News

As part of official New Year's wishes from the Conseil supérieur de l’audiovisuel (CSA), its president Olivier Schrameck has addressed progress in delivering DAB+ to France, following extensive consultations last year. Mr Schrameck highlighted the focus of coverage in regions with high populations and highways, and the target of reaching 20% coverage in metropolitan areas to trigger all receivers to be made compatible with DAB+.

Beginning 31 January, 12 new commercial radio stations will take to the air via DAB+ in the German cities of Leipzig and Freiberg, due to promotion of local DAB+ multiplexes by the Saxon State Media Authority for Private Broadcasting and New Media (SLM). In Denmark, transmission services provider Teracom has ordered three additional DAB+ multiplexers from Paneda. In the Flanders part of the Netherlands, anyone traveling between Central Zeeland and Zeeuws-Vlaanderen can now continue to listen to DAB+ in the car without interruption.

WorldDAB has published a list of those that will be on a panel of international speakers for a digital terrestrial radio session, which will take place 26 January between 11:30 and 13:30. There will be broadcasters, regulators and digital radio professionals from across Europe and the United States discussing the latest developments and innovations in DAB+.

27 new radio stations will begin operation from 31 January in Leipzig and Freiburg, following a successful tender process by the Saxon State Media Authority for Private Broadcasting and New Media (SLM) last year.

WorldDAB will also host a session this Friday, 26 January between 11:30 and 13:30, featuring lessons learned from the DSO process in Norway with Ole Jørgen Torvmark (Digital Radio Norway), better communicating with the listener with Carsten Zorger (Digitalradio Büro Deutschland), recent developments of DAB+ receiver legislation with Sergio Natucci (DAB Italia), the French perspective with broadcaster Antoine Baduel (Radio FG), digital radio and the connected car with Joe d'Angelo (Broadcast Radio, Xperi), and the user experience in vehicles with Laurence Harrison (Digital Radio UK).

Applications for a new DAB+ tender has been announced by the State Institute for Communications Baden-Württemberg (LFK) for the region. The broadcast takes place via the state-wide multiplex (channel 11 B), which focuses on the Rhine, the Rhine-Neckar region, the Stuttgart region and Ulm. Applications close on 28 February.

Following trial services which started in December 2017, the Greek Telecom Authority (EETT) has announced a tender for nationwide and local DAB+ services. The applications close on April 17th and licenses will be issued in May this year. DAB+ frequencies have now been allocated and the first licensing law for DAB+ stations was passed this week.

The session entitled "Radio in Europe and the extinction of FM", will take place on Friday, January 26th between 11:30 and 13:30. There will be broadcasters, regulators and digital radio professionals Speakers from across Europe and the United States discuss the latest developments and innovations in DAB+. The session will be preceded by a presentation by Olivier Schrameck, President of the Conseil Supérieur de l'Audiovisuel (CSA).

Teracom Denmark has ordered three new multiplexers from Paneda, aimed at extending DAB+ services across Denmark.

Motorists who use the Westerscheldetunnel can now also receive radio via the DAB+ in the tunnel. The digital channels 12C, 11C and 9D will now be available in the tunnel.