News

The German public broadcaster's radio stations - which did not benefit from great coverage in Eastern Germany on FM - are now available to the majority of DAB+ listeners in the region, with 97% and 99% coverage in the states of Saxony and Saxony-Anhalt respectively.

Switzerland's Online PC magazine puts six different DAB+ radios to the test, including the Panasonic RF-D100BT, Pure Evoke C-F6 and StreamR, and the Roberts Revival iStream 3.

In this series of interviews with WorldDAB members, Alexander Erk from Institut für Rundfunktechnik (IRT) explains what markets and solutions are supported by IRT, as well as highlighting some of the projects recently carried out by the company.

Top FM has launched on DAB+ in the greater Marseille area. The station is also available to listeners on DAB+ in Aix-en-Provence, Aubagne and Marignane.

A DAB+ trial on air in Croatia has been been renewed for the third year running. As part of the trial, which is operasted by OIV, population coverage in Croatia currently stands at 88%.

The UK’s first radio station devoted exclusively to podcasts has launched in London. Podcast Radio broadcasts on DAB+ digital radio, showcasing podcast content from around the world.

New stations are now available to listeners on DAB+ in the north of Germany, with RadioWeser.TV launching in the state of Bremen, and Radio Arabica in Berlin. A new DAB+ transmitter also went into a operation in Wertheim at the start of the month, providing DAB+ reception to listeners in the district of Main-Tauber.

Pointing to broadcast radio as a solution that will help alleviate some of the pressure on telecoms operators, Towercast's Raphaël Eyraud said the planned launches of DAB+ services in parts of southwestern France, as well as the launch of national DAB+ services are still on track to be completed this year, although the impact of the pandemic on the timing of these launches may need to be reassessed.

The DR 53 DAB+ digital radio adaptor enables crystal-clear digital radio reception as well as Bluetooth coupling so that music can be transferred from the smartphone, Spotify or Amazon Music to the existing stereo system in the living room. With a four inch colour display, DAB slideshows, station logos, album covers, pictures and news can be viewed.

Touching on the difficult times ahead for independent radio stations in France, SIRTI president Alain Liberty pointed to public funding, and financial help for the deployment DAB+, as potential solutions for independent radio stations facing uncertain futures.