster in Alphen aan den Rijn will continue to broadcast via the familiar FM frequencies in the coming years. In September 2024, the Dutch Local Public Broadcasting Foundation (NLPO) began rolling out a collective DAB+ network for local broadcasters. Studio Alphen is also affiliated with this collective. 'We are delighted that we have succeeded in offering Studio Alphen's signal via DAB+ in addition to FM and online. It is a great step forward in terms of professionalisation, improving sound quality and preparing for the future,' says chief engineer Marcel Hijnen. 'It's new and exciting for us too,' he continues. 'We will therefore be using the coming period to continue tweaking the signal to get it as good as possible.'

The DAB+ digital radio platform expanded on 1 September to include Oldies Radio, Rock Radio Stage, and regionally structured Hitrádia stations. All stations are broadcast on the nationwide C network with a uniform data stream of 64 kbps. Hitrádia will appear in the multiplex according to individual regions and will replace the existing universal distribution of Prague's Hitrádio City. The regional division of Hitrádio will follow the existing regionalization of the RTI cz multiplex, which is divided into nine areas and allows for targeted distribution of content without the need for a universal Prague/Central Bohemia version.