News

The annual IFA consumer trade show ended yesterday. Starting as a show with the first radios in 1924, this year it introduced a new electronic warning system for DAB+ receivers and networks, in addition to a wide range of TVs and other home electronics. The exhibition showed how the new features can be integrated into future generations of devices. For the first time at IFA, Frontier presented a demo of its Automatic Safety Alert (ASA) system on its stand in Hall 14, Stand 401, alongside receiver prototypes from Technisat and JVC Kenwood.

Flemish commercial network radio Topradio has added a new sister station on DAB+: Top2. Since Monday, this station replaces Versuz Radio, which ended on digital after more than two years. Top2 will be a full-fledged station with news updates and presented programmes. The station actually goes back to the basics of Topradio. The latter has become a bit more commercial in terms of music programming in recent years with artists such as Rihanna, Martin Garrix, Nightcrawlers, Tiësto and Faithless. Top2 can be heard on DAB+ channel 11A in Flanders and the internet.

In line with its commitment to increase coverage by the end of the year, RNE has started broadcasting Radio Nacional, Radio Clásica, Radio 3 and Radio 5 on DAB+ in Asturias from Cellnex Telecom's broadcasting centre in Gamoniteiro. From there, coverage is provided to Oviedo and Gijón, which means that it is now possible to listen to RNE broadcasts on DAB+ in 13 Spanish cities. On this occasion, a conference on digital radio was held in Oviedo with the participation of national and Asturian experts on the subject. At the conference, the Government of Asturias announced its intention to implement DAB+ in its territory. In this way, it becomes the second autonomous community, together with the Balearic Islands, to opt for DAB+.

Global, the Media & Entertainment group, has revealed the details of a record-breaking 12 brand new radio stations, the biggest single launch in UK radio history – set to go live across the UK on 12 September. Set to join the Global family is an incredible line-up of brand new radio stations: Capital Anthems, Classic FM Calm, Classic FM Movies, Heart 10s, Heart Love, Heart Musicals, Radio X Chilled, Radio X 90s, Radio X 00s, Smooth 70s, Smooth 80s and Smooth Soul. On your radio, Smooth 80s and Capital Anthems will be available nationally on DAB on the SDL multiplex. Classic FM Movies will be available in London on DAB on London 1 and all other stations available on DAB on London 3.

Our series of short interviews with WorldDAB members exhibiting at IBC2024 continues with Jens Schroeder, Managing Director, RFmondial, who says they will be introducing their DAB modulator / exciter module. RFmondial offers professional products and services for the digital broadcasting industry.

Small-scale DAB multiplexes in Liverpool, Cardiff and Warrington, Widnes and Runcorn have each had a power increase. Viamux has turned up the wattage on all the services following approval from Ofcom. Following the submission of a detailed coverage improvement request, Cardiff DAB was allowed to double the power at each of its three transmission sites. Nathan Spackman from Bro Radio welcomed the news. “Launching on DAB in May 2023 allowed us to reach new audiences across Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan, whilst bringing existing listeners over to DAB+. The improved coverage will help us to continue to grow our community service, increase revenue and reach even more listeners.”

BBC Radio 1 has announced the name of its new extension, Radio 1 Anthems, which will launch on Friday, 8 November 2024 on BBC Sounds, with opportunities for new production talent and a series of new commissions all made outside of London. Radio 1 Anthems will help young audiences discover and re-discover a wide range of music and acts supported by Radio 1 in the 2000s and 2010s with a dedicated focus on growing new on-air and off-air talent. As part of the BBC’s commitment to serving all audiences with high quality, distinctive music content, the BBC announced its plans to launch new music extensions to its popular stations earlier this year.

Global has announced the launch of 12 brand new radio stations for some of the UK’s biggest commercial radio brands, launching in just three days, on 12 September 2024. Most of Global’s biggest music brands will all get brand new sister stations. It follows the huge success Global has seen from launching popular brand extensions including Heart Dance, Capital Dance, and the millions of listeners tuning into nostalgia and mood stations like Heart 80s and Smooth Relax. The brand new stations will all be available on Global Player, the official app for all of Global’s radio brands and content, as well smart speakers, online and DAB Digital Radio.

Greatest Hits Radio’s Ken Bruce shared some exciting news with millions of listeners to his show this morning, as he announced news of a brand-new sister station, Greatest Hits Radio 60s. The first hour of the new station will simulcast with Greatest Hits Radio from 12noon to 1pm on Monday 16th September and joining Ken will be national treasure – and the voice of Greatest Hits Radio 60s – Joanna Lumley. Joining Joanna on the new station – available across the UK on DAB and via the Rayo app – will be broadcasters including Richard Allinson who will be hosting the Breakfast show from 6 – 10 am every Monday to Friday whilst Alex Lester takes over afternoons from 2 – 6pm.

Czech Radiokomunikace, or rather its subsidiary Czech Digital Group, will launch in a few weeks, it could happen at the end of September, its upcoming and long-awaited full-screen DAB+ multiplex officially called Broadcasting Network B. The first sites have appeared in recent days in the database of the Czech Telecommunications Office. Unsurprisingly, these are the four largest cities. In Prague, CDG plans to use channel 11D, as in Ostrava. The signal for the territory of the capital city will of course be distributed by the Žižkov transmitter, which has been assigned a maximum radiated power of 20 kW. In Ostrava's Hošťálkovice, it will be 10 kW, as well as from Brno's Hady (channel 7C) and Pilsen's Radč (channel 11B).