News

Toggo Radio has been confirmed as the latest station that will join Germany's second national commercial DAB+ multiplex, which will launch in October 2020. The newly launched station, which is part of the super RTL TV channel, is aimed at children and families.

Germany's digital radio office presents an overview of the status of DAB+ across Europe, where an increasing number of countries are shifting to DAB+ digital radio services.

Bauer Media has started DAB+ broadcasts on channel 12A in Sweden's capital, Stockholm. Bauer Media will initially broadcast seven channels on DAB+, a number that is set to increase to 10 in the near future. 35 percent of the population will be able to be reached by the broadcasts on 1 October, and 50 percent a year later.

The business case for DAB+ is clear to Germany's commercial radio broadcasters. Relying exclusively on streaming is problematic for several reasons: the dissemination costs for broadcasters on the web are many times higher than with DAB+, listeners must have an efficient internet connection, and there is no guarantee that network neutrality will be maintained.

Digital Radio UK has launched a new website upgrade featuring the Radio’s Digital Revolution artwork and improvements to screen optimisation, layout, and navigation. A second phase to further integrate the new look and include links to the new e-learning tool for retailers is currently in development.

Germany's public broadcaster ARD and Deutschlandradio will present the latest information on the digital successor to FM on 3 September, date of the nationwide DAB+ theme day. There will also be an announcement on the radio programmes to launch on the second national multiplex going on air in October. Members of the Digitalradio Deutschland association will launch nationwide DAB+ promotion campaigns in September and again in the run-up to Christmas.

Triple M 90s will launch across all DAB+ markets. The new station is the latest addition to the network’s line up of DAB+ stations, including Triple M Soft Rock, Triple M Country, Triple M Classic Rock, and Triple M Hard N Heavy. Triple M 90s will replace Triple M Greatest Hits.

New research shows that Deutschlandradio stations have reached record levels of listening. While overall radio listening has decreased slightly, 2.19 million listeners tuned in daily to Deutschlandfunk, the only information programme to feature in the top 10 most listened to programmes. Deutschlandfunk Kultur also gained new listeners in the period measured.

The Government wants regulator ICASA to prioritise the establishment of digital broadcast networks and services. They must be introduced alongside existing analogue radio services (FM and AM) and must achieve various goals, including universal service and access for all; the introduction of new entrants into the industry; promoting investment; promoting competition; fostering innovation; and reducing costs.

Amidst the promotion of 5G, the industry tends to lose sight of the challenges facing network planners to get it to work. Much of the benefit of 5G comes from the use of new frequency bands of the radio spectrum. These bands promise lots of bandwidth, but they do not travel as far. In the press coverage of 5G, there is lots of the former and little of the latter. The next time you hear someone extolling all the great new features of 5G, ask them how they will get access to sufficiently dense networks.