News

Operation of the state-wide private DAB+ platform in Lower Saxony started on 13 July. From now on, listeners can receive 18 different private radio programmes in ten distribution areas in Lower Saxony via DAB+. Now, among others, Antenne Niedersachsen, radio ffn, Radio 21, Radio Nordseewelle and Radio Osnabrück can be received via DAB+ in various regions of Lower Saxony. "The launch of the private DAB+ platform in Lower Saxony is a milestone for the radio landscape in Lower Saxony: DAB+ enables the broadcasting of a large number of programmes, and does so in a resource-saving manner with a regional focus," said Prof. Christian Krebs, Director of the Lower Saxony State Media Authority (NLM).

While 96% of new cars sold in the European Union are equipped with DAB+, this technology is also continuing to be rolled out in France and its regions, and by this summer will cover 50% of the French population. Following on from Bayonne, Metz and Nancy, listeners in Clermont-Ferrand will now be able to tune in to Ado and Oüi FM. In a few days' time, listeners in Rennes will also be able to tune in to Oüi FM with digital audio quality.

On Thursday 13 July, TDF launched a transmitter at Saint-Barthélemy d'Anjou (Maine-et-Loire) to broadcast digital radio. Thirteen radio stations will be brought into service. The service area covers the Angers conurbation. To enable these radios to be broadcast in DAB+, TDF teams have installed new technical facilities. The work involved installing new antenna systems, multiplexing cells and associated transmitters at the broadcast sites. Infrastructure adaptation work was also carried out.

There are still places available to attend next week's joint WorldDAB, Asia Pacific Broadcasting Union and Arab States Broadcasting Union virtual workshop "New developments in DAB+ systems" consisting of three 1.5 hour sessions taking place over three consecutive days 18-20 July. This technical workshop will provide broadcasters and media professionals with an update on the latest DAB+ developments. Day 1 will focus on the business case, standards updates including for emergency warnings. Day 2 will look at getting started with DAB+, system features and implementation options. Day 3 looks at DAB+ network design including so-called "small-scale" DAB+. Each session will include panel discussions and audience Q&A.

Megan Lazovick, Vice President of Edison Research, presented the key findings of the new research study "Dashboard Dialogue" at WorldDAB Automotive 2023 held in Paris on 15 June. The study sheds light on the significance of radio in the modern automotive landscape revealing that radio is the top choice for audio in cars, as 91% of recent and prospective car buyers recognize the importance of having DAB/DAB+ or FM radio in their vehicles. Radio is the most listened-to audio platform in the car, with drivers saying radio is an integral part of the in-car experience, and car buyers expect broadcast radio to be standard in their next new car.

The generic initiative Radiozentrale has expanded its membership to include the radio station TOGGO Radio, broadcast on DAB+ radio throughout Germany, and the marketer RAUDIO.BIZ, whose focus is on new audio and data-driven audio advertising. A total of 83 public and private radio stations and companies in the radio industry are now merging under the umbrella of Radiozentrale. Radiozentrale sees itself as a joint platform for public and private radio stations as well as related companies in the radio industry and has set itself the goal of positioning the medium of radio and providing comprehensive information about the (advertising) medium of radio.

From 13 July, Radio Bollerwagen can also be received via DAB+ throughout Lower Saxony. This means that the party station of the ffn media group from Hanover can now also be heard digitally in the "motherland" of the Bollerwagen. "After our successful launches in NRW, Hesse, Hamburg, Flensburg and on Sylt, we are delighted to now also broadcast in Lower Saxony via DAB+: Now we will also be bollerwagging from the Harz Mountains to the coast," says Mathias Bartels, deputy programme director and editor-in-chief of Radio Bollerwagen.

At the end of June and the beginning of July, the multiplexes of DABCOM (Andrychów, Gliwice, Krakow, Przehyba), BCAST (Gdansk, Warsaw, Wroclaw), PSN Infrastruktura (Opole), Radio Bielsko (Bielsko-Biala) and Radio and Television Agency Fama (Kielce) expired. The latter multiplex has not yet started broadcasting, but will be able to do so soon. UKE has decided to extend all the above-mentioned licences by one year. There may be more similar decisions in the coming weeks and months.

On 12 July, Radio BOA, based in Quimperlé (Finistère), went on air in DAB+. "Thanks to the arrival of this new broadcasting technology for radio in Brittany, we have had the opportunity to create a new regional and community radio station. It's a unique and original experiment: this new medium, which is free and accessible to all, was conceived and built by 15 local and community radio stations belonging to the Coordination des radios locales et associatives de Bretagne, which by 2023 will bring together 20 of the 34 local and community radio stations in Brittany," explains the Radio BOA team.

Hot Dance Radio is officially the newest radio station on DAB+ from 11 July. Fans of danceable up-tempo music can find a recognisable mix of the latest hits and classics from the dance scene from the 1990s to the present. Founder Stefan van der Wiele: "Hot Dance Radio has been a great success online for over a decade, with more than 120,000 unique listeners per month. With DAB+, this reach is extended to a potential listening audience in North Holland of 200,000 people. With DAB+, we are investing in the future of a radio station that gives you good energy with upbeat, up-tempo music."