News

Local public broadcasters in the Netherlands can apply for a licence for local digital radio (DAB+) from 12 December 2023 to 6 February 2024, the National Digital Infrastructure Inspectorate has announced. It says: "The Netherlands is divided into 57 geographical areas to which frequency space is linked. We call these allotments. For each allotment, 18 licences are available. You can use the frequency space from 1 September 2024. A licence is valid until 31 August 2030. After 6 February 2024, the ministry will determine how many permits are still available. After that, the application and allocation procedure for commercial broadcasters will start."

Norddeutscher Rundfunk (NDR) announced its further expansion plans for DAB+ digital radio today, 6 December. In the coming year 2024, a total of ten additional transmitters for digital radio are to go into operation. These are primarily intended to close smaller gaps and improve indoor reception regionally. Hessischer Rundfunk (hr) is planning a total of eight additional locations for its DAB+ expansion. This is based on data from the Federal Network Agency.

Digital terrestrial radio, or DAB+, has been rolled out in France since 2014. Two metropolitan multiplexes, M1 and M2, broadcast radio stations from the main private and public service groups, as well as new stations available only on DAB+. These two multiplexes went live in October 2021, completing the first phase of national rollout. Between July and October 2023, the Authority approved 297 sites for deployment between October 2023 and March 2024. In total, the second phase of deployment will involve the commissioning of 299 transmitters.

The SUN Junior youth radio station (developed by the SUN team) will be broadcasting on DAB+ in the Nantes area until 2 January. This medium, created for and by young people, is temporarily taking advantage of the festive season to bring together 5-11 year olds and their families to listen to festive programming directly from their radios. For the fourth year running, SUN Junior can also be heard on DAB+ in Nantes and the surrounding area from 1 December to 2 January, giving as many people as possible access to youth radio directly from their own radios.

Polskie Radio is expanding the coverage of its DAB+ multiplex. The process will be completed by 1 October 2024. Monika Kuś, spokeswoman for the public broadcaster, tells Wirtualnemedia.pl that ultimately up to 93 per cent of the Polish population will be able to receive additional radio stations. The process of extending the coverage of the Polish Radio's DAB+ multiplex began at the beginning of October. It includes: Jedynka, Dwójka, Trójka, Czwórka, Polskie Radio 24, Polskie Radio Chopin, Polskie Radio Dzieciom, Polskie Radio Kierowców, Polskie Radio dla Ukrainy, Radio Poland, regional radio stations and, in some locations, also their specialist channels.

A new digital radio network made possible by legislation sponsored by Torbay MP Kevin Foster has launched across Torbay and Teignbridge. TorDab, which is operated by people associated with Devon’s Radio Exe and South Devon Radio – a new station in Torbay – became fully operational this week. TorDab, which has three transmitters across the Torbay and Teignbridge area, means that radio stations linked to the network reach around 210,000 adults. As well as Radio Exe and South Devon Radio, Phonic, and Ocean Youth Radio, which provides opportunities for young people to train in broadcasting, are part of the network, as well as Radio Exe’s non-stop Christmas station Radio ExeMas.

Since Friday, classic rock station K-Rock has been replaced by Kink 90's, a station exclusively featuring alternative pop and rock from the 1990s. Kink 90s features artists such as Nirvana, Len, Sophie B Hawkins, Oasis, Alice in Chains, Radiohead, Pearl Jam and Red Hot Chili Peppers. With the launch of Kink 90s, another Kink themed channel on DAB+ is linked to a decade. Earlier this year, Kink Classics was already replaced by Kink 80s.

On 1 December 2023, Czech Radio and Czech Radio Communications launched digital broadcasting from eight new DAB+ transmitters in Bohemia and Moravia. "With the launch of eight new DAB+ transmitters, we have achieved an increase in indoor coverage by 155,000 listeners. This has been achieved through the appropriate selection of transmitter sites and optimisation of the transmitting power and radiation characteristics of the transmitting antennas," said Karel Zýka, Director of Technology and Administration at Czech Radio.

"Even after 100 years, radio is more important and relevant than ever," explains ORF Director General Roland Weissmann at the presentation of the Group's audio strategy for 2024 to journalists, "ORF radio reaches 4.7 million people every day." In contrast to most other broadcasters in the country, ORF continues to rely solely on analogue broadcasting of its radio signals and not on DAB/DAB+: "We really do evaluate this on a regular basis. If the time really comes when we have changed our mind, we will let you know in good time," says ORF boss Weißmann. "Of course we are moving, but now is not the time to say. Maybe there will be some movement soon."

Levira has launched a second digital radio DAB+ transmitter in Tallinn's Teletower, bringing the number of digital radio stations in Tallinn and Harju County to nearly twenty. Levira is testing DAB+, a digital radio service that is widely used in Europe, in cooperation with radio stations. The new transmitter will be launched on DAB+ channel 10D and will have a slightly different coverage area from the first transmitter on channel 10A, being more oriented towards Tallinn city centre and transmitting in horizontal polarisation. The new transmitter will be launched in cooperation with Duo Media Networks, and from the moment of its launch you will be able to listen to five new radio stations, which have not been available in Tallinn and Harju County so far.