News

The Kia Soul has been launched with digital radio as standard and the company says other Kia models will be upgraded as soon as possible within the product life-cycle. The Kia Sportage, the brand’s best-selling car in the UK, will get digital radio when the all-new version is launched this year. The news was announced by the Korean Hyundai Kia Automotive Group at the international IBC conference in Amsterdam today.

Digital radio network coverage has continued to expand throughout Europe over the past year, according to a new report launched at IBC by WorldDMB, a global industry forum for digital radio promoting DAB, DAB+ and DMB. Many countries are already experiencing almost complete penetration of digital radio; it is now at 99% in Switzerland, 98% in Denmark, 95% in Netherlands, 94% in the UK and 91% in Germany. Although in pre-launch phase, Italy has already reached 65% population coverage.

The local DAB multiplex has been given permission to launch later this month on VHF Block 10B, instead of Block 10D, where it will broadcast five local stations, including BBC Somerset, Capital FM, Heart Somerset, Smooth Radio and a new service from Triple Hits.

Following recent long-term, trials EmiTel (Warszawa, Poland) has chosen VDL (Lyon, France) Multiplexing equipment for Polskie Radio (Warszawa, Poland) DAB+ digital radio network roll out across the major cities in Poland. Digital radio in Poland will increase coverage in another six cities. As a result, Polskie Radio programmes should be available in digital form to 30% of Poles by the end of the year.

A new radio station all about finance is launching on DAB in London this autumn. Share Radio will be dedicated to providing information on handling money and investments, and will primarily talk-based. It says it will have programmes to inform and empower listeners with the information they need to help them make better financial decisions. The station will be available online and DAB in London from Westminster but no launch date has been set.

In a recent article Staffan Rosell, CEO of Swedens largest commercial broadcaster SBS Radio, calls for more objective views on the switchover from FM to DAB+. In a segment in the “SR EKOT” radio programme to the Review Board, the switchover is reported to bring high costs with no or uncertain consumer benefits. "There is absolutely no evidence that the switchover from FM to DAB+ would cost hundreds of millions of crowns claimed in the article. Rather, distribution costs will be lower in the long term, and competition will be on equal terms when commercial radio can broadcast nationally," writes Rosell.

Triple Hits will play a mix of “21st century hits, Old Skool anthems and fresh new songs” and comes from the previous owners of Fire Radio in Bournemouth which was recently sold to Celador. The Triple Broadcast Co’s content subsidiary Fire Media will run the service and say the Triple Hits format is designed to appeal to the ‘radio in between’ generation – the gap between the Radio 1 audience and Radio 2.

A new prototype hybrid car adaptor has been unveiled by Radioplayer at the Next Radio Conference in London. The new device, which is fitted behind a dashboard, includes a dedicated app to use on the driver’s smartphone which acts as the radio interface. Michael Hill, Managing Director of Radioplayer, demonstrated the technology which scans DAB, DAB+, FM, and internet sources automatically selecting the best platform to deliver any station. If a signal is lost, it switches to the same station on another platform.

Radioplayer, the online listening platform run by the BBC and commercial radio, has unveiled a prototype car adapter which turns FM radios into DAB receivers. Developed in conjunction with automotive audio firm Connects2, the small device, fitted behind the dashboard, is controlled by a dedicated app on the driver's smartphone which, positioned safely in a dashboard cradle, acts as the radio interface.

From 16 September, Germany radio is receiving culture in modern broadcasting standard DAB +. By switching, more efficient audio coding and better sound quality can be achieved at a lower data rate.