News

Responses to Ofcom’s consultation to change the Digital Radio Technical Code to introduce DAB+ are now in.

Nearly 1.6 million DAB radios have been sold since the debut of DAB+ in Australia,. Also, the number of Australian vehicle manufacturers supporting DAB as optional or standard equipment has now grown to 13.

Just days before the launch of digital radio in France, SIRTI calls on the Government, Parliament, the CSA, public and private radio broadcasters and manufacturers to support independent radio stations involved in the rollout of digital radio. From 9am, 17June, you can follow live updates on Sirti’s Twitter account and post comments at #AppelRNT.

In their first international acquisition, Sonifex have bought the Australian broadcast manufacturer and distributor Innes Corporation. Innes Corporation manufacturer of DAB+ radio capture cards.

Various players in the radio industry including the BBC, Bauer Media and Global Radio were responding to a recent Ofcom consultation setting out revisions to Ofcom's technical codes and guidance for DAB broadcasts. DAB+ is being rolled out in a number of countries and the newer standard allows more stations to be carried on a single multiplex.

An Australia-wide digital radio give-away begins on Monday with commercial radios stations across Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth offering hundreds of digital radios to listeners across the next two weeks. Commercial Radio Australia CEO Joan Warner said: “Once listeners try digital radio they love the sound quality, extra stations and information on screen.”

A digital radio promotion between Absolute Radio Network and Peugeot starts on Monday. The prize is a brand new Peugeot 308, European Car of the year 2014, which has digital radio as standard. Bauer Media and Absolute Radio are keen to drive digital in-car listening, as 50% of their listening is now via a digital platform (Q1 2014 Rajar). "...This promotion will raise awareness of the fact that more than half of all new car registrations now come with digital radio as standard”, says Jane Ostler, Director of Communications at Digital Radio UK.

The start date for DAB+ in France remains June 20. RadioNL is reporting that 14 of the 19 multiplex transmitters slated to be turned up will indeed be on by the end of this month; this will include six in Paris, four in Marseille, and four in Nice.

Community radio station 7Waves is planning a relaunch next week in a bid to reach the entire Wirral peninsula. The station will continue to broadcast on 92.1 FM and online, as well as on the Wrexham, Chester and Liverpool Muxco DAB digital radio multiplex.

The Suzuki SZ4 model now adds a navigation system with DAB radio as standard.