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WorldDAB Automotive calls for a common industry position
06.08.2024 - WorldDAB News
For some years, a growing number of radio stakeholders have asked broadcasters to unite their voices as the only way to effectively deal with tech giants and car manufacturers. Over the last 12 months, the wakeup calls to shift towards an industry-like position have been increasingly heard. Messaging from the WorldDAB Automotive 2024 conference sounded more like a last call. On June 13, opening her first WorldDAB Automotive meeting as WorldDAB president, Jacqueline Bierhorst welcomed more than 300 delegates in-person and online, urging a broader and stronger collaboration to ensure broadcast radio’s prominence in cars. In her address, she described radio as “relentless.” She highlighted how, thanks to regulation initiatives, the availability of in-car digital receivers is ensured in the European Union while more and more countries feature widespread digital radio coverage and a comprehensive range of stations.

(RedTech) Read more


UCC advocates for commercialisation of DAB+ in Uganda
06.08.2024 - Uganda Uganda
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.

(UBC Television Uganda) Read more


Luxembourg issues public call for first DAB+ mux operator
05.08.2024 - Luxembourg Luxembourg
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.

(Luxembourg government) Read more


33 applications for sixth round of UK's small-scale DAB licensing
02.08.2024 - United Kingdom United Kingdom
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.

(Ofcom) Read more


Operators RTI cz and Teleko digital have approval for DAB+ at Lysá hora
02.08.2024 - Czechia Czechia
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.

(Český rozhlas) Read more


Prague to get COLOR DAB+ multiplex with up to 5 kW power
02.08.2024 - Czechia Czechia
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.

(Český rozhlas) Read more


Alternative Broadcast Company launches Kidsgrove transmitter
02.08.2024 - United Kingdom United Kingdom
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.”

(Radio Today UK) Read more


ffn: Targeting the party crowd on the radio
02.08.2024 - Germany Germany
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."

(MEDIENTAGE MÜNCHEN) Read more


Bavaria: Almost all major road tunnels with DAB+
02.08.2024 - Germany Germany
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

(SatelliFax) Read more


Record 50 million people in UK listening to radio
01.08.2024 - British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) WorldDAB Member - United Kingdom United Kingdom
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.”

(BBC) Read more