News

DAB+ combines classic broadcasting with digital diversity, and seeing as it does not need internet to function, digital radio releases radio frees up internet bandwidth that is urgently needed in times of crisis. More importantly, news and information programs are broadcast both nationwide as well as regionally in the federal states.

The public broadcaster has launched P3 on DAB+ in Stockholm, as well as Gothenburg, Malmö and Norrbotten. In addition, Swedish Radio has also launched its largest station, P4, regionally in Gothenburg, Malmö and Norrbotten. Swedish Radio is allowed to broadcast nine digital channels in Stockholm and Norrbotten and 10 in Gothenburg and Malmö.

A senior executive at the BBC, David Witherow CBE, was the first president of WorldDAB from 1995 to 1997. He was in charge of the start-up of the BBC’s DAB services in 1995 and in recognition, he received the WorldDAB Award for Outstanding Service (Per Erik Selemark Award) in 2000. Much loved by all who worked with him, one said "he was the gentlest of men, tolerant, understanding, wise, with a warm sense of humour”.

Commercial Radio Australia’s CEO, Joan Warner, says the role of radio during the coronavirus outbreak is more important than ever, highlighting that all 260 commercial radio stations around Australia – including 220 in regional areas - have contingency plans and procedures in place to work with emergency and essential services organisations to ensure accurate and timely broadcasts as required.

Radiodays Europe has announced new dates for the Lisbon 2020 conference, which will now be held on 13-15 December 2020. The event is postponed until late in the year because of Coronavirus COVID-19. All tickets purchased for Radiodays Europe 2020 in March are valid for the new dates in December. The location for the conference remains the same, the Centro de Congresses de Lisbon (CCL) in Portugal.

WorldDAB's updated report reveals how the switchover has impacted Norway’s radio listening figures. Amongst a number of key findings, the report indicates stabilised listening levels around 62 – 64% daily and 86-88% weekly reach, while a total of 650,000 DAB+ radios were sold in Norway in 2019, 210,000 of those in cars.

Germany's digital radio organisation has added new features enabling consumers to access an FQA on Germany's new digital radio law, as well as making DAB+ advertising information and promotional material available to equipment manufacturer and retailers - including corporate design packages, training material and social media guidelines.

The Sangean Aquatic 205 is a waterproof DAB+ station designed to keep dust out of the receiver. Users can add up to eight favourite stations (4 DAB+ / 4 FM) and the receiver also includes Bluetooth.

Kontakt Radio and Misjonsradioen (Mission Radio), two popular radio stations in Sandefjord - a city located in the region of Vestfold, Eastern Norway - are now available to listeners on DAB+.

The number of DAB+ stations in northern Germany is on the rise, with Media Broadcast launching three new stations in the cities of Bremen, Bremerhaven and Lübeck. More stations are also expected to launch in the region in the coming months.