News

Czech regulator CTU's Council discussed the comments received in the public consultation on the draft rules to award frequencies for digital radio in the band 174−230 MHz. CTU received comments by six entities.

Initiative Digitalradio Deutschland welcomes the continuous action of Radio ENERGY to transfer exclusive program content only on DAB+.

The Board of the State Institute of Communications (LFK) has given the green light to three new private digital radio transmission locations in Baden-Württemberg. This will bring enhanced DAB+ services to the Rhine region the Rhine-Neckar area, in Stuttgart and Ulm. Coverage of the A5 and A8 will also be improved.

ABC Radio is seeking to win over music listeners in their 30s and 40s by aligning its digital channel Dig with its youth-focused Triple J. The move will see a new format for the station as it aims to win over former Triple J listeners who have grown out of the station.

Swiss manufacturer LAB Geneva announced that the Model M Wireless DAB+ is now available in Germany and Austria. The Model M supports FM and DAB+ and by way of integrated Bluetooth, supports wireless music transmission from smartphone, tablet PC and laptop.

BBC 6 Music is the top BBC digital-only station, and Absolute 80s is the number one commercial station. BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra showed a 51 percent increase in listeners year on year to over 1.5 million. Kiss showed an increase of more than 50 percent in listening via digital, while Kiss Fresh and Kisstory debuted with 857,000 and 854,000 listeners, respectively, in the quarter.

The AVH-X3600DAB incorporates a DAB+ digital radio tuner, embracing the growing trend of digital audio broadcasts that provide high-quality digital sound through improved signal reception, easy programme selection and automatic DAB-FM network following support, including buffer memory for a minimum loss of radio programmes in areas with weak DAB reception. In addition to crystal clear reception, the DAB tuner lets the user time-shift radio by pausing radio playback and resuming listening later.

Digital listening is now 35.6 percent, up 14 percent year over year from 31.3 percent. ■ DAB is the most popular device for digital listening (65 percent of all digital hours) and 24 million adults have access to a DAB digital radio, up 10 percent year over year. ■ All platforms show growth in hours, with DAB up 13 percent year over year, online/apps up 37 percent and DTV up 7 percent. ■ The share of analog listening in home is below 50 percent, at 49.7 percent.

Digital listening is increasing, so while that total listeners figure holds steady at approximately 90 per cent, listeners are still tuning in, but finding new ways in which to do so. By having that smartphone accessibility, radio provides another way to reach listeners in brand new contexts.

The Norwegian public broadcaster NRK will by end of January 2014 be broadcasting a new rock station.