News

Broadcasters looking to apply for a DAB+ licences have two months to submit their applications to the CSA, which is expected to evaluate the applications and grant relevant broadcasting licences in four months' time. This marks the first time a tender offering frequencies in both digital and analogue radio is launched in Belgium.

RAI switched on 8 new transmitters at the end of 2018, bringing the total number of DAB+ transmitters operated by the public broadcaster in the country to 33, with the total national coverage in Italy now standing at 49%.

The first product of the partnership between Technisat and Jette Joop is the Transita 100 DAB+ radio, which comes in two entirely new designs - Wave and leaf, and Zigzag.

The Walloon public broadcaster has switched from the older DAB standard to DAB+, with the new standard offering a more efficient use of digital capacity and better audio quality. In Flanders, public broadcaster VRT has been broadcasting on DAB+ since October 2017.

DAB+ continues its expansion in Germany, with Antenne Deutschland - a joint venture between Media Broadcast and Absolut Digital - due to start building and operating the country's second national network. In Austria, ORS - a subsidiary of the Austrian public broadcaster - will be launching the new multiplex in Vienna in May 2019, with 85% of the population of the country expected to be covered with DAB+ by 2020.

According to a survey conducted by PCtipp in 2018, sales of DAB+ radios in Switzerland are expected to boom throughout 2019. This marks the first time DAB+ radios are featured within the top four devices desired by consumers in Switzerland, alongside laptops, smartphones and TVs.

85% of the population of Austria is expected to be covered by DAB+ signals by 2020 as the country prepares for significant expansions in the field of DAB+ in 2019. The first phase of the expansion will be taking place on 28 May 2019 with the launch of the new multiplex in Vienna.

A call for application has been opened in Macedonia for professional DAB+ equipment, including receivers. The deadline for the submission of the tender is 21 January 2019.

2018 was an important year for digital radio in France. This article gives an overview of the major developments that took place in France in recent months, including the launches of DAB+ in Strasbourg and Lyon, and the CSA’s triggering of the French receiver law that will lay the foundation for a digital future for radio in France.

The European Radio Show will be broadcast live from Paris on a number of platforms including DAB+, Youtube and social media. The program will air from 10.00-18.00 on Thursday 24th, 10.00-17.00 on Friday 25th and 10.00-15.00 on Saturday 26th January.