News

Edge Radio hit the airwaves on DAB in Edinburgh this summer after operating online for almost a year. The station saw an increase in listeners since Jay purchased the station in October last year, and Jay has used all his experience as the former programme director at Real, Smooth and Rock Radio to bring a team of presenters together and help make the station a success.

Kenyan broadcasters will be allowed to adopt a new digital radio standard, which will enable them to use their current spectrum to transmit their signals through a digital network, as the sector regulator moves to address the shortage of analogue frequencies. The Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) has called for stakeholder and public views on a draft Digital Sound Broadcasting (DSB) framework it has formulated to ensure the efficient use of the available broadcasting spectrum and encourage investment in the sub-sector. The inaugural trial of the DAB network service will be in Nairobi with transmitters located in Limuru and Machakos to test coverage, reception quality and data services. “The trial DAB+ network service is estimated to cover an area of 9,176 kilometres squared with a population of 9,329,253, which represents 17 percent of the population of Kenya. The trial will help in building local capacity as well as in raising awareness of DAB+ network services in the country,” said CA.

Radio listeners in Saxony can look forward to up to 14 more digital radio programmes. In the first quarter of 2023, the network operator Media Broadcast is expected to put five transmitter sites into operation, via which the station package will be broadcast statewide. The new stations will again significantly increase the station diversity via DAB+ in Saxony. Together with the local and regional programme offerings of private broadcasters and the public service programmes, more than 70 digital radio stations can then be received in the best quality at home and on the move in individual regions.

Key topics from the global growth of DAB+ will be explored next week as digital radio and automotive leaders from around the world come together for the WorldDAB Summit 2022, being held in-person in London and online, on Thursday 17 November. The critical role DAB+ can play in safeguarding broadcast radio will be highlighted in a keynote address by Shuja Khan, CEO of Arqiva, including the UK transmission provider’s “Broadcast 2040+” campaign. Alongside this, Matt Payton, CEO of UK commercial radio trade body Radiocentre, will explore how audience habits are shifting, and what opportunities these changes offer broadcasters, while mitigating the risks of online gatekeepers. From France, Les Indés Radios is an interest group bringing together 129 local radio broadcasters; its President, Jean-Eric Valli will set out why they cannot ignore the advances and protection offered by terrestrial broadcast radio via DAB+.

French pop music station Vibration and rock station OÜI FM switched on DAB+ signals in the cities of Angers and Mans in the country’s northwest Pays de la Loire region on Nov. 7. The switch on is part of the continued rollout of DAB+ in the country. Listeners in the two cities can now access the respective stations by selecting their names on a DAB+-compatible device. Vibration and OÜI FM are owned by Groupe 1981. Jean-Éric Valli, president of Groupe 1981, says, “I am pleased to develop our offer in the Pays de la Loire region. DAB+ represents an essential step in making radio listening easier for listeners. Its deployment revolutionises the radio medium, with strong innovations, in particular associated data such as programme information or song covers. With DAB+, we are writing a new page in radio.”

The 80s and 90s stations for KIIS, Mix, 96FM and GOLD continue to be at the top of the totals for the five metro areas with 374,000 and 376,000 listeners respectively. Tik Tok trending (310,000), OLDSKOOL HITS 90’s (297,000) and RnB Fridays (293,000) round out the top five. In Sydney KIIS 90s leads the DAB+ stations with 183,000 from iHeartAustralia on 144,000 and Tik Tok Trending with 139,000.

After two years online Radio West Norfolk has launched on DAB in King’s Lynn. Simon Rowe, Radio West Norfolk director and the presenter of breakfast, said: “I have always believed radio should be a voice for the community. When I first set up the station for Smart Speakers and mobile phones, I wanted to make sure it reflected what this area is interested in, was concerned about, and enjoys doing. We will continue doing that and making sure everyone knows what is happening on their door-step thanks to our great mix of presenters who enjoy chatting to our listeners and playing songs to sing-along to every day.”

The Cardiff small-scale DAB multiplex has launched using a three-site single-frequency network. It aims to cover over half a million adults in and around Cardiff and currently has ten radio services with more joining soon. The current line-up comprises Aspen Waite Radio, Gaydio, Gorgeous Radio, Like One, Nation 80s, Sangam, Sound Radio, Tomorrowland OWR, Voice of Islam and local community station Radio Cardiff. Chris Hurst, director of Cardiff DAB Ltd, commented: “We are really pleased to offer a broadcast platform for radio stations who wish to reach an audience across south Wales and around Cardiff."

Fylde Coast Radio has been broadcasting on the internet for six years and can now be heard on DAB around the area after officially switching on Tuesday (November 1). A number of established and new radio stations have been set up on DAB after Fun Coast Digital, a non-profit community interest group led by former Radio Wave broadcaster Alistair Clarke, was granted an Ofcom digital licence in the summer, with a mission to bring community broadcasting to the Fylde coast.

Digital terrestrial radio (DAB+) continues to expand throughout the French regions. After Orléans, Poitiers, Tours and La Rochelle, DAB+ is continuing its deployment and will arrive in the Pays de la Loire region from 7 November with Vibration in Angers and OÜI FM in Le Mans. The radio offer is expanding and is accessible in better quality.