News

From the 26th week of 2023, Dance Radio from the Active Media Group is part of the station offer of the České Radiokomunikací digital radio network. In the broadcaster's portfolio it complements the programmes Evropa 2, Frekvence 1, Rádio Bonton and Pigy rádio. The multiplex can be tuned in from three locations - Prague, Plzeň and Ostrava; the network does not broadcast in Brno. In the CRa DAB+ multiplex, not to be confused with the public Czech Radio network, Dance radio has replaced Radio Zet.

Car manufacturers have recently launched YouTube, TikTok, app stores and games to increase the choice of entertainment in addition to radio, podcast and music streaming services. As the world of infotainment changes and a myriad of content choices make their way into the dash, giving users exactly what they want when they want it, and in a safe and frictionless manner becomes paramount, writes Gereon Joachim, Xperi’s vice president of automotive sales and strategy for EMEA.

Middlesex DAB Ltd has announced plans to apply for the West London DAB multiplex. The company is a venture between Nation Broadcasting, the UK’s leading independent radio group and the leading London based Asian commercial radio groups – Lyca Media (Lyca Radio & Lyca Gold Radio), Sunrise Radio and Panjab Radio. Also on the team are Subdigital and local community radio service The Beat. Surjit Singh ​Ghuman MBE, founder of Hayes-based Panjab Radio said, “Since the year 2000 we have been at the heart of the West London community. I have backed DAB for over twenty years and have seen the positive impact it can have to broaden choice and bring new listeners to radio in general. I look forward to bringing not only more choice to listeners, but an affordable DAB multiplex for smaller and non-profit broadcasters.”​

A new consortium led by London Greek Radio has announced its bid for a small-scale digital radio multiplex licence. The group includes Nation Broadcasting, Scout Radio, Kol Radio, and The Beat, alongside industry specialists Ash Elford and Dean Kavanagh. DAB North London Limited says the combination of London Greek Radio’s experience and the diverse expertise brought by the consortium members will create a dynamic and inclusive digital radio landscape for North London.

There will be no change in FM radio in the Basque Country, but this week an important step will be taken in the field of radio: for the first time, DAB or DAB+ digital audio transmissions will be launched (digital audio broadcasting). The first digital broadcasts can be heard on the coast of Lapurdi, from Friday. Christophe Betbeder, the main representative of the Syndicat National des Radios Libres (SNRL), highlighted that "a new potential radio offer" has arrived. And it will affect the offer. "There will be 26 digital radio stations, eighteen of which were not present in the Basque Country until now."

The Czech Telecommunications Office (ČTÚ) will probably announce an auction of frequencies for digital radio broadcasting DAB+ in August. In the 174-230 MHz band, 27 regional and two nationwide networks may be created, CTU spokeswoman Tereza Meravá said at a meeting with journalists. According to her, bidders will be able to submit their applications in September and the auction itself will start in October. The starting prices for the allocations for the nationwide networks are around CZK 1 million, while for the regional ones they reach tens to hundreds of thousands of crowns depending on the number of inhabitants of the region covered.

WorldDAB member Glovane Co., Ltd recently launched a new DAB chipset. We learn more about Glovane's offer in this interview with Louis Ryu, Marketing Director.

The Vale's local radio station has launched on DAB+, thanks to support from CJCH Solicitors. It means that listeners to the station, which was recently awarded Silver at the Radio Academy ARIAS will now be able to head into the Welsh capital for work or leisure, keeping connected to their local radio station – whilst those in the Eastern Vale will be able to hear the station on DAB+ enabled radios, as well as on FM, mobile and the stations dedicated website.

On 13 July 2023, an official ceremony will be held to mark the launch of the state-wide private DAB+ platform in Lower Saxony, after which 113 private radio stations will additionally be receivable digitally, such as radio ffn, Antenne Niedersachsen and Radio 21. But new special-interest stations are also expected. Two of them have already been licensed by the Lower Saxony State Media Authority (NLM): the wolf - the new country radio and Nordseewelle 2.

Australia leads the world in digital audio listening, with the continued adoption and use of new commercial audio options while broadcast (AM/FM and DAB+) radio listening remains buoyant, according to the seventh Infinite Dial Australia report, released today by Edison Research and sponsored by industry body Commercial Radio & Audio, LiSTNR and Triton Digital. Radio listening in the car has remained the top digital audio choice, with 84% of those age 18+ who have been in a car in the last month saying that they listen to radio in the car. This number is up from 80% last year and more than double the 41% who stream music in the car. DAB+ stations have tripled their audience since 2020, driven by a wider variety of content and widespread access in new cars. In 2023, DAB+ listening soared to 7 million people a week, or 32% of people aged 12+, up from 18% last year, and 10% in 2020. “The Infinite Dial 2023 Australia study reveals that radio remains younger Australians’ favourite audio by far, with 76% tuning into radio each week, compared to 50% using TikTok,” Ford Ennals, CEO of CRA said.