News

Switzerland's media regulator Ofcom has decided to maintain the percentage of contributions paid to cover the costs of DAB+ broadcasting, which in 2021 should have dropped from 50% to 30%.

The daily use of digital terrestrial radio has increased by around 50 percent in Germany, compared to the same time last year. There are also 1.8 million more DAB+ radios in households now than in 2019. Germany launched a new national mutliplex in October 2020, and public broadcaster Deutschlandradio has started switching off FM transmitters in light of the continued growth of DAB+.

The DAB+ playout, previously divided into four regions, has been replaced by a completely new redundant DAB+ ensemble multiplexer system for 16 regions. With the installation of NDR’s new DAB+ playout system supplied by AVT, listeners will be able to receive news and weather information from their respective regions via DAB+ with a coverage that was previously only possible via FM.

Union JACK Dance and Union JACK Rock are launching nationally on DAB in addition to the current Union JACK station. All of the brands in the portfolio have unveiled a new look, with logos and branding having been updated to reveal a more consistent and contemporary identity throughout the Group.

Digital Radio UK today launches the Drive to Digital 2020 Stakeholder Video Briefing, a 90-minute virtual event providing an update on digital radio progress in 2020 and looking ahead to key developments for 2021.

The WorldDAB Automotive Working Group is set to consult with vehicle manufacturers and broadcasters in 2021 to help develop DAB+ guidelines using voice control and as part of the hybrid radio in the car.

According to the Norwegian Media Authority, over half (58 percent) of Norwegians are satisfied with DAB+ services. Compared to the same survey from last year, there has been an increase in the percentage of satisfied consumers, and a decrease of unsatisfied consumers.

Regional public broadcasting corporation Südwestrundfunk has expanded DAB+ reception in southern Germany with the launch of a new transmitter in the lake Constance region.

In Norway, an auction has been held to award the licence for a second national ensemble. The winning bid was placed by A-Media AS. The licence is valid until December 31 2031.

The hybrid app has a single, multi-platform station list that hides the platform from the user and allows them to select a radio station from the strongest available signal, prioritising DAB+, then FM, followed by streaming, and automatically switching between platforms if the car moves out of coverage.