News

Rajar's Q3 2014 radio listening report reveals that the biggest digital only stations are continuing to grow this quarter, as Absolute 80s, 6 Music and The Hits all increase their audiences. And overall, digital radio listening share has grown by 6% to a record high of almost 38% (37.8%). Ford Ennals, CEO of Digital Radio UK, says: “Digital listening has grown to a new high of 37.8% driven by record performances of digital only stations and the strong growth of digital listening in cars. The future of UK radio is definitely digital and it is pleasing to see the success of the new innovative digital only stations with so many more drivers now enjoying them in their cars. Digital radio is good news for the radio sector and good news for listeners.”

On average a listener tunes in to 21.4 hours of radio per week, with listening to radio via a digital platform - in terms of weekly reach - exceeding over half of the UK population. 27.4 million people now tune in to radio via a digitally enabled receiver.

Radio marketing STUDIO GONG has extended its portfolio of digital radio stations in Bavaria.

Five years ago the brothers Tom and Tore Vedvik started making their first DAB-radio. Through partners in the UK and Asia they secured the best technology and an efficient production process. The brothers simply believed that radios are becoming more important in our lives. Today the internet radio with DAB and FM radio lets you listen to your favourite radio stations from all over the world, right in the comfort of your own house and without the need of a PC.

Three years after the launch of digital radio, MeinungsBarometer have published the first Digital Radio DAB+ Auto report. Broken down by brand, the report ranks car manufactures by the level of the equipment, customer interest, sales success and forecasts. To complete the survey, decision makers for all relevant German car brands were interviewed.

A connected car without traditional radio services is unthinkable according to Dr. Birgit Spanner-Ulmer, Production and Technical Director of BR at IFA 2014, referencing the excellent digital radio activities of Skoda who aim to equip all of their new vehicles with DAB+ by 2017.

In the first digital radio survey of all car manufacturers represented in the German market, Skoda has ranked first in both overall standings as well as high scores in individual categories for "plans of the manufacturer" and "sales ranking". Second place ranking went to VW with third place shared by Honda, Rolls-Royce, Bentley and Aston Martin. Alf Pollex at VW "sees DAB+ as an evolutionary step in classical radio listening".

The Bavarian archiving system is already operating as a prototype in the nation-wide and Munich network of Bayern Digital Radio.

After being a DAB radio black spot for a long time, coverage on the Island has finally increased touching many areas where it hadn’t reached previously. Are you included?

This week, our sister union, the Arab State Broadcasting Union (ASBU) organised a two-day symposium on Digital Radio at its headquarters in Tunis together with WorldDMB. Various speakers, from broadcasters and operators to industry, came to share their experience, best practice and deployment strategies for Digital Radio in Europe.