News

"It is with great approval that we accept the KRRiT's position that analogue FM transmissions should be switched off no earlier than 31 December 2026 and no later than 31 December 2030" - wrote in a letter to the chairman of the National Broadcasting Council Michał Kanownik, president of the Cyfrowa Polska Association, an association of audio equipment manufacturers.

maRadio.be, Digitaal Radio Vlaanderen and Vanden Borre stores work together to encourage listeners to opt for digital radio. For the second consecutive year, from September 19 to October 1, 2022, listeners have an appointment in Vanden Borre stores to exchange their old radio for a reduction voucher valid on the purchase of a new DAB+ compatible one.

Two topics led the conversations about DAB at IBC: metadata and small-scale DAB+ for local digital radio. Given that it has three years since IBC was last held in-person, WorldDAB was primed to talk about new opportunities and new audiences that come with the DAB+ digital radio. WorldDAB’s Vice-President and Project Director of Digital Radio Netherlands Jacqueline Bierhorst opened the group’s show briefing by noting the uptake of DAB+ by European motorists. More than 90% on all new cars sold in Europe have a DAB+ receiver as standard equipment she noted.

"It has been decided with the Ministry of Economic Development to proceed with the switch-off of the medium-wave network, in conjunction with the forthcoming assignment of the new DAB frequencies, which will allow Rai to extend the reception of the new digital radio throughout Italy". This was stated on Wednesday 14 September by Stefano Ciccotti, Rai's Chief Technology Officer, during the presentation of Rai Radio's 2022 - 2023 programme schedules.

Radio brings everyone together, and the proof is in the pudding! maRadio.be, Digitaal Radio Vlaanderen and the Vanden Borre shops are working together to get you on the digital radio. For the second year in a row, from 19 September to 1 October 2022, go to your nearest Vanden Borre shop and simply exchange your old radio for a discount voucher valid on the purchase of a new DAB+ compatible one.

Antenne Ostalgie has now been switched on in the state-wide DAB+ bouquet in Thuringia (channel 12B), which can initially only be received in the Erfurt/Weimar area. The offshoot of Antenne Thüringen plans to officially go on the air on 3 October, the day of German unification.

Bayerische Rundfunk (BR) has put the new Ebbs DAB+ transmitter (near Kufstein), located on Austrian territory, into operation and uses it to broadcast its two ensembles on channel 10A (regional Upper Bavaria/Schwaben) and channel 11D (nationwide). The new system closes coverage gaps in the Bavarian Inn valley, but the signal from the 10 kW transmitters also reaches a good 40 km into Austria. For example, good reception is reported from Jenbach in Tyrol. The new transmitter also ensures that travellers to Italy can now listen to BR on DAB+ almost continuously via the Inntal and Brenner motorways to Lake Garda. In South Tyrol, BR's programmes are broadcast by Rundfunk Anstalt Südtirol (RAS). Via the Hühnerspiel site, the signals can also be heard in the greater Innsbruck area.

SWR3 is accompanying its New Pop Festival (15 to 17 September) in Baden-Baden again this year with an event channel on DAB+. The New Pop event channel is on air in the SWR muxes in Rhineland-Palatinate and Baden-Württemberg. Event radio has a long tradition at SWR - among other things, the broadcaster regularly hosts an event radio from the Mannheim Maimarkt, which can be received via DAB+ and a local FM frequency during the event period.

At the weekend's panel, WorldDAB Vice President and Digital Radio Netherlands Project Director Jacqueline Bierhorst reviewed the positive position of DAB+ radio in some countries and mentioned the important fact that the technology has already become standard equipment in new cars in EU countries. Radio remains the most natural choice for audio consumption in cars.

Following a soft launch in July, the new Edinburgh DAB multiplex operated by Edinburgh DAB Ltd has now fully launched. It has recently completed a successful upgrade at its Braids Hill transmitter site and is currently carrying 17 radio services, with several others waiting on Ofcom for final licence confirmation. Broadcasting in DAB+ from two transmission sites at Braid Hills golf course and Corstorphine Hill it is audible to over 789,000 adults.