WorldDAB partners with Radiodays Europe 2023 - updated

15.03.2023 by Will Jackson

Updated 23/03/23 adding new session and exhibitors information

This year sees Radiodays Europe take place in Prague from 26-28 March, and WorldDAB is proud to be a partner of the event in the Czech capital.

Radiodays Europe seeks to raise the awareness of radio, audio and podcasting. Now in its 13th year, organisers say the conference has become the leading radio, audio, podcast conference of its kind in the world. Before the pandemic, the conference attracted over 1600 participants from 60 countries. It is the meeting point for the European radio industry, with WorldDAB and its members well-represented throughout the three-day event at the Prague Congress Centre.

Immediately after the Monday sessions, WorldDAB will be holding a “happy hour” reception from 6pm at the Corinthia Hotel adjacent to the venue. As well as an excellent opportunity to network with colleagues from around the world, there will also be a short update on the global growth of DAB, from members of the WorldDAB Steering Board, including Patrick Hannon, the organisation’s President.

Members of the WorldDAB Project Office will be in attendance throughout the three days of the event, including Project Director, Bernie O’Neill. Contact us if you’d like to join our “happy hour” or meet with the team.

Charles-Emmanuel Bon, Secretary General of Radio France

Charles-Emmanuel Bon, Secretary General of Radio France and member of the WorldDAB Steering Board, will speak in the keynote Audio Summit session at 12:20 on Monday, which brings together leaders in the audio space to discuss current trends and the future outlook. Other speakers in the session are Cathinka Rondan, Head of Radio at NRK, Norway; Guy Fränkel, Director of Rock Antenne, Germany; and Martina Rihova from the Czech News Centre. The session is hosted by Matt Deegan of Folder, which created and runs the MuxCo network of DAB multiplexes in the UK, as well as managing networks on behalf of Wireless and Nation. 

Earlier on Monday at 10:00, James Rea, Director of Broadcasting and Content at Global, will join international radio consultant John Simons in conversation. This year is the 50th anniversary of the birth of commercial radio in the UK, which in 1973 was launched by LBC, the news talk station, followed a week later by the entertainment service, Capital Radio. Originally analogue local stations for London, both are now part of Global, and now broadcast nationally on DAB digital radio, with a substantial growth in listenership. Global has also added new digital brand extensions, such as Capital Chill, which launched last month on national DAB+.

Other sessions featuring WorldDAB members include:

Hyper Smart Radio for Super Clever Cars: Is AI the new driver of the connected dashboard? How could radio and audio stay relevant and engaging in an ever-changing environment? Featuring Sven Eckoldt, Partnerships Lead, Application Store for CARIAD, which is part of the Volkswagen Group. (Monday 12:20 - 13:00, Track 3)

Unleashing the Power of Radio through UX and Analytics: DTS AutoStage is changing the game for radio broadcasters by delivering the best in-car radio user experience and granting station managers unprecedented access to quantifiable and actionable in-vehicle listener data. With Joe D’Angelo, Senior Vice President of Global Radio and Digital Audio for Xperi, responsible for the global broadcast radio business and product development. (Monday 12:20 - 13:00, Track 4)

Adapting to change: New opportunities: When Norway switched off FM, many thought it's the end of the world in this session we'll take a look at how that really went, plus why are broadcasters investing in radio 'big time' in Germany. Finally a Czech case that proves all hesitations are wrong when it comes to digital platforms. With Ole Jørgen Torvmark, Head of Product, Non-Automotive, Radioplayer, Norway and Karel Zýka, from Czech Radio, Head of the DAB+ implementation group. (Monday 14:00 - 14:40, Track 2)

Alexandra Daskalopoulos, Founder and CEO, Frontstage Entertainment, Greece

The future of radio in-car: The power of partnerships - Session hosted by Radioplayer: The in-car entertainment experience is seeing unprecedented change driven by internet connectivity and new technology. In amongst the wave of new apps and services, Radio remains the most popular audio source in the car. How can broadcasters stay in control of the radio experience and keep radio strong? With Matt Deegan, Alexandra Daskalopoulos, Founder and CEO of Frontstage Entertainment, the No 1 radio group in Greece, Tomas Granryd, Head of Digital Partnerships, Swedish Radio, Laurence Harrison, Director of Automotive Partnerships, Radioplayer, and Laurent Frisch, Head of Digital & Production/ CDO Radio France. (Monday 16:05 - 16:45, Track 4)

Radio and digital platforms: A new era is coming: 2023 opens a new era in the relationship between radio stations and third-party platforms. After years of observing each other and finding ways to work together, everyone is now asserting firmer positions. While some platforms seek to look more and more like radio, the broadcasting industry is beginning to free itself from certain third party players to cultivate its specificity and preserve its relationship with listeners. The European Broadcasting Union has a lot of insights and knowledge to share. With Matthieu Beauval, Head of Innovation, Radio France; Jonny Kanagasooriam, Head of Content Strategy for BBC Sounds; Grace Zakka, Senior Project Manager, European Broadcasting Union; and Laurent Frisch, Head of Digital & Production/ CDO Radio France. (Monday 17:00 - 17:40, Track 3)

Radiodays Europe host partners and WorldDAB member Czech Radio also celebrates a significant anniversary this year. 2023 marks 100 years since the start of regular radio broadcasting in the Czech Republic, then Czechoslovakia, when the private company Radiojournal began broadcasting from a scout tent in Prague's Kbely. This will celebrated at the Monday Radio Night party, held in the refurbished old factory buildings of La Fabrika.

Additionally, on Sunday evening, the WorldDAB team will be joining our friends from XPLR: MEDIA in Bavaria. Its mission is to shine a spotlight on people who are shaping the media world of tomorrow, inform about important trends and developments in the industry, and discover the latest Bavarian media events. They're hosting a get-together with snacks and drinks at Repräsentanz des Freistaats Bayern in Prague from 19:00, and Radiodays delegates are welcome - register here.

Exhibitors in the Congress Centre include AVT (Booth 22), Czech Radio (Lounge on Level 3), RadioDNS (Booth 25), Radioplayer (Lounge in the Exhibition Area on Level 2), and Xperi (Booth 7), 

Registration for Radiodays Europe is still open. We look forward to seeing you in Prague!