News

As of June 1, 2023, a new radio station, Radio Nostalgia, was introduced to the Estonian airwaves. The station is unique in that it does not broadcast on FM, but on the digital format DAB+, which is new to Estonia. The music playlist on Nostalgia Radio consists of the good old hits from the '70s, '80s, '90s, '00s and songs from recent years in Russian, Ukrainian, Estonian, English, Italian, Spanish and other languages.

The Ministry of Enterprise and Industry - Directorate-General for Electronic Communication, Broadcasting and Postal Services (DGSCERP), is launching a procedure for the assignment to network operators of rights of use of frequencies for the terrestrial digital radio broadcasting service, referred to in the NAPF-DAB, relating to the catchment areas No 8 Emilia Romagna - No 11 Marche - No 12 Lazio - No 20 Sardinia.

In Berlin and Brandenburg, friends of non-commercial local radio stations (NKL) and ALEX Berlin will be able to receive their favourite programmes digitally in the future. This is the result of a resolution passed by the Media Council of the Medienanstalt Berlin-Brandenburg (mabb) in March, which will now be finally implemented with the start of transmission on DAB+. Until now, the programmes of the Berlin and Potsdam NKLs as well as ALEX Berlin were broadcast in parts of Berlin and in Potsdam via VHF frequencies. Most of the Brandenburg NKL programmes have not had terrestrial broadcasting so far.

Christian radio station Rádio Proglas is ready to switch off analogue FM broadcasting and replace it with DAB+ technology in the future. However, this step must be preceded by a favourable approach from the Czech Telecommunications Office in the form of a tender for new frequency networks. In the current issue of the Proglas newsletter, the station's director Martin Holík reports on this.

The Notice of the intention to grant a licence for the provision of DAB+ digital radio media services, number 05/23, has been published in the Official Gazette number 58/2023. There are five licences advertised: one national multiplex to broadcast three channels, and four regional, each carrying between six and eight channels. The deadline for submitting bids is 30 June 2023, with the licences awarded for 20-year terms.

Alliance for Automotive Innovation joined Consumer Technology Association (CTA), Zero Emission Transportation Association (ZETA) and TechNet in a new letter to Congress opposing a proposal to mandate analog AM radio in new vehicles. The letter noted that requiring manufacturers to use a particular technology will slow innovation. The organizations also highlighted several alternative forms of emergency communication – such as Wireless Emergency Alerts, the Integrated Public Alert and Warning System, and digital audio broadcasting.

On 6 June, the Energy and Commerce Committee and its Communications and Technology Subcommittee held an “educational” hearing on the merit of AM radio, and for select witness to field questions. The hearing, titled “Listen Here: Why Americans Value AM Radio,” was open to the public via a livestream. Ohio Rep. Bob Latta, the Republican chair of the subcommittee, opened the hearing and oversaw the proceedings. “We must ensure that no communities are left behind, no voice is silenced and no emergency communications are compromised,” he said, speaking in favor of new bipartisan legislation that would require automakers to maintain AM broadcast radio in their new vehicles at no additional charge.

House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) and Subcommittee on Communications and Technology Chair Bob Latta (R-OH) delivered opening remarks at today’s Communications and Technology Subcommittee hearing titled “Listen Here: Why Americans Value AM Radio.” Read the statements and watch the full hearing video.

Aiir PlayoutOne West Kent DAB Limited, a joint venture between West Kent Community Radio, MuxCom Ltd and Kent Capacity Co Ltd, has announced its plan to apply for the small-scale DAB licence for Maidstone, Tonbridge and Tunbridge Wells. The area is part of Round 5 and applications need to be in by June 30th 2023. Gregory Watson, Director of Kent Capacity Co, said: “We are excited to be working with West Kent Community Radio and MuxCom to bring small scale DAB to Maidstone, Tonbridge and Tunbridge Wells. “Our experience through MuxCo of building and operating local multiplexes, working with local partners, has been unique in the UK – helping small operators to become part of the DAB family and enabling many small radio stations to broadcast.”

Exciting times in radio land. Within ten weeks, it will become clear which radio stations can be heard nationwide on airwaves via FM and DAB+ after 1 September. Due to legal action by radio station KINK, the current broadcasting licences for the national commercial FM lots have to be re-auctioned. Since DAB+ space is also attached to these licences, changes on this digital radio network - as on FM - are inevitable.