News

The Media Council for the Saxon State Authority for Private Broadcasting and New Media (SLM) has decided to issue DAB+ licenses for digital transmission capacities of the state-wide, regional and local DAB+ coverages for the supply of the Free State of Saxony. 33 commercial and 4 non-commercial radio broadcasters applied for the tender initiated by the SLM. The large number of programmes ensures economical operation, and an attractive variety of DAB+ radio stations for listeners.

Commercial radio station in Sydney - 2GB - advised listeners they were aware of issues streaming 2GB via their app on some devices, advising their listeners to find them in the meantime via terrestrial digital broadcast on DAB+.

In recent years, FM has been getting closer to its limits and in several regions of France, FM is saturated, meaning new radio stations cannot develop, and limiting the choice for listeners. In addition, many radio stations cannot be received in more remote locations. In response Arcom (the Regulatory Authority for Audiovisual and Digital Communication), issued licences for 25 national radio stations on the motorway axis of Paris-Lyon-Marseille, with the stations launched on 12 October 2021. Coordinating the entire radio ecosystem and informing listeners about DAB+ remain challenging, with progress too fast for some, and too slow for others.

Since December 21, 2020, radios in new cars must be able to receive and play digital terrestrial radio, i.e. DAB+. There are now Europe-wide figures for the implementation of this requirement. In Germany, around 300 different regional and national programs are currently available via DAB+. The coverage of the entire network reaches 98 percent of the area nationwide, with the motorways being almost fully covered.

Nostalgie+ is part of the Belgian commercial media N-Group whose other brands include Nostalgie, NRJ and Chérie. Broadcast free-to-air via DAB+, Nostalgie+ aims to entertain the growing 60+ generation, with hits from the 60's and 70's.

Until now, the multiplex owned by BCAST was broadcast from a skyscraper called "Zieleniak". After moving to Olivia Star, the range should improve. The test broadcast in Gdańsk is conducted on the 5D channel and the power is 0.2 kW.

An event bringing together the French radio industry has been announced to take place on 2-3 June in Paris. Further details on the event are to follow shortly.

A new study by radio manufacturer Pure says millions more Brits have turned to radio, regarding it as a trusted source of breaking news and instant information. And it’s the younger audience who are tuning in more, with 62% of 18-34s suggesting they are listening more than pre-pandemic. 27% of 18-34s are listening to the radio on a traditional radio device due to convenience, with 19% suggesting it is more accessible and 17% suggesting the sound is better than on other devices.

Five more radio stations have joined the DAB+ local multiplex in Warsaw. The National Broadcasting Council (Krrit) is running a competition for 12 seats on the nationwide DAB+ multiplex. New players may apply for a licence for a general or specialised programme, with the possibility to extend the DAB+ licence for radio stations with at least 8 stations reaching at least 3 million inhabitants. These conditions are met by several radio groups. Applications can be submitted until the beginning of April this year.

Two announcements by the Chairman of the National Broadcasting Council (KRRiT) appeared in Monitor Polski about the possibility of obtaining a license to broadcast radio programmes in the DAB+ standard on the national DAB+ multiplex (Mux R1) using frequencies in the 174-230 MHz range.