News

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.

On 11 July, at Rambouillet, there was a demonstration in support of digital radio. This demonstration was supported by Continental Mediamobile, FIP, France Culture, France Inter, RVE andYvelines Radio.

On 11th July at Rambouillet, there was a demonstration to support digital radio. For this demonstrations, two vehicles were equipped with a Continental digital receiver and the event was supported by Continental Mediamobile, FIP, France Culture, France Inter and RVE.

The tide is turning in favour of Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB). In fact, the motor industry is helping to drive Britain’s uptake in DAB. According to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), in April-June 2013 only 38% of new cars had DAB as standard equipment. In 2011, that figure was just 12 per cent. The most recent figures it has show 55% of the new cars sold had DAB as standard.