News

North Yorkshire-based community service Drystone Radio has added itself to the newly launched East Lancashire small-scale DAB multiplex. The station says it is launching a new station for East Lancashire after extending and rebroadcasting its output on DAB in Bradford earlier this year. Drystone Radio was founded in 1998 as a registered charity to promote active community involvement in regeneration and social inclusion, and to enhance diversity and inclusion.

On 6 November, at the start of Belgium’s “Week van de digitale radio” (Digital Radio Week), the digital radio group Digitale Radio Vlaanderen published the results of a bi-annual survey by research company IPSOS on radio consumption in the Dutch-speaking part of Belgium. The survey, assigned by Benjamin Dalle, Minister for Media, Youth and Brussels in the government of Flemish Minister-President Jan Jambon, revealed a significant increase in digital radio usage. Close to half (49%) of radio consumption is now through digital media like DAB+, internet and digital TV, growing from 41% two years ago.

WorldDAB’s out-going President, Patrick Hannon is the recipient of this year’s WorldDAB Outstanding Service Award. Hannon has stepped down after ten years as President of the global forum for DAB digital radio, having been elected and re-elected five times. The award was presented by the new President, Jacqueline Bierhorst, as part of WorldDAB’s General Assembly, its annual event for members held this year in Munich, Germany. Presenting the award, Bierhorst described Hannon as “a remarkable individual whose exceptional contribution has significantly advanced the cause of DAB and DAB+ digital radio.”

The South Tyrolean Civil Defence carried out a nationwide civil defence test alert in October. For the first time, the transmission of DLS scrolling texts and images via slideshows was used on all digital radio programmes DAB+ of the RAS and the local private stations. The scrolling texts and images were activated directly via the country's civil defence centre and broadcast on all RAS programmes. The information was broadcast on all channels and the test was successfully completed.

Great British Radio has secured a spot on the Sound Digital multiplex to take it across the vast majority of the UK on DAB+. The schedule will include Mike Osman on Breakfast, former Invicta and Heart in Ken Neil Kefford from 10am to 1pm, Cheryl Baker on afternoons and Chris Storey from 4pm to 7pm. It will expand from its current local DAB multiplex in Hampshire on December 4th 2023. CEO Mike Osman told RadioToday above the move: “Great British Radio was born to entertain. We are an upbeat station, a positive station, something different. And now, with the national DAB licence, we can reach even more people. We can’t wait to bring Great British Radio to the Great British public."

Country radio station The WOLF can now also be heard in the districts of Bad Kreuznach, Mainz-Bingen, Rheingau and Wiesbaden via DAB+. It broadcasts on channel 12A from a location near Bad Kreuznach. A local DAB+ multiplex has been broadcasting from there for several years as a trial operation. The WOLF has been on air in Lower Saxony via DAB+ since the summer.

Digital radio week kicks off on 6 November. And digital radio has become indispensable. New figures from the biennial survey conducted by IPSOS on behalf of Flemish Media Minister Benjamin Dalle show that Flanders is embracing digital radio listening. Almost half (49%) of radio listening today is done digitally (DAB+, internet, digital TV). A nice increase compared to 2021, when digital channels accounted for 41% of listening volume. With strong growth from 19% (2021) to 30%, DAB+ in particular is taking an increasing share of total listening time. DAB+ is the main driver behind the switch from FM to digital. More and more people are listening to DAB+ at home, at work, but especially in the car - with a notable increase from 34% to 48%.

DAB+ coverage will improve from Sternberg via Dabel, Borkow, Lohmen and Dobbertin to Goldberg. On Tuesday, 7 November, a new DAB+ transmitter will go into operation in Zehna. This will also make reception inside buildings along the B 192 motorway easier in future. All NDR radio programmes can be received there on block 12B (225.648 MHz).

NOVA Entertainment this week announced the return of the national streaming station, home to dance hits and club classics from the world’s biggest DJs. Curated to fine tune your focus, level-up your workout and energise you for the day – or night – ahead, Nova Nation is available online, through smart speakers or via the Nova Player. It’s also available to listeners in Brisbane on DAB+.

DAB+ reception is being further improved in Hamburg. Anyone commuting to Hamburg from Lower Saxony or Schleswig-Holstein will also be able to receive NDR 1 Welle Nord and NDR 1 Niedersachen throughout the city and in the Elbe Tunnel from Monday, 6 November at 10:05 am. Specifically, the Hamburg DAB+ multiplex 10 A will be expanded to include the regional programmes NDR 1 Welle Nord (Norderstedt region) and NDR 1 Niedersachsen (Lüneburg region). The previous broadcasting of the Schleswig-Holstein DAB multiplex (10 C) from the Moorfleet transmitter will be replaced by the new service.