News

Taneční rádio has already broadcast digitally in the past, between 2012 and 2019. Now, through a new company, it is applying for a new licence for terrestrial digital broadcasting. The new operator of SeeJay Radio is to be MS Radio Group, which is half-owned by Martin Černý and Hotinvest, the company of Hana Janíková, the wife of the station's original founder Svatopluk Janík. Although the station has not yet obtained a licence, it has already agreed to be included in the Prague multiplex of Fiera touch. "We have a preliminary agreement, but I will announce the cooperation when we actually start broadcasting," said Pavel Hájek, owner of Fiera touch, when asked by Televizníweb.cz.

The Tarbijakaitse ja Tehnilise Järelevalve Amet (TTJA) [Consumer Protection and Technical Regulatory Authority] launched a public call for tenders for frequency authorisations for digital radio services. Only Levira submitted an application to participate in the tender, the Authority said. Participants in the open call for applications had to submit the required documents to the TTJA by 23.59 on 17 February at the latest, and the qualification of the application will be carried out by the TTJA within eight working days. The objects of the competition are three frequency licences in the 174-225 MHz band for nationwide use. Up to three frequency authorisations may be awarded to a single applicant.

A new pop-up station from Virgin Radio UK launching today, will play music from the Britpop era. Virgin Radio Britpop, which is available on DAB in London, on the Virgin Radio UK app and smart speakers, will take the Chris Evans Breakfast Show every weekday morning from 6.30am – 10.00am. The station will play a mix of non-stop music, specials and sessions from the Virgin Radio archive, with bespoke programming from those who were a part of Britpop in the 1990s. Artists played will include the likes of Oasis, Blur, Pulp, Elastica, Cast, The Charlatans and Manic Street Preachers; with live tracks from Shed 7, Richard Ashcroft, Suede and many more.

Radio Byoblu is being connected to DAB+ in Italian-speaking Switzerland. The station is the first Italian news & talk station to have a widespread presence in the Italian-speaking part of Switzerland (with coverage of 95% of the territory). The initiative follows the agreement reached between Swiss Media Cast, the main Swiss network operator, and Media Pluralisti Europei, s.p.a., of which Radio ByoBlu is part. Broadcasting of the signal will take place from March 2025. ‘Being the first Italian news radio station present in the most important Swiss multiplexer, and therefore in the relevant territory, is a source of pride for us,’ comments Claudio Messora, publisher of ByoBlu.

A year and a half earlier than the development criteria required by the Czech Telecommunications Authority, the Czech Radiocommunications (CRA) nationwide network for digital broadcasting of commercial radios will reach coverage of over 80 percent of the population and the motorway network in the Czech Republic next month. While 48 per cent of the Czech population can tune in to the network from 17 transmitters and repeaters since 4 February, when the nationwide multiplex B started, CRA plans to launch 14 more transmitters in March. These will provide a radical increase in coverage, as 11 of these transmitters will transmit at 10 kW, one even at 20 kW.

Radio Metro continues its expansion and is now extending its broadcasts to Telemark and Vestfold, on local DAB. With this expansion, Radio Metro ensures continuous coverage from Mandal in the south to Røros in the north, which marks a milestone for the channel. ‘This is an important strategic investment that strengthens our position in southern and eastern Norway. We want to provide our listeners with an even better radio service and look forward to welcoming new listeners,’ says CEO Yvonne Stikbakke. ‘We are proud to be able to expand our distribution to Vestfold and Telemark. With this expansion, we can reach even more listeners and offer our unique combination of experienced presenters, good music and exciting competitions.’

Wireless Ireland is planning on launching “a suite of new digital radio services” on DAB+ this year. The move comes as RadioToday breaks the news that a new DAB+ trial will operate for 12 months from April by FáilteDAB. The new stations are set to launch in the spring, with more details announced in coming weeks. Sean Barry, Managing Director of Wireless Ireland, said: “Wireless Ireland is proud to lead the charge in Ireland’s transition to digital broadcasting. The new FáilteDAB platform will offer listeners a broader and more immersive experience, with a blend of existing and new content offerings, creating diversity of choice for listeners across a large coverage area. Wireless Ireland’s commitment will see us become the largest content provider on this new and exciting platform.”

talkSPORT has been granted permission from Ofcom to turn off seven of its 18 transmitters. The move will reduce its national AM radio coverage from 92% to 88.9% of the UK adult population. The transmitter sites talkSPORT will close are; Clipstone (Nottinghamshire), Duxhurst (Surrey), Lisnagarvey (in County Antrim, Northern Ireland), Lydd (Kent), Stockton (Durham/North Yorkshire), Southwick/Brighton (West Sussex) and Rusthall (Tunbridge Wells). The reasons given by talkSPORT for these changes include declining listenership to its AM service as people turn to alternative platforms, considered against the ongoing viability of each transmitter site. The station will remain available nationally on DAB and other platforms.

WorldDAB Steering Board member Javier Sánchez is the new Director of Audiovisual Policy and Public Service at RTVE. A Telecommunications Engineer from the Alfonso X El Sabio University, his professional activity has always been related to the provision of audiovisual communication services and related aspects. He joined RTVE by competitive examination in 2008. He has been responsible for Strategy at the RTVE Innovation Centre since its creation in 2015 until the present, and has been part of the Impulsa Visión team since its creation. He has also been responsible for RTVE's European Spectrum Strategy (2014-2015) and head of Technical Planning at RNE (2008-2014).

Under the NLPO banner, hundreds of radio stations will start distributing their programmes through frequency layer 6 by 1 September. This is intended for public and commercial broadcasters. Regulator Rijksinspectie Digitale Infrastructuur (RDI) has divided the Netherlands into 57 regions, known as allotments. More than 200 public and commercial broadcasters have received a licence for this and will be allowed to broadcast locally via DAB+ from 1 September for a period of six years. In any case, DAB+ distribution must have started by 1 September 2025. As there is still some space left on the allotments, a new round of applications for the licence necessary for broadcasting is being worked on behind the scenes.