News

The National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) convened a meeting on 16 August with officials from the Public Relations Department (PRD) to discuss enhancements in broadcasting and television efficiency for the digital era. The meeting focused on gathering feedback from key broadcasting agencies and improving operational strategies for Radio Thailand and NBT, both holders of Type 3 public service licenses. PRD Director-General Sudruetai Lertkasem and other PRD executives provided insights into the broadcasting units' past performances and discussed ways to enhance content delivery across television, radio, and online platforms. Their discussions sought to leverage digital advancements to improve the reach and effectiveness of public broadcasting services. The collaboration between the NBTC and PRD highlights a joint commitment to adapt Thailand’s broadcasting services to the digital age, ensuring that they continue to serve the public effectively while embracing new technological advancements.

The Service des médias, de la connectivité et de la politique numérique (SMC) has just launched a call for applications for an operator's licence to set up, manage and nationally broadcast a first DAB+ multiplex in Luxembourg. Information on applications and specifications can be found on the SMC website: https://smc.gouvernement.lu/fr/dossiers/dab/dab.html. The deadline for submission of applications is 11 October 2024.

Westdeutscher Rundfunk (WDR) plans to launch a second DAB+ multiplex by next year at the latest. Here, the regional windows of WDR4 are to be broadcast digitally terrestrially for the first time, and selected windows of WDR2 are also to switch to this new coverage so that the bit rates of the remaining programmes in the first WDR mux (channel 11D) can be increased. WDR is currently testing the new transmitter network. Following the Aachen site, tests are now also being observed in the eastern Ruhr region, the Bergisches Land and Westphalia. WDR is currently testing further transmitter sites here.

The National Digital Infrastructure Inspectorate (RDI) has granted the first licences for commercial local radio on DAB+. The licences will take effect from 1 September. Should there be more valid applications than licences for an allotment there would be scarcity and an auction would take place. However, this is not necessary. ‘After assessing the applications, it was found that there is no scarcity. Permits have already been granted,’ the RDI said. A summary on the RDI's website now shows that licences have been granted to several commercial broadcasters. The local public and commercial radio stations must now sit down together to make agreements around the network rollout. The broadcasters have until 1 September 2025 to start their broadcasts.

DJ FM and POWER FM have joined the Kyiv DAB+ multiplex, which already brings together a number of popular radio stations. According to the industry community Telecom Circle, the new participants have joined the digital multiplex on channel 11D, marking the next stage in the development of digital radio broadcasting in Ukraine. The following radio stations are currently available in the Kyiv DAB+ multiplex: ARMY FM, DJ FM, POWER FM, PRIYAMIY FM, Prosto Radio, PROSTO MARIA, UA:RADIO PROMIN, UA:RADIO KULTURE and UKRAINSKE RADIO. The expansion of the digital broadcasting network is an important step in the development of the Ukrainian radio space, which helps to improve the quality of broadcasting and expand the audience.

Teleko digital, a company from Příbram, is planning a massive expansion of its radio network in the eastern part of the country. The company's managing director Tomáš Řapek confirmed this to the Digital Radio portal. By the end of August, the operator will launch the final transmitter in Vysočina, which will replace the existing channel 8A and other locations will follow. The most anticipated one is undoubtedly Velka Javorina located in Slovakia. The Strážník transmitter in Vysočina will be the next site on the final technical parameters granted by the Czech Telecommunications Office, following the Moravian-Silesian Lysá hora. At Strážník, channel 8A with a power of 1 kW will be switched off and re-tuned to frequency block 10D, which has been granted 5 kW by the CTU.

STUDIO GONG launches a state-wide marketing combination for the federal state of North Rhine-Westphalia. The NEW AUDIO KOMBI NRW comprises nine programmes, each of which can be received throughout the state via DAB+. The combined members are the 80s radio station harmony, bigFM NRW, ENERGY NRW, kulthitRADIO in NRW, Radio Paloma, Radio Paradiso, Radio Holiday, Schlager Radio and the most recently launched station STAR.FM NRW. All stations have a high technical reach and are broadcast via the state-wide DAB+ multiplex in NRW. Changing markets and user habits are creating new challenges for the media. For this reason, the Kombi covers all sections of the population with its different formats, from rock to pop to youth formats, and reaches new listeners in the middle of society in every relevant target group that the established programmes do not or no longer reach.

The Agency for Communications Networks and Services (Akos) has issued Radio Slovenia with decisions on the allocation of radio frequencies for the R4 and R5 multiplexes, i.e. the T-DAB+ digital terrestrial broadcasting networks in the whole territory of Slovenia. RTV Slovenia, which was the only bidder in the tender, has now become the operator of two more digital radio networks. RTV Slovenija already operates Slovenia's first DAB+ digital radio network, the R1 multiplex, which is available throughout Slovenia, a second network, or the R2 multiplex, which is divided into east and west, and the R3 network, which is available in central Slovenia, Akos said. The company will have to start operating the R4 multiplex within 199 days and the R5 multiplex within 249 days after the decisions have been notified.

Telecomms companies RTI cz and Teleko digital are distributing their multiplexes for the Czech capital from a new transmitting antenna. This is according to information available to the Digital Radio portal. The new mast is located on the roof of the Spartakiada stadium in Strahov. The switchover of the original to the new DAB+ transmitter took place on Monday afternoon, the short outage lasted only a few minutes. The connection to the large antenna at the Strahov stadium is mainly a preparation of the first-named company for the launch of the Strahov transmitter on channel 8D - the existing licence for channel 5A expires at the end of the year.

The shooting star of the current Media-Analyse ma 2024 Audio II will also delight Saarlanders with "Xtreme Party Music" in future. The music mix of rock, 90s dance and party hits is unique in the Saar-Lor-Lux region. Harald Gehrung, CEO of the ffn-mediengruppe: "I am personally very pleased that RADIO BOLLERWAGEN can now also be heard in my old home region. I lived in Saarbrücken for almost 15 years and know for a fact that almost no other region parties as well as Saarland." Mathias Bartels, Editor-in-Chief of RADIO BOLLERWAGEN: "The Saarland stands for joie de vivre and pure enjoyment - we are very proud to be part of this culture with the RADIO BOLLERWAGEN team from now on and will raise a glass to this with a delicious Zwickel!"