News

In June 2024, SWR will put a new location in the upper Ahr valley near Kesseling into operation, significantly improving digital radio reception at home and on the move. Südwestrundfunk (SWR) is further expanding its transmitter network for DAB+ digital radio reception in Rhineland-Palatinate. The Oberes Ahrtal/Kesseling site will go into operation on 11 June 2024, improving DAB+ coverage along the L85 between Ahrbrück and Staffel and the L90 between Kesseling and Weidenbach in frequency block (channel) 11A.

The NBTC Office held a meeting to listen to public opinions on three draft NBTC announcements related to DAB+ digital broadcasting. The NBTC has made the draft announcements to support the licensing of digital radio services. Air Chief Marshal Thanaphan Raicharoen, NBTC committee member, said that the draft announcement has principles for the cost-effective use of radio frequencies. Thailand has been broadcasting radio for more than 94 years, and until now analogue frequencies have always been used. Due to the high usage and limited resources, the NBTC has now chosen DAB+ technology on the 174-230 MHz frequency band to provide the digital radio service, providing good sound quality, resistance to interference, and supporting voice and data. The draft announcement consists of important parts: basic principles of planning, essential points, and summary of operational guidelines.

WorldDAB President, Jacqueline Bierhorst writes: "At the end of last year, I was honored and delighted to be elected as the new president of WorldDAB, the global industry forum for DAB+ digital radio. I’m succeeding Patrick Hannon whose leadership, enthusiasm and vision helped shape WorldDAB’s course for the past 10 years. Under his guidance, we’ve witnessed the exponential growth of DAB+ globally. Listeners love to listen to their favorite radio station via DAB+. Compared to FM, listeners have more choice and digital sound quality, and reception is usually better than before. Experience and research show that listeners use radio via DAB+ as they used to do via FM. In countries where DAB+ is well established, we see a significant decline in FM usage and increasing use of the various digital reception methods, with DAB+ as the heart of the broadcasting ecosystem."

Air Chief Marshal Dr. Thanaphan Raicharoen, NBTC Committee Member for Broadcasting Affairs chaired a meeting summarising the results of the trial of DAB+ technology, with Lieutenant General Chamnan Changsat, President and CEO. It has tested both outdoor and indoor listening, as well as testing sending short messages and Emergency Warnings or breaking news. The test results were satisfactory, broadcasting quality is good in every sector, except in Chonburi, where parameters need to be adjusted in some areas. “The results of this experiment allow the NBTC office to receive useful information that can be further developed. The next step is to present it to the NBTC for approval in the criteria and methods for granting permission to create a network operator that can provide services to radio station operators in community, public and business categories,” said Air Chief Marshal Dr. Thanaphan.

AIMC (Asociación para la Investigación de Medios de Comunicación) has presented the results of the 10th edition of the study dedicated to radio, carried out through the AIMC Q PANEL, its panel of Internet users formed from the contacts of EGM (Estudio General de Medios) interviewees. The objective of the survey is to deepen the knowledge of individuals who listen to radio and have access to the Internet, in the interaction between analog and digital, expanding and complementing the usual information obtained through the EGM. DAB/DAB+ debuts as the channel of choice for Internet users with almost 3% of the audience. The car remains the most reported place to listen to radio in general: 59% of those who listened to radio yesterday did so in the car.

Good news for all listeners in the south of Saxony-Anhalt: radio SAW is expanding its accessibility via DAB+. To this end, a new transmitter site has been put into operation in Pettstedt near Weißenfels, significantly increasing reception in the Burgenland district. The radio SAW Managing Director Michael Mezödi is delighted: ‘The commissioning of the DAB+ transmitter site in Pettstädt closes a gap in the digital terrestrial broadcasting of VMG Medien's programmes. Our listeners can finally listen to radio SAW, ROCKLAND and 1 A Deutsche Hits in brilliant digital quality in the Burgenland district. This is made possible by VMG Medien's investment in the technical infrastructure of the DAB+ network.’

Patrizia Catenacci is the new director general of the General Directorate for Digital and Telecommunications - MIMIT's Higher Institute of Communications and Information Technology. TeleRadioMagazine: On DAB+ digital radio, what is the expected timeframe for the conclusion of the procedure? Patrizia Catenacci: "The commitment of the Directorate is considerable considering the number of expressions of interest received for all catchment areas, which demonstrates the importance of this technology for the digital radio sector. It is the intention of the Ministry to conclude the examination of all the expressions of interest submitted, for all catchment areas, before the end of July, and to proceed with the issuance of the notices for the beauty contest procedure after the summer."

Australian commercial radio audiences continue to reach new heights, according to GfK Survey 3 2024, with 12.41 million listeners. Commercial Radio & Audio (CRA) welcomed the latest results, revealing year-on-year (YOY) growth in morning show listenership, now reaching a record number of 7.19 million. In-car listening saw considerable growth, with more than 10 million listeners. This additional 258,000 listeners mark a nearly 3% increase compared to the same period last year. “The rise in morning listenership, partnered with increased engagement during commutes, shows how seamlessly radio integrates into our lives,” said Jo Dick, CRA chief commercial officer. Morning listening time sits at an average of 2 hours 43 minutes for commercial DAB+ only stations.

Easy to receive via an aerial, digital noise-free and with additional information on the radio display: DAB+ digital radio offers added value and is now becoming even more diverse in Austria. The Austrian Communications Authority (KommAustria) is issuing licences to 28 radio stations to go ‘on air’ digitally on DAB+ on 21 June 2024. The new offering represents a diverse mix of completely new as well as established FM programmes, which will expand their reach digitally terrestrially. This brings the total DAB+ offering in Austria to 58 radio stations. "The new nationwide programme bouquet with 14 DAB+ radio stations will be technically available to 79% of the Austrian population via antenna from 21 June," explains Michael Ogris, Chairman of KommAustria. "Together with the first national DAB+ radio service with 84% population coverage launched in 2019, 30 radio programmes will then be broadcast digitally terrestrially at national level," says Ogris.

Capital, the UK’s No 1 hit music station, has launched a pop-up radio station, dedicated to Taylor Swift. Capital (Taylor’s Version) is being launched to celebrate the highly anticipated UK leg of Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour. It’s the first time in the UK that a national DAB radio station has been dedicated to a single artist. Capital are giving Swifties, one of the largest fan bases, the chance to listen to their favourite artist all-day, every-day with the ‘UK’s No 1 Swift Music Station’, Capital (Taylor’s Version). The station will be bringing listeners all the latest on Taylor Swift as she tours across the UK and hearing from fans attending pre and post shows. Capital (Taylor’s Version) is available across the UK on DAB digital radio, and on Global Player, the official Capital app, on your smart speaker (“play Capital Taylor’s Version”), iOS or Android device.