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Audio and radio consultant Matt Deegan analyses the latest UK RAJAR radio audience figures: "DAB has its highest ever reach with 71.4% of the UK (that’s 36.2m people) tuning in. AM/FM is listened to by 55.3% and 29.4% consume through a smart speaker. When we look at share - the amount of listening - DAB is the largest with 42.8%, AM/FM’s hit a new low at 26.3% with DTV at 2.7%. 11.1% of listening is through a phone, the web or internet radios whilst 17% of all listening is through a smart speaker (a new high). The changing nature of consumption means DAB is pretty essential for radio stations now - if you don’t show up on that dial, the available time people can give to you is very low. "

On 30 July, the Ministry of Enterprise and Made in Italy published the directorial decree containing the national calendar in which the deadlines by which all DAB+ frequencies not in the possession of holders of the right of use, must be switched off. The ministerial measure responds to the need to proceed with the implementation of the PNAF-DAB, through the activation of the networks for which rights of use have been granted. Rights of use have been issued to national network operators for the frequencies in the VHF-III band for the DAB+ digital radio broadcasting service. In the local areas, the first rights of use issued to local network operators concern the catchment areas of Emilia Romagna, Marche, Liguria, Valle d'Aosta, Tuscany, Lazio, Campania, Piedmont and Sardinia.

On 30 July 2024, the DGTEL of the Ministry of Enterprise and Made in Italy (MIMIT) published the list of expressions of interest received of consortium companies admitted to the procedures for the assignment of the rights of use of frequencies for the terrestrial digital radio broadcasting service under the PNAF-DAB for the catchment area no. 18 - Calabria. With today's announcement, MIMIT's DGTEL has completed the publication of all the lists of expressions of interest received for the 21 catchment areas planned by Agcom (19 regional catchment areas plus two catchment areas for the autonomous provinces of Trento and Bolzano). In the coming weeks, the next comparative selection phase will begin in the catchment areas where the direct assignment of frequencies by the Ministry was not possible.

The hr programme service can already be received almost everywhere in Hesse on frequency block 7B in the new DAB+ mobile standard. On 25 July 2024, the Herborn-Burg transmitter in central Hesse began regular DAB+ operation for hr programmes. The new transmitter provides DAB+ reception in large parts of your home in Dillenburg, Herborn, Burg and the surrounding area. From now on, it will also provide stable DAB+ mobile reception in cars in this region. The further expansion of the DAB transmitter network for 2024 and 2025 is currently being planned.

Ofcom’s annual Media Nations report is a research report for industry, policymakers, academics and consumers, capturing evolving consumer behaviours and key trends in the media sector, and setting out how audiences are served in the UK. The new 2024 report states that "DAB remains the most popular platform for radio listening, accounting for 42.6% of hours and up by 2.8 percentage points in the past year." The regulator also reveals that one in four UK homes can now receive small-scale DAB services. "Since March 2023, licensing and build-out of small-scale DAB services has continued around the UK, increasing household coverage of small-scale DAB from 13.8% in March 2023 to 25.6% a year later," it says.

The Bavarian transmitters Pfaffenhofen am der Ilm/Wolfsberg and Gelbelsee, which operate within the single-frequency network for the Ingolstadt DAB+ multiplex, have been supplemented by a new site. Specifically, Eichstätt/Wintershof. This site has not been used for digital radio purposes at all so far. The transmitter has regional coverage. The Ingolstadt local network (channel 6A) launched its third transmitter in the DAB+ standard at the end of June. In addition to the existing sites in Pfaffenhofen-Wolfsberg and Gelbelsee, it will now boost DAB+ reception in the Eichstätt region. The transmitter operates with an ERP radiated power of 1 kW. The operator of the regional network is Bayern Digital Radio GmbH.

Two former competitors for the Inverclyde SSDAB multiplex licence have joined forces to bid for two of the Round 6 licence areas. Caledonia TX Ltd and Lanarkshire based C.I. Broadcasting have formed Lanarkshire DAB and North Ayrshire Broadcasting to bid for the respective area licences. Spencer Pryor of C.I. Broadcasting told RadioToday: “It makes a lot of sense to join forces and submit a single strong application for these areas. We would have bid for Lanarkshire on our own account as our EKlipse Radio station, which has been on the East Kilbride landscape since the late 1990s when we applied for an FM SALLIE licence, will now have a means to broadcast to its own locality. Coupled with Caledonia TX’s engineering skills and knowledge we are sure we can make Lanarkshire a great place to listen to local DAB radio.”

Příbram's Teleko digital is preparing for the launch of its multiplex on the Frýdek-Místek - Lysá hora transmitter with final parameters. "The next steps are to retune the Frýdek-Místek transmitter, replace the directional antenna with an omnidirectional one and increase the power, which will significantly improve the coverage of northern Moravia and Silesia. We are looking forward to finally delivering the TELEKO DAB multiplex signal in the required quality to this region," said the company's managing director Tomáš Řapek. The operator is also working to significantly improve coverage of South Moravia and the Zlín Region. Teleko has a kilowatt transmitter operating on channel 11C directly in Zlín.

On 26 July 2024, the DGTEL of the Ministry of Enterprise and Made in Italy (MIMIT) published on the Ministry's website the list of expressions of interest received of consortium companies admitted to the procedures for the assignment of rights of use of frequencies for the terrestrial digital radio broadcasting service as per the PNAF-DAB for the following catchment areas: 04A - Autonomous Province of Trento; 13 - Abruzzo; 16 - Apulia; and 17 - Basilicata.

The spotlight is on as the finalists for the 35th Australian Commercial Radio & Audio (ACRA) Awards are revealed, with the winners to be crowned at a night of celebration at The Star in Sydney on Saturday, 12 October. Nominees for Most Innovative DAB Format are: amplifyCBR | Club Lime Radio; Canberra, ACT, ARN/SCA; iHeartTrivia; iHeartRadio Team, National, NSW, ARN; NIGE!; amplifyCBR Team, Canberra, NSW, ARN/SCA; TikTok Trending; iHeartRadio Team, National, NSW, ARN; and Triple M Country; SCA DAB+ Team, Triple M Country, Sydney, NSW, SCA. “With 1159 entries this year, 361 finalists, and only 71 awards up for grabs the competition is fiercer than ever. The talent on display is truly special, and we are thrilled to see such a diverse array of voices ready to shine as showtime approaches,” said Jo Dick, Commercial Radio & Audio (CRA) chief commercial officer.