WorldDAB at Paris Radio Show 2025

13.01.2025 by Jean-Marc Dubreuil

On 28 January 2025, the Paris Radio Show, France's only trade event dedicated to the radio industry, will open its doors to industry players. Among the participants will once again be WorldDAB, the international organisation dedicated to the development and promotion of DAB+ (Digital Audio Broadcasting). DAB+, the digital standard for broadcasting, is gaining momentum worldwide. The Paris Radio Show covers major issues for the future development of radio. France is at a critical stage in the deployment of DAB+. WorldDAB offers an opportunity to discuss the trends shaping the future of digital broadcasting, and to share best practices in the deployment of DAB+.

The worldwide development of DAB+: trends to track for radio industry players

DAB+ represents the future of broadcasting. It is known for its ability to offer superior sound quality, extended coverage, improved spectral efficiency or associated data (such as song titles, programme information, slideshow, emergency alerts).

At the Paris Radio Show 2025, WorldDAB will be highlighting the latest advances in DAB+ and its deployment. DAB+ is expanding rapidly worldwide. While several European countries, such as Norway, Germany, Switzerland, the UK and the Netherlands, have already made this standard the backbone for radio broadcasting, other regions, such as Asia and Africa, are also starting to adopt the technology.

France, under the drive of all publishers, Arcom (Autorité de Régulation de la Communication Audiovisuelle et Numérique) and public authorities, has taken several steps in 2024. Radio has 40 million listeners every day. More than 900 stations, including 800 local ones, are broadcast in France. DAB+ was launched just over 10 years ago. More than 10 million receivers have been sold, 98% of new vehicles are equipped, and 24% of the population has access to a DAB+ receiver. Nearly 70% of the population receives at least one DAB+ multiplex.

Arcom's Radio White Paper addresses the challenges facing radio in France, with a particular focus on digital transformation. It covers the transition to DAB+, regulation, content diversification, business models, audience and competition. Arcom stresses the need for a 10-year timetable to achieve 100% digital broadcasting. The planning of DAB+ will have to be reviewed to bring it closer to that of FM. Awareness of DAB+ needs to be substantially raised, as the “Ensemble pour le DAB+” association is working to do. The equipment penetration must improve. Public authorities are expected to provide support.

A year marked by an important technological evolution for the radio industry and society as a whole

The Paris Radio Show is renowned for its ability to bring together radio professionals, broadcast technologies and innovative companies around a common goal: to move the radio industry forward. The event attracts a wide range of participants, from traditional broadcasters to start-ups, content creators and experts of all kinds.

WorldDAB's presence at the event is a unique opportunity to learn about best practices in DAB+ implementation. This year's focus is on the latest technical innovation in DAB+: Automatic Safety Alert (ASA)

ASA is a system designed to guarantee the delivery of safety and emergency information via DAB+ digital broadcasting. In a world where extreme weather events, crisis situations or public safety alerts are rapidly increasing, this mechanism integrated into the DAB+ standard in 2024 enables automatic transmission of alerts directly to compatible DAB+ receivers. ASA is activated in the event of an emergency, whether the listener is listening to the radio or the receiver is on standby. ASA ensures fast, local and reliable communication, particularly when other communication channels are disrupted. This system reinforces the central role of radio as a public safety tool.

ASA will be presented exclusively on the WorldDAB stand. WorldDAB has also been nominated for the “Best Tech Innovation” award for the ASA function. This prize will be awarded to one of the three finalists at the Paris Radio Show, on 29 January at 15:30 CET. WorldDAB's nomination demonstrates the relevance and timeliness of this technology.

Meet the WorldDAB at the ParisRadioShow

Get your badge for the Paris Radio Show 2025, the not-to-be-missed event for all those involved in radio. DAB+ is not just a technical standard, it's a strategic enabler for the future of radio. WorldDAB's presence at the Paris Radio Show 2025 will be an opportunity for all those involved in radio to understand why DAB+ broadcasting further consolidates radio as the medium of the future. 

The author is Program Manager - France, for WorldDAB. He has been involved in the digital audio broadcasting world as early as 2009, with Frontier Silicon, focusing on the automotive sector. Since 2012, he is the WorldDAB representative in France, working with the industry to promote the adoption of DAB+.