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At the 20th WorldDMB General Assembly in Rome, Fr Federico Lombardi, the Director of the Holy See Press Office spoke of his hopes to use DAB digital radio to extend the coverage of Radio Vaticana beyond Rome. Speaking to the audience, Lombardi said, "...it has become possible for us to extend coverage to most of the Italian territory... This is of course facilitated by the possibility of transmission multiplexing unlike in the past. We hope that rollout of the DAB technology continues to grow in many countries."

Eklipse Sports Radio is to be re-branded in January 2015 Following the sale of a majority shareholding to new investors including the owners of Hamilton Academicals FC by founding Director Spencer Pryor. The station, which broadcasts in Central Scotland on DAB digital radio, is to become RockSport from January 2015. 2.7 million listeners live in the station's DAB coverage area. The station first launched in DAB in May.

The East Midlands version of the easy listening station, which also broadcasts on FM 106.6 across the region and 101.4 around Derby, has until now only been carried on DAB digital radio via the Nottinghamshire local DAB service.

In his address to a global audience of digital radio industry delegates at the WorldDMB General Assembly in Rome, Father Federico Lombardi, Director General of Vatican Radio described the importance of digital radio broadcasting in the enhancement of Vatican Radio services. Father Federico highlighted the benefits of digital audio broadcasting of "quality signal, of low energy consumption and with a considerable number of possibilities of programs to be broadcast... which allows us to extend our programs - not only on the area of Rome, but also nationally."

Digital radio industry experts convened at a Cambridge Wireless (CW) event at Aon UK in London to discuss the future of radio broadcast. While the process of television digital switchover is now complete, radio has not reached the same point, even though it was first launched nearly 20 years ago.

“It is up to the Ministry of Culture to assess these requirements, but we are very optimistic as there are strong indications on fulfilment of all criteria,” said Ole JørgenTorvmark of Digitalradio Norge as he revealed the latest listening figures for Norway at the 20th WorldDMB General Assembly in Rome.

To ramp up awareness ahead of going national on DAB digital radio in January, Magic has its marketing strategy with a TV advert from Bray Leino sitting at the centre of efforts.

The digital radio sector is booming and continues to grow, with 38% of all UK radio listening now done via a digital platform. These changing times are evidenced by the success of digital stations such as BBC Radio 6 Music, which recorded its biggest ever audience and extended its lead over BBC Radio 3. Absolute Radio 80s is close to matching the listening figure for the main Absolute Radio station, something that would have been unimaginable a few years ago.

The UK Office of Communications (‘Ofcom’) is soliciting comments over a proposed trial of ‘small-scale DAB,’ the aim of which is to provide small commercial and community radio stations with a low-cost means to transmit via DAB digital radio. Many smaller broadcasters in the U.K. have avoided DAB due to the cost, and Ofcom is proposing low-cost, small scale trials, to see if smaller stations can be persuaded to take part in the new technology.

Antonella Giacomelli, Under Secretary at the Ministry of Economic Development, reported at the WorldDMB General Assembly in Rome: "We look to analogue radio as something that is behind us, digital radio is the present and the future. We want to start a shared reflection on a road map that leads us to foster the emergence of technology innovative and we shall take advantage of Italy's six-month Presidency of the EU to convene all stakeholders from the world of broadcast radio at the European level".