News

The new stations added to Glasgow’s small-scale DAB multiplex are Celtic Music Radio, Pride Radio, United DJs, 45 Radio and Visitor Radio. Paisley FM and other Glasgow based community radio stations are also set to join the multiplex in coming months.

The commercial radio industry is joining forces with leading digital radio brand Pure to launch a retail campaign aimed at putting DAB+ radios high on Christmas shopping lists this year. Research conducted in Australia earlier this year shows 21% of radio listeners ‘very or extremely likely’ to purchase a digital radio in the next 12 months.

As announced by the Broadcasting Authority of North Rhine-Westphalia in mid-November, interested parties include local, regional and national private program providers and platform operators.

Following the launch of a new DAB+ multiplex in Wrocław, three new stations have been added to enable digital radio transmissions.

Led by Mr Ndumiso Dana, a delegation of representatives of the South African regulator ICASA, have just completed a tour visiting Germany, Norway, the UK and Australia to discuss digital sound broadcasting and the many and varied aspects of planning to launch permanent services.

Éirdab, operator of the DAB trial in Cork, has welcomed the BAI’s Strategy Statement for 2017-19 to review the potential for digital audio broadcasting, which sets out an undertaking to commission an independent expert review of the future for DAB in Ireland.

The leading French private radio stations have all shown interest in acquiring a licence allowing them to broadcast DAB+ following the call from application from the CSA in November 2018. This will allow them to cover more territory, benefit from improved signal continuity and provide listeners with a better listening experience.

The call for applications for small-scale DAB broadcasting licences applies to the cities of Paris, Marseille and Nice as well as surrounding areas. Applications must be submitted no later than January 16, 2019.

"The digitisation of the radio is unstoppable. The wide range of programs and equipment available, along with the improved listening quality are clearly in favour of DAB+" says Hans-Joachim Kamp, chairman of the supervisory board of the Consumer & Home Electronics GmbH of gfu.

Despite trailing behind some of its European counterparts, the roll-out of DAB+ in France is expected to reach 20% population coverage by December 2019, at which point manufacturers will be required to include DAB+ chips within their radios.