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In February, the KRRiT tendered a nationwide DAB+ multiplex. Jan Jagielski was the only applicant to submit two applications for new programs. Now he wants to get started on DAB+, first in a local multiplex in Kielce and soon with the new programs FAMA DANCE and Radio TOP across the country. RADIOSZENE spoke to the experienced media entrepreneur about DAB+ in Poland.

Czech Radio wants to improve the quality of digital broadcast reception of its stations on DAB+ this year. The network already covers over 95% of the population of the Czech Republic, with the next phase of development focused on ensuring quality reception inside buildings, including the production of new coverage maps. The work is expected to be completed in the middle of this year.

Since May 4th, 2022, the programs of MEDIASCHOOL BAYERN, M94.5 and max neo in the metropolitan areas of Munich and Nuremberg have also been transmitted in the new DAB+ test network 10D as part of a technical pilot project lasting up to two years. It supplies around half a million people indoors and mobile or portable outdoors around 1.9 million residents in Bavaria. In Upper Bavaria, almost 400,000 more listeners can now receive the M94.5 programs on their DAB+ devices at home or stationary. On the road in the car or in all leisure activities outside, there are even more than 600,000 listeners in Upper Bavaria. For max neo in Middle Franconia, this means an additional 50,000 more potential listeners indoors, and outdoors this even corresponds to an increase of 126,000.

The next lecture on digital radio broadcasting within the Digital Radio for Schools project continues on 13 May 2022 at the Secondary School of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, České Budějovice. The students will learn about the latest digital radio broadcasting platform, the current state of the art at home and around the world, and technical details such as broadcasting frequencies, digital multiplex content, transmitting antennas, transmitters or single frequency networks (SFN).

On the occasion of Czech Radio's Open Day, RTI cz s.r.o. in cooperation with Czech Radio České Budějovice is organising the Day With Digital Radio event. Visitors will once again be treated to the largest exhibition of DAB receivers in the Czech Republic. There will be new products for 2022, car radios, mobile phone with DAB+, radio for the blind and car adapters for digital radio for older cars.

So far, radio listeners have only been able to receive a few private radio programs in Lower Saxony via the nationwide DAB+ platforms. With the DAB+ tender, the Lower Saxony State Media Authority is now paving the way for state-wide DAB+ reception of private radio and telemedia. "With the DAB+ tender in Lower Saxony, we are taking an important step towards more program variety in private radio," says Christian Krebs, Director of the Lower Saxony State Media Authority. "Listeners in Lower Saxony will have a larger selection of programs in the future and will also be able to receive special interest programs more easily."

Thomson Broadcast will acquire GatesAir, in a deal involving two manufacturers with deep radio and TV roots. The companies announced a definitive agreement for Thomson to acquire GatesAir from the Gores Group. Terms were not made public. The transaction is expected to close in the second half, pending regulatory approvals.

With the activation of a new test network in channel 10D at the beginning of May 2022, there is now sufficient capacity available in Bavaria to develop new innovations relating to DAB+ and test them in live operation. Comprehensive testing of the disaster warning service EWF (Emergency Warning Functionality) is planned. The EWF system, which the Fraunhofer Institute for Integrated Circuits (IIS) in Erlangen played a key role in developing, will in future, in close cooperation with Bayern Digital Radio GmbH and other partners, provide a targeted and comprehensive warning to the population in the event of a disaster via DAB+ for digital radios and public display boards in Germany enable Bavaria. Another topic is the testing of data services in the area of ​​TPEG Emergency Alerts and Warnings (EAW). This application provides disaster alerts to travelers with minimal distraction from traffic on navigation devices.

Fix Radio is now broadcasting nationally on DAB – five years after launching as the builder’s station in London. The station celebrated its fifth birthday last week with a post on social media documenting its journey from a small regional station to an everyday essential for tens of thousands of tradespeople across the country.

Radio’s options to remain relevant in the dashboard was a prevalent theme at last week’s Radio Show in Las Vegas. “Life in the Fast Lane,” moderated by Hubbard Radio CEO Ginny Morris, included findings from “The 2021 Car Buyers Study” conducted by Edison Research. More than nine in ten U.S. survey participants who listen to radio in the car agree with the statement, “radio keeps you company in the car” and 87% agree “you would miss your favorite radio stations if you couldn’t receive them in your car/vehicle.” In addition, 89% agree “radio should be standard in every vehicle.”