News

5G is very much still in its early stages of development, and a free, nationwide distribution of radio over 5G is not an option - at least for the foreseeable future. DAB+ is well established across the continent and while the introduction of 5G may help to complement DAB+, it certainly isn't considered to replace it.

5G broadcast is distributed in the UHF band, where higher transmission powers or more transmitters are required than in Band III, where DAB + is broadcast.

Listening on 51 DAB+ stations across Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide to be monitored. "DAB+ is a highly competitive radio market and this new service will give radio, its advertisers and media agencies transparent and independent commercial airplay verification".

Fun Kids has launched its first spin-off *service* for preschoolers and their parents called Fun Kids Junior.

German news publication InfoDigital has published a long overview outlining the rollout status of DAB+ in Germany and Europe. DAB digital radio sales have reached 75 million worldwide, with over 12 million receivers sold in Germany to date.

The DAB + train continues throughout Europe, according to BLM CEO Siegfried Schneider. Those who do not get on board now will find themselves at an analogue dead end. Terrestrial digital radio has been established to the point of no return, and 5G mobile technology is not a panacea for radio for the foreseeable future.

Publicly owned broadcast network operator PE National Broadcasting confirmed on 29 June 2019 that it has commissioned experimental work using DAB+ equipment that has been purchased following a tender process during the first half of 2019.

At the begging of July, DAB+ was officially launched in Nantes and the wider region of Pays de La Loire in western France. Less than a month after the launch, 41 new stations have already gone live on DAB+ in the region, while a number of other cities in France are expected to follow suit and launch DAB+ in coming months.

Digital radio in the car has come a long way over the past year, with a number of exciting developments taking place both internally, within WorldDAB and the WorldDAB Automotive Working Group, as well as on a pan-European level, with the introduction of the EECC Directive. This article recapitulates some of the key highlights, research and developments brought about by the work of WorldDAB and the WorlddDAB Automotive Working Group.

WorldDAB is producing a session at this year's International Broadcasting Convention (IBC). Titled Radio distribution strategies for a connected world, the session will address the opportunities and challenges associated with the migration to broadcast digital radio. The session will take place from 09.00 – 10.30 on Monday 16 September.