News

Paul Keenan, the chief executive, Bauer Media UK, said "A new national DAB licence presents an exciting opportunity for listeners to discover new radio services and for us and the commercial radio industry to further extend reach and service.

Bauer and UTV this morning confirmed that they are teaming up with broadcast services group Arqiva to bid for the previously reported second digital radio multiplex. Media regulator OfCom announced earlier this month that it was now accepting bids to operate a second digital radio network, which will operate alongside the existing national Digital One multiplex (also owned by Arqiva) and local DAB platforms.

In the United Kingdom, car manufacturers are driving new routes to assess DAB radio coverage along the country's roadways. These drive-and-test routes are intended to help DAB receiver manufacturers assess the functionality of their car radios.

Commercial radio rivals Magic owner Bauer and TalkSport parent UTV Media have joined forces in a bid to succeed where Channel 4 failed with a joint application to run the second national digital radio multiplex. The radio groups have teamed up with transmission business Arqiva for their application for the licence to run the second nationwide digital audio broadcasting (DAB) platform, which will be home to around 10 new national radio services.

Arqiva, Bauer Radio and TalkSport owner UTV have come together to bid for a licence to launch a second DAB multiplex – the first having reached full capacity. The companies have formed a consortium to apply to regulator Ofcom, which first invited companies to apply for a licence for a new, national radio multiplex service earlier this month. A new radio multiplex would open up the capacity for 10 more digital radio stations.

1.67 million DAB radios receivers have been sold in Norway, and 45% of Norwegian households report having at least one DAB radio. 12% of households report having car DAB radio.

DAB network of local radio stations in Hedmark is expanded. You can now you listen to local radio Solor radio, Solor radio + and Elverum radio in Grue, Åsnes, Valer, Elverum, Rauland, Whitstable and Strange on digital radio.

Every day, 47% of Norwegian radio listen to a digital radio. This is an increase of 2% since the previous quarter, and means that 1,390,000 Norwegians use digital radio every day.

"This initiative is useful because it allows new radio equipment to receive different radio standards, which not only radio users, but also broadcasters, trade and industry would benefit Europe," said Willi Carpenter, CEO of New Wave.

In-car radio accounts for a large part of the daily European listening figures and the dashboard is changing. Apple's CarPlay, Google and Microsoft’s connected cars of the future, all have the power to disrupt radio's long-held captive audience.This session will focus on finding some answers and look at the steps that the industry need to take to ensure that radio maintains its leadership position for in-car entertainment. Read the session details in full.