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The Czech Telecommunications Office has granted JOE Media permission to broadcast the COLOR DAB+ radio multiplex with a power of up to 5 kW on the territory of the capital in the future. It results from the database of the Czech Telecommunications Office. With the proper parameters made possible by the regulator's auction completed at the beginning of the year, the operator will operate on channel 6A. The current CTU allocation confirms several assumptions. The COLOR DAB+ multiplex will operate, as before, from the Prague - Strahov mast. Until now, the operator could transmit a maximum of 1 kW on channel 7C. This will change after the launch of channel 6A. The COLOR DAB+ multiplex will be able to use up to 5 kW.

The Alternative Broadcast Company has celebrated its first 12 months of operation by launching its third transmitter for Kidsgrove, North Staffordshire. This brings Blue Sky Radio, Radio Caroline, xRhythms, Churnet Sound, Moorlands Radio and 6 Towns Radio on DAB+ to those living in and around the town. The ABC network launched in August 2023 covering Stoke and Newcastle-under-Lyme and the new transmitter strengthens the coverage in the north of the city which has previously been geographically difficult to cover. Alternative Broadcast Company Director Steve Perry said: “It’s taken a while, but we’re really pleased with the results and it’s a great first birthday present to be able to announce it publicly. Plus, as well as solving a long-standing problem for local radio reception, it’s great news for listeners, stations and businesses alike.”

Harald Gehrung , CEO of the ffn media group, discusses the strategy behind the audio offering for party people in an interview for the MEDIENTAGE MÜNCHEN blog. Radio Bollerwagen, which was initially just a live stream, became a DAB+ station in the middle of the Corona pandemic in 2021. Why? "During Corona, usage increased massively. Listeners uploaded videos on TikTok and Instagram of themselves dancing to music while working from home. A huge fan base developed. And when the live stream overtook the stream of our classic program from Radio ffn , the time had come to take things to the next level. Since there was no FM frequency available, we switched to DAB+. This also helped us in terms of costs, because the cost of broadcasting is only a tenth of what it would be for an FM frequency."

Almost all major road tunnels in Bavaria are now covered by DAB+ digital radio. This is according to a current list from Bayerischer Rundfunk. Digital terrestrial radio is now available in 34 tunnels, at least with the two BR bouquets. This includes 10 transmitters in tunnels in the Bavarian capital of Munich. Only in five larger tunnels in Bavaria is analogue FM reception possible. A detailed list can be found here: https://www.br.de/unternehmen/inhalt/technik/tunnel-versorgung-rundfunksignale-100.html

The RAJAR figures for Q2 2024 continue to highlight how audiences value BBC Radio with 32m people tuning in each week for live output across the stations, with a share of 42.6%. The biggest population increase in 75 years now sees a record 50.8 million people in the UK listening to radio. Charlotte Moore, BBC Chief Content Officer, says: “I’m delighted to see the strength of the audio landscape with a record number of people listening to radio and podcasts across the UK.”

Commercial radio’s audience in the UK has surpassed 40 million for the first time, reaching a record-breaking 40.5 million weekly listeners. This new milestone breaks the previous record of 39.7 million set in Q1 2024. The new RAJAR listening figures released on 1 August for the second quarter of 2024 also show that the combined weekly audience for all radio in the UK is at a new high with 50.8 million adults tuning in to their favourite stations each week, up from its previous record of 49.9 million in Q1 2024. Commercial radio continues to lead the market, with a record listening share of 55% compared to the BBC’s 42.6%. This marks a significant increase from the same period two years ago when commercial radio’s share was 49% (Q2 2022).

Audio and radio consultant Matt Deegan analyses the latest UK RAJAR radio audience figures: "DAB has its highest ever reach with 71.4% of the UK (that’s 36.2m people) tuning in. AM/FM is listened to by 55.3% and 29.4% consume through a smart speaker. When we look at share - the amount of listening - DAB is the largest with 42.8%, AM/FM’s hit a new low at 26.3% with DTV at 2.7%. 11.1% of listening is through a phone, the web or internet radios whilst 17% of all listening is through a smart speaker (a new high). The changing nature of consumption means DAB is pretty essential for radio stations now - if you don’t show up on that dial, the available time people can give to you is very low. "

On 30 July, the Ministry of Enterprise and Made in Italy published the directorial decree containing the national calendar in which the deadlines by which all DAB+ frequencies not in the possession of holders of the right of use, must be switched off. The ministerial measure responds to the need to proceed with the implementation of the PNAF-DAB, through the activation of the networks for which rights of use have been granted. Rights of use have been issued to national network operators for the frequencies in the VHF-III band for the DAB+ digital radio broadcasting service. In the local areas, the first rights of use issued to local network operators concern the catchment areas of Emilia Romagna, Marche, Liguria, Valle d'Aosta, Tuscany, Lazio, Campania, Piedmont and Sardinia.

On 30 July 2024, the DGTEL of the Ministry of Enterprise and Made in Italy (MIMIT) published the list of expressions of interest received of consortium companies admitted to the procedures for the assignment of the rights of use of frequencies for the terrestrial digital radio broadcasting service under the PNAF-DAB for the catchment area no. 18 - Calabria. With today's announcement, MIMIT's DGTEL has completed the publication of all the lists of expressions of interest received for the 21 catchment areas planned by Agcom (19 regional catchment areas plus two catchment areas for the autonomous provinces of Trento and Bolzano). In the coming weeks, the next comparative selection phase will begin in the catchment areas where the direct assignment of frequencies by the Ministry was not possible.

The hr programme service can already be received almost everywhere in Hesse on frequency block 7B in the new DAB+ mobile standard. On 25 July 2024, the Herborn-Burg transmitter in central Hesse began regular DAB+ operation for hr programmes. The new transmitter provides DAB+ reception in large parts of your home in Dillenburg, Herborn, Burg and the surrounding area. From now on, it will also provide stable DAB+ mobile reception in cars in this region. The further expansion of the DAB transmitter network for 2024 and 2025 is currently being planned.