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Following the trend set by other networks, Nova Entertainment has streamlined its brand identity with the launch of two new DAB+ stations - Smooth Relax and Smooth Chill - so that new digital stations align with the successful Smooth brand. "Extending the smoothfm brand provides us with future opportunities to create different smooth genres", said Paul Jackson, Nova Entertainment Chief Programming and Marketing Officer.

According to research conducted by Arqiva's Simon Mason, FM is the most expensive distribution channel, standing at £0.00105 per hour, compared to £0.00047 for distribution via IP. DAB+ provides the most affordable means of distribution, standing at £0.00033 per hour.

Media Broadcast has announced its plans to expand Germany's national DAB+ network with the launch of four new transmitters in the states of Rhineland-Palatinate and Bavaria. One out of four households in Germany are now equipped with a DAB+ radio, and over 68 million people are expected to have access to DAB+ stations at home by the end of 2019.

DAB+ will be launching in the department of Seine-Maritime, in the French region of Normandy, on 1 October 2019. Listeners in the cities of Le Havre and Rouen will now be able to benefit from DAB+ digital radio broadcasts.

RTBF, the public broadcaster for the French-speaking community of Belgium, has announced the launch of two new DAB+ stations for French-speaking Belgium - Jam and Viva+. This brings the total number of RTBF DAB+ stations in the country to eight.

The development of Austria's national DAB+ network is in full swing, with the second phase of the rollout - originally expected for March 2020 - set to be completed ahead of schedule, and as early as December this year. Operated by the national public service broadcaster ORS, this expansion stage is set to bring population coverage in the country to 75%.

DAB+ digital radio is set to be at the heart of discussions for the Austrian Media Day taking place on September 25. Amongst a number of notable speakers, WorldDAB president Patrick Hannon will be taking the stage on behalf of Frontier Smart Technologies to examine the reasons behind the success of DAB+ radio in Europe.

Using a total of five transmitters, the new DAB multiplex would carry 13 radio stations, including a number which are not currently available in the area, but can be heard on DAB in other regions across the country.

The digitisation of the radio industry continues to sweep over Europe, prompting digital radio enthusiasts in Spain to urge their country to follow suit. According to the digital radio report published by the EBU, the two transmitters currently active in Spain only cover 20% of the population, offering no more than one service that is not available through the FM band.

Graham Dixon, head of radio at the EBU, briefed IBC delegates at the ‘WorldDAB Radio distribution strategies for a connected world’ session that significant progress had been made in the field of DAB+ over the past year, highlighting that over 1566 digital radio stations are already on air in over 31 European markets.