News

NextRadioTV has applied in the tender for nationwide DAB+ radio licences for three stations. Aside from its existing channels RMC and BFM Business, the company plans to launch a news station called BFM Radio.

One month after its launch, the new DAB+ logo has already proven to be a success as the number of parties implementing it continues to grow. The logo has been particularly popular amongst retailers, broadcasters and manufacturers across Europe.

DAB+ has taken a major step forward in France as the four major private radio groups in the country - M6, NextRadioTV, Lagardere and NRJ - submit their applications to broadcast in DAB+.

The annual DAB+ symposium organised by the Flemish Regulatory body for the Media, the launch of DAB+ across both French and Flemish-speaking parts of the country and the new digital radio directive imposed by the EU - all of which took place in November - are endorsing DAB+ as it continues to prosper across Europe.

The leading national classical music radio station in France has announced its plans to broadcast in DAB+ standard.

DAB+, which is set to replace FM across Belgium in coming years, requires less bandwidth to operate, offers an improved sound quality, and generates less electromagnetic radiation.

A new directive adopted by the EU will require car manufacturers to implement DAB+ in all new car models sold in Europe as of 2021. A two-year transition period ending in December 2020 is set to follow, at which point DAB+ radio will become a mandatory measure for all new cars sold across the EU member states.

Speaking at the WorldDAB General Assembly in Berlin, WorldDAB president Patrick Hannon highlighted that the future of radio is undoubtedly digital and multiplatform, with DAB at the heart of it. DAB+ radio is becoming increasingly popular across the globe - in Australia, it has reached 65% of coverage. In Belgium, both French and Flemish governments have now launched DAB+, while in Italy, all receivers sold as of 2020 will be required to include DAB+. Finally, Switzerland is expected to complete the DSO between 2020 and 2024.

According to the latest figures from the Dutch Central Bureau for Statistics (CBS), people in the Netherlands are increasingly interested in DAB+ radio, as about 13% of Dutch people currently own a radio with DAB + capabilities. In 2016, only 6% of Dutch people had a radio set with DAB + while this number rose to 11% in 2017.

The new regulation, which will require all new cars built and sold in the EU to be equipped with digital radio receivers, is expected to be implemented by EU member countries in 2019.