News

2014 has been a year of firsts. Amongst the list of achievements: a new Metro survey provider with GfK including new Gold Standard software, New Regional Radio Survey methodology introduced, and we have seen some big increases with Digital Radio listening. But it's not all smooth sailing either, a few challenges lay ahead, be it internet streaming or the rollout of DAB+ to regional markets.

Over the past two years there has been an increase in the number of DAB radios in the home, with the 67-79 year olds increasingly making up a significant proportion of digital radio listeners.

According to Tel Tarif, state media authorities want to explore the potential of DAB+ for broadcasters by putting it to the test.

The DAB+ channel proposed by Sound Digital has yet to be allocated to a content provider, according to its application for the Digital 2 DAB licence.

Ofcom has named Listen2Digital and Sound Digital in the running for the second national, commercial digital radio multiplex in the UK, which will deliver around 15 new national DAB stations from 2016. Ofcom invited applications in July 2014 to operate a new DAB multiplex and said bids will be assessed on the innovation they can bring to the UK radio industry and audiences.

The radio industry mourns the passing of Fabrizio Guidi, President of Club DAB Italia.

IRC Nordic has produced audio products since 2001 and is among the Danish leading suppliers of DAB radios. Introducing the new product line, new and larger sales channels have paved the way for more important markets, and IRC expects establishment on 9-10 markets and representation in more than 800 shops during 2015.

Absolute Radio 70s has been spotted testing on satellite in a major distribution boost for the offshoot of Absolute Radio.

UTV has also reached an agreement with the Virgin Group to relaunch the Virgin Radio brand on the new network. Which is slightly ironic, as the original Virgin Radio morphed into Absolute Radio after its sale to the Times Of India Group in 2008, and that brand is now owned by Bauer.

Sound Digital, a joint venture between Arqiva, Bauer and UTV, has applied for the national digital radio licence offered by Ofcom last year, under the promise that it will deliver access to 15 "distinctive" national digital radio stations. The application, subject to approval, will see UTV launch three original speech stations - talkRADIO, talkSPORT 2 and talkBusiness - while Bauer will offer a range of music stations, including Magic Mellow, KISSTORY, heat radio, Absolute 80s and Planet Rock. Virgin Radio would also be set to return to UK airwaves under a partnership between the Virgin Group and UTV, which will see Sound Digital offer a non-mainstream music station which Jazz FM has signed an agreement to provide.