News

The Norwegian Media Authority allocates NOK 8.2 million in operating support for digitisation of local radio this year, almost doubling the support from 2022. The Norwegian Media Authority is keen to support the transition to DAB in local radio stations. The finances of local radio stations are vulnerable, and we believe it is necessary and right to increase operating support for digitalisation this year, both for each individual radio station and for the companies that operate DAB systems," says Hanne Nistad Sekkelsten, Director of the Legal and Regulatory Department at the Norwegian Media Authority.

WorldDAB – the global industry forum for DAB digital radio – is bringing together experts from around the world for a workshop at the Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union’s Digital Broadcasting Symposium (ABU DBS) in Malaysia. WorldDAB is exhibiting throughout the event on stands 17 and 18, with members GatesAir and Paneda joining the pavilion.

From Thursday 23 February, Radio Orient programmes are now available in Nîmes and also in Perpignan on DAB+. These new launches bring the number of areas operated by Radio Orient to 39 on DAB+ and 11 on FM. This makes Radio Orient one of the largest networks currently broadcasting via digital radio. Other important new sectors will be launched during 2023.

Radio FG has started broadcasting its programme on DAB+ in Montpellier, Nîmes, Perpignan, Narbonne and Béziers, and will cover a large part of Languedoc-Roussillon. Maison FG publishes a radio bouquet of four stations on DAB+: FG DJ Radio, already present in 41 cities, FG CHIC, haute couture music in Paris and Monaco, Maxximum, the Paris Electronic Radio in Paris and DanceOne for a young audience with EDM programming in Paris, Marseille and Nice.

In the Belgian East Cantons, BRF's first DAB+ transmitter went on air via Block 8A on Wednesday during the afternoon. These are still preliminary test transmissions via Raeren-Petergensfeld with a power of 2 kW. The mux currently contains only the services BRF 1 and BRF 2. RadioVisie announced the arrival of this own mux for German-speaking Belgium back in October last year. Originally, they hoped to get something on the digital airwaves as early as the end of November, but due to the early winter and the lack of appropriate landlines at remote broadcast locations, the rollout had to be temporarily postponed.

Public education and journalism for the whole country are emphasised in the government's directives to the new public service inquiry. The Government believes that broadcasting over the terrestrial network will continue to be important in the coming licence period, particularly in the case of radio, and has commissioned the inquiry to investigate whether there is a need to expand Swedish Radio's DAB+ broadcasting.

Digital terrestrial radio (DAB+) continues to expand in French cities. After Caen and Le Havre at the beginning of February, listeners in Montpellier will be able to listen to digital terrestrial radio and discover Ado, "the mythical hip-hop and R&B radio station", as well as Oüi FM, "the only French rock radio station". "With DAB+, listening to the radio becomes easier and more enjoyable," explains the 1981 Group. "All the stations available around you simply appear as a list on the receiver's screen. To choose Ado or Oüi FM, simply select the name of the radio on a DAB+ compatible device."

Fix Radio - the UK's digital radio station for builders - are on the lookout for Britain’s filthiest builder's radio. The national DAB+ station says it's looking for "a radio that is so filthy, that it probably breaches health and safety guidelines, and is so dirty it could be considered art. If you think you've got Britain's Filthiest Builder's Radio all you need to do is send us a picture and you could be in with the chance of winning a brand new DAB Radio!" The winners will receive a Bosch GPB18V-5SC DAB+ cordless site radio.

SRG's DAB+ transmitter networks are among the best in the world. This is the result of years of experience and know-how, which is now available in an international report. The 50-page report "Measuring techniques for digital audio broadcast coverage performance", published by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) in March 2022, documents Swiss expertise in DAB+. It explains in particular how to ensure the quality of a DAB+ transmitter network. On the SRG side, Gils Glauser and Roberto Moro contributed to the report. If this report helps other countries and organisations to improve their DAB+ network, then we are very happy," says Moro, SRG Broadcast Service management specialist.

A new all-speech local radio station for Basingstoke has launched on the town’s newly-introduced small-scale DAB multiplex. BASINGSTOKE NOW shares local information and interesting people, places, and organisations on a continuous loop. Co-founder Harrison RB told RadioToday: “Most radio stations aim to drive listening hours, but we don’t expect our audience to be with us all day long. “BASINGSTOKE NOW is essentially your social media timeline but without any nonsense. It’s fast-paced and content-rich, so even if you tune in for ten minutes each time you’re guaranteed to learn something new about where you live.”