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The Executive Director of the Uganda Communication Commission, George William Nyombi Thembo, is advocating for commercialisation of DAB+ digital broadcast radio in Uganda. He says it will keep pace with global technological advancements, especially in digital broadcasting. Nyombi was engaging with representatives from WorldDAB and the African broadcast sector. He says DAB+ would enhance the quality of radio broadcasts, offer more channels and improve signal reception.

Following the Luxembourg government last year publishing its "DAB+ Roadmap", it has now issued a public call for tenders for a DAB+ multiplex operator's licence. The government says: "The Minister for Radiocommunications and Radio Spectrum Management is launching a public call for applications with a view to operating and broadcasting this first national DAB+ multiplex. At the end of the selection procedure, a licence (authorisation to transmit) will be awarded to the designated candidate who will be authorised to broadcast via DAB+ and to set up and manage a multiplex." The tender states there will be a maximum of 12 services on the mux, which will use block 7D, and that the broadcast network must be completed within 18 months of the granting of the licence.

UK media regulator Ofcom has today published the applications received for the small-scale DAB multiplex licences advertised under the sixth round of the rollout. It received 33 round-six applications for the 31 small-scale DAB radio multiplex licences advertised. The applications will be assessed against the specific statutory criteria, with decisions expected in the coming months. Each multiplex licence awarded will allow a range of ultra-local stations to take to the air. This could include grass-roots community services, specialist music stations, and services aimed at minority groups and other under-served audiences.

The Czech Telecommunications Office (CTU) has started to publish in its online database the first allocations of specific slots from which operators will be able to launch commercial stations in the coming months. Companies will be able to proceed on the basis of the frequency auction announced by the CTU at the beginning of this year. This will significantly expand the availability of stations on the DAB+ platform. The key dimension for the Moravian-Silesian region (and not only this one) will be used not only by the operator Teleko digital, but also by the company RTI cz, which is the future operator of one of the two nationwide DAB+ networks, the other one being České Radiokomunikace.

The Czech Telecommunications Office has granted JOE Media permission to broadcast the COLOR DAB+ radio multiplex with a power of up to 5 kW on the territory of the capital in the future. It results from the database of the Czech Telecommunications Office. With the proper parameters made possible by the regulator's auction completed at the beginning of the year, the operator will operate on channel 6A. The current CTU allocation confirms several assumptions. The COLOR DAB+ multiplex will operate, as before, from the Prague - Strahov mast. Until now, the operator could transmit a maximum of 1 kW on channel 7C. This will change after the launch of channel 6A. The COLOR DAB+ multiplex will be able to use up to 5 kW.

The Alternative Broadcast Company has celebrated its first 12 months of operation by launching its third transmitter for Kidsgrove, North Staffordshire. This brings Blue Sky Radio, Radio Caroline, xRhythms, Churnet Sound, Moorlands Radio and 6 Towns Radio on DAB+ to those living in and around the town. The ABC network launched in August 2023 covering Stoke and Newcastle-under-Lyme and the new transmitter strengthens the coverage in the north of the city which has previously been geographically difficult to cover. Alternative Broadcast Company Director Steve Perry said: “It’s taken a while, but we’re really pleased with the results and it’s a great first birthday present to be able to announce it publicly. Plus, as well as solving a long-standing problem for local radio reception, it’s great news for listeners, stations and businesses alike.”

Harald Gehrung , CEO of the ffn media group, discusses the strategy behind the audio offering for party people in an interview for the MEDIENTAGE MÜNCHEN blog. Radio Bollerwagen, which was initially just a live stream, became a DAB+ station in the middle of the Corona pandemic in 2021. Why? "During Corona, usage increased massively. Listeners uploaded videos on TikTok and Instagram of themselves dancing to music while working from home. A huge fan base developed. And when the live stream overtook the stream of our classic program from Radio ffn , the time had come to take things to the next level. Since there was no FM frequency available, we switched to DAB+. This also helped us in terms of costs, because the cost of broadcasting is only a tenth of what it would be for an FM frequency."

Almost all major road tunnels in Bavaria are now covered by DAB+ digital radio. This is according to a current list from Bayerischer Rundfunk. Digital terrestrial radio is now available in 34 tunnels, at least with the two BR bouquets. This includes 10 transmitters in tunnels in the Bavarian capital of Munich. Only in five larger tunnels in Bavaria is analogue FM reception possible. A detailed list can be found here: https://www.br.de/unternehmen/inhalt/technik/tunnel-versorgung-rundfunksignale-100.html

The RAJAR figures for Q2 2024 continue to highlight how audiences value BBC Radio with 32m people tuning in each week for live output across the stations, with a share of 42.6%. The biggest population increase in 75 years now sees a record 50.8 million people in the UK listening to radio. Charlotte Moore, BBC Chief Content Officer, says: “I’m delighted to see the strength of the audio landscape with a record number of people listening to radio and podcasts across the UK.”

Commercial radio’s audience in the UK has surpassed 40 million for the first time, reaching a record-breaking 40.5 million weekly listeners. This new milestone breaks the previous record of 39.7 million set in Q1 2024. The new RAJAR listening figures released on 1 August for the second quarter of 2024 also show that the combined weekly audience for all radio in the UK is at a new high with 50.8 million adults tuning in to their favourite stations each week, up from its previous record of 49.9 million in Q1 2024. Commercial radio continues to lead the market, with a record listening share of 55% compared to the BBC’s 42.6%. This marks a significant increase from the same period two years ago when commercial radio’s share was 49% (Q2 2022).