News

We sent our reporter Nigel Cash out and about this morning to help Gordon in Allestree re-tune his DAB radio. Here he is enjoying listening to BBC Radio Derby.

The Government is among those hoping it will be second time lucky for renewed attempts to launch a second national DAB multiplex. Last week, Bauer Radio and UTV Media became the first to announce a partnership with the transmission company Arqiva – which runs the first digital multiplex – to bid for the so-called D2 licence. The original digital multiplex is full to capacity with 14 stations, including Bauer’s Absolute Radio and UTV’s talkSPORT. It is promised that D2 will be able to transmit at least ten new national stations.

Radio listeners in Derby will now be able to enjoy their favourite local stations in digital quality. It follows the switching on of a new DAB digital radio transmitter at Quarndon, on the outskirts of the city. It means that 350,000 listeners will be able to tune into five local stations on their digital radios – BBC Radio Derby, Gem 106, Capital East Midlands, Heart and Gold.

The European Investment Bank, has agreed to provide GBP 190 million to support investment by Arqiva in a range of new critical national infrastructure projects. This includes the roll out of smart metering across the north of England and Scotland, as well as the expansion of digital radio.

Czech transmission company, Ceske Radiokomunikace will add 16 transmitters to the DAB+ pilot project, according to Telecompaper. The installation of the additional transmitters, which will be located in Prague and its surroundings, begins July 31. In total, the Prague DAB testing multiplex, covering most of city, will broadcast 16 channels. When the pilot launched on March 25, the multiplex included four channels — Cesky rozhlas Vltava, Cesky rozhlas Wave, Evropa 2 and RockZone.

Czech Radiokomunikace is expanding the number of transmitters in the pilot project of digital radio broadcasting. From 31 July, it will add 16 transmitters in Prague and environs. In total, the Prague DAB testing multiplex covering most of Prague will broadcast 16 channels.

Cornish local commercial radio station Pirate FM is making final preparations for the launch of a new spin-off service on local DAB digital radio and online. Pirate 2 will launch on 4th August, and is understood to be taking over the DAB slot currently used to simulcast the main FM station across Cornwall. Pirate MD Mark Peters said: "This is really us taking the local heritage of Pirate FM to a brand new and really exciting level, where we can deliver huge amounts of new content to our loyal listenership and new listeners as well.

A number of local stations will be broadcasting live from the official switch event of Arqiva’s new DAB digital radio transmitter in Derbyshire. The additional transmitter means BBC Radio Derby, Gem 106, Capital, Heart and Gold will be available locally on digital radio for the first time, and is the last region of the midlands to get local DAB.

TRACE group, which is mainly aimed at young urban generation, has launched its FM radio TRACE in Paris, following the broadcasting licenses in Terrestrial Digital Radio (DAB) granted by the CSA. The cities of Marseille and Nice will soon be involved. The press release to introduce the project explained that TRACE FM is a "musical radio and expression to the new urban generation that constitute the heart of Target Trace since the group's inception in 2003" .

The migration is made conditional on the expansion of DAB+ coverage which, by that date, has to equal the reach of the existing FM infrastructure for the Klassik Radio service. BR has been committed to accompany the switch with a information and advertising campaign, thus guaranteeing that the majority of the BR Klassik audience will be adequately informed.