News

Radio for classical music and operas? La Grande Musique" is the name of the station that has just started broadcasting its programmes on DAB+ throughout the Basque Coast: Biarritz, Bayonne, Bidart, Anglet, Saint-Jean-de-Luz and Hendaye, as well as Irun, Oiartzun and San Sebastian on the Spanish side. This is the first DAB+ frequency for "La Grande Musique".

Radiotelevisión Española has decided to join WorldDAB, the association that promotes the adoption of digital radio worldwide based on DAB/DAB+ standards. The future of radio broadcasting in Spain depends on the implementation of DAB+, as is the case in most European countries. Especially in the case of a public audiovisual service provider such as RTVE, whose mandate is to provide maximum social and geographical coverage, with the highest quality and technology available. It should be borne in mind that, as of today, the penetration of linear radio distributed over the Internet (streaming) is only 7% of the Spanish population.

Bauer Media Audio UK will bring more of its stations to more people, as it gets set to launch services on DAB+ with Absolute Radio Country and Absolute Classic Rock set to go national as they’re added to DAB+ next month. Since becoming 100% digital earlier this year, the Absolute Radio Network has welcomed its highest ever audience figures with 5.4million weekly listeners. This change means brings the total number of its stations available nationally on DAB to five. Magic Chilled, Magic Soul and Magic at the Musicals, Kerrang! Radio and heat Radio will also increase their UK coverage by making a similar move, as they broadcast on DAB+ across the UK. In addition, Absolute 80s, Absolute Radio 90s, Mellow Magic, Planet Rock and Scala Radio will move to DAB+ from D2.

Since 13 September, the DAB+ private radio network in southern Hesse (channel 12C) has also been broadcasting from Hohe Wurzel near Taunusstein. In addition, the transmitting power at the Hardberg and Großer Feldberg/Taunus locations was increased to 10 and 5 kilowatts, respectively, the broadcasting network operator Hessen Digital Radio (HDR) announced upon request. On Hessen North (channel 6A), also on 13 September, the transmission power was increased to 10 kilowatts at the Fulda Hummelskopf location. The Dünsberg site near Giessen in Central Hesse is expected to go on the air for the North Hesse network on 1 November.

A new purely digital radio station, Radio Energic, has announced its launch for 25 September. At the same time, the Pribram company will include it in its TELEKO DAB multiplex. Radio Energic will be available to tune in from all twelve DAB+ transmitters available in various parts of the Czech Republic. These are specifically Prague, Příbram, Trutnov, Hradec Králové, Liberec, Ústí nad Labem, Frýdek-Místek, Jihlava, Brno, Benešov, Olomouc and Zlín.

Boom Radio, which launched in February 2021 [and broadcasts nationally on DAB+], is booming. In that short time it has built a loyal audience of more than 641,000. Listeners tune in for over ten hours, on average, each week. Its founders are two commercial music radio stalwarts: David Lloyd and Phil Riley. Lockdown gave them the impetus to pursue a hunch that older listeners felt cut adrift by BBC Radio 2 and its commercial rivals. All those stations were targeting a working, aged 30-59 audience — for advertisers that’s where the money is supposed to be. But Boom is proof there’s gold in them there not-over-the-hills too.

A new factsheet on DAB+ digital radio in France has been produced for automotive manufacturers, as the country achieves over 50% DAB+ population coverage, and more than 60% to be covered by early 2024. The factsheet from WorldDAB - the global industry forum for DAB digital radio - was produced as part of the work of its Automotive Working Group, in partnership with network operator TDF, and RadioDNS which promotes hybrid radio. The new French DAB+ broadcast networks factsheet provides an essential guide for the automotive industry on what to expect to receive via digital radio in-car.

Now available on Global Player and DAB+, it’s Heart Xmas! This year our much-loved station is switching on earlier than ever before, with just over three months to go until the big day! Due to the growing popularity of Heart Xmas every year, this year the seasonal spin off station will be available on digital radio across the UK meaning Christmas fans can tune in from wherever they are in the UK on DAB+ as well as Global Player, bringing even wider coverage!

Radio in Germany turns 100. On 29 October 1923, the first broadcast of "entertainment radio" went over the airwaves from the Vox House in Berlin. Since then, the success story has been unstoppable. DAB+, the radio standard of today, continues the successful tradition. With the thematic focus "100 Years of Radio", a large prize draw of DAB+ devices will be launched on the ARD radio stations. From 26 October to 12 November, the joy of listening to the radio and enjoying the clear, digital sound via DAB+ will be the focus of a subsequent campaign period in which public radio stations, private radio stations, manufacturers and other members of the Digitalradio Büro Deutschland will participate.

DAB+ digital terrestrial radio continues to roll out across France. The number of radio stations available on DAB+ recently doubled in Angers, Limoges and Rennes. With its arrival in towns such as Bayonne, Besançon, Brest, Clermont-Ferrand, Metz, Nancy and Pau, this summer DAB+ passed the symbolic milestone of covering 50% of the French population. A trial has also been underway in Martinique since January. With the continued roll-out of national antennas between October 2023 and March 2024, more than 60% of the population will be covered by DAB+ by early 2024. A national communications campaign will be launched shortly to raise awareness of the benefits of digital radio among the general public.