News

1 January 2031 will be the target date to switch off radio listening via FM. By then, we will all have to listen digitally, either via DAB+, internet or digital TV. That is what a study by Imec-mict-UGent and BrightWolves commissioned by Media Minister Benjamin Dalle (CD&V) reveals. To be able to switch off FM, the study proposes the following criteria: the digital listening volume must be at least 65 per cent, at least 60 per cent of the Flemish car fleet must be equipped with a DAB+ receiver (by the end of 2023, this was 29 per cent) and the group listening exclusively via FM must not exceed 20 per cent of the Flemish population. According to the researchers' predictions, all these criteria will be reached during 2028, making 1 January 2031 seem a realistic date to switch off FM. The switch-off date should be communicated at least 2 years in advance, according to the study.

Flemish Media Minister Benjamin Dalle today released the results of the large-scale Radio Study. This study provides insight into the transition from analogue to digital radio, the steps needed to achieve this and the moment when FM broadcasts could be switched off. Minister Dalle is also presenting a future plan for the radio sector with a concept note, which he is also submitting to the industry. According to the researchers' predictions, switch-off criteria will be reached in Flanders during the year 2028. Since the switch-off date should ideally be communicated at least two years in advance, a potential switch-off date of 1 January 2031 seems realistic to the researchers.

Wight Digital Radio CIC has announced its intention to bid for the new DAB radio multiplex licence covering the Isle of Wight. The licence is currently being advertised by Ofcom in Round 6 with any new services likely to be on-air at the end of 2025 at the earliest. Wight Digital Radio is made up of Isle of Wight Radio and local community radio station Vectis Radio. The team at Wight Digital Radio says: “Our proposed service will have the capacity to bring more than twenty new and existing radio stations to DAB delivering a choice of creative content to vibrant and loyal radio audience on the Island.”

Under the ambitious framework of Saudi Vision 2030, Saudi Broadcasting Authority is spearheading a transformative journey to revolutionise its broadcasting infrastructure. With plans to revolutionise digital radio broadcasting as well as improve the quality and accessibility of radio broadcasting throughout the Kingdom, SBA installed new DAB+ transmitters in key cities and along critical highways. Adam Moustafa Hamza, Director of Project Delivery at FGC, remarks: “Deploying the DAB radio system in major Saudi cities marks a significant advancement in our digital broadcast capabilities. Through collaborations with GatesAir, ST Engineering and others, we’re not just expanding coverage, we’re enhancing the quality and reach of radio services. This initiative redefines radio broadcasting, ensuring superior digital sound for all, from city centres to the Riyadh-Abha highway.”

Grand Prix Radio is now more easily audible over DAB+ in the provinces of Gelderland, Utrecht, North Brabant and Limburg. Last Friday, station took up capacity on the supra-regional networks for this purpose. For several years, Grand Prix Radio has been listened to via MTVNL's network on channel 7D. But this network still does not have good coverage in parts of Gelderland, North Brabant and Limburg. And that is why Olav Mol and Alexander Stevens' station has leased extra capacity on the networks for Gelderland and Utrecht (channel 12B) and North Brabant and Limburg (channel 7C).

On 17 May 2024, RNE began broadcasting Radio Nacional, Radio 3 and Radio 5 on DAB+ in Santa Cruz de Tenerife from the legendary Izaña broadcasting centre, which is celebrating its 60th anniversary this year, as are TVE and RNE in the Canary Islands. This start of broadcasts reflects the commitment to increase coverage on a monthly basis until the end of the year, with the aim of reaching around 50% of the population coverage. Once deployed throughout the national territory, DAB+ will allow RTVE to provide the public radio broadcasting service in the terms currently entrusted to it by law, providing maximum geographical and social coverage with better quality, free-to-air broadcasts, complementary information and free reception.

WorldDAB Automotive 2024 – the essential event bringing together the broadcast and automotive sectors – has unveiled its first group of expert keynote speakers. The conference takes place in Prague and online on 13 June. It offers a unique opportunity for industry professionals to gain valuable insights into the latest developments in DAB+ broadcast digital radio technology for the automotive sector. The annual event is organised by WorldDAB, the global industry forum for DAB digital radio. WorldDAB Automotive 2024 will be opened by the organisation’s President, Jacqueline Bierhorst, who will also speak later at the 19th annual Digimedia 2024 conference for Czech media and advertisers, taking place in Prague on the same day. The night before the event, attendees can join an exclusive networking dinner at the Miminoo Garden Restaurant, at the foot of Prague’s iconic Žižkov broadcast tower.

Listeners in České Budějovice and its surroundings can tune in to the third digital radio network from Thursday evening. Miroslav Pýcha launched his COLOR DAB+ network in the regional city. So far, the public network ČRo DAB+ and the commercial RTI cz have been broadcasting here. The test broadcast of COLOR DAB+ started on channel 9C from the location České Budějovice - Němcová shortly after 16:00. The transmitter had been installed here for some time, the operator was just waiting for the Czech Telecommunications Office (CTU) to issue the licence. This is the first transmission site acquired in the auction of frequencies for digital broadcasting networks for commercial radios to start live broadcasting.

The layout of non-national commercial FM lots, known as B-plots, is to be overhauled by 2025, according to the consultation launched by the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate (EZK). The number of lots will go down from 54 to 27, with most new lots becoming larger than the existing ones. There will be no more frequencies for commercial local stations. The link between the lots with DAB+ remains and therefore the lots have been aligned as much as possible with the current layout of the seven supra-regional DAB+ allotments. The 27 new non-national commercial FM lots will be auctioned together with DAB+ capacity on one of the seven allotments. After the auction of the non-national commercial radio lots, capacity on DAB+ will remain. This capacity, 44 licences, will also be auctioned.

At its meeting on 16 May, the Media Council of the Bavarian Regulatory Authority for New Media (BLM) adopted a new concept for the promotion of radio broadcasting via DAB+, the so-called Transformation Incentive Funding (TAF). The BLM is thus implementing a component of the audio strategy adopted by the Media Council at the end of 2023. This is in line with the coalition agreement of the Bavarian governing parties. Both the BLM's audio strategy and the coalition agreement aim to drive forward the digitalisation of radio broadcasting in Bavaria and provide particular support for digital providers. The concept ensures that any DAB+ funding from the Free State of Bavaria is handled independently of the state. It could come into force on 1 July 2024.