News

Germany’s public broadcasters are continuing the expansion of DAB+ coverage in their regions across that country. In Hesse, Hessischer Rundfunk is set to expand as a new transmitter at Hardberg will come on-air next summer. In the central part of the country, Mitteldeutscher Rundfunk is on the verge of a major re-organisation of its DAB+ networks in Saxony, Sanksen-Anhalt, and Thuringia. In the southwest portion of Germany, Südwestrundfunk (SWR) is available via channel 8D in the south portion of the state and on 9D in the northeast portion.

Most people instinctively think that DAB is only for digital radio. In some ways they are right. But they are also forgetting many important possibilities. To think of DAB as solely an audio distribution method is like buying a Leatherman multi tool and then only using the knife or the pliers.

June statistics revealed that sales of digital radio in Italy have tripled. This is good news but the total number of sales is still small. Recent sales are optimistic and extending digital radio in Italy will be the focus of the upcoming WorldDMB General Assembly, which takes place in Rome.

The BBC has launched a further twelve national DAB transmitters bringing the total number of transmitters to 278 and covering more than 95% of the UK population. This is part of the current phase of their digital radio network expansion plan bringing a further 2 million people into the coverage area and increasing coverage from 93% to 97% by the end of 2015. The roll out is not only adding new areas into the coverage of the network but also improving reception for existing listeners in certain areas.

Radio operator Norkring has plans to bring a DAB+ network on air in Brussels. The network would be a trial with two stations in the Belgian capital to encourage commercial radio stations get interested in digital terrestrial radio.

In Hamburg the media authority MA HSH has granted the digital radio platform to Media Broadcast. This is nationwide for the first time an entire transmission capacity of a DAB+ radio has been awarded to a platform operator to broadcast private radio programs.

The Media Council of Medienanstalt Hamburg / Schleswig-Holstein (MA HSH) Media Broadcast GmbH has allocated transmission capacity for the operation of a digital radio platform in the Hamburg area. This is nationwide for the first time the total transmission capacity of a DAB+ channel has been assigned to a broadcasting platform operators. At the same time so that in Northern Germany clears the way for the spread of the first regional program package with private radio services on DAB+.

The media council of the Hamburg commercial regulator (MA HSH) has allotted broadcasting capacities to Media Broadcast GmbH for the operation of a digital radio platform in the local area of Hamburg.

Trash Can Radio has become the latest new station to join the local DAB service covering Surrey and South London. The station describes itself as the home of "trashy Rock’n’Roll, Old School Rhythm & Blues, Punk, Ska, Rockabilly, 60s Garage punk and all other kinds of pure trash music." "We cover South London with 5 million potential listeners and our reach extends even to north of the Thames, you may receive our broadcasts even in Shoreditch!"

Ofcom has commenced a consultation exercise over proposed trials, which aim to provide smaller commercial and community radio stations with a low-cost gateway on to DAB digital radio.