News

Since Friday, November 8th, Radio Sázava is part of the DAB+ multiplex Fiera from the eastern Bohemian Black Mountain. It has been added to the programme offer in the form of Color Music Radio, Radio Hey and, of course, Radio Energic. The inclusion of Sázava is the result of cooperation between the network operator and the operator of this programme, JOE Media, the company behind the COLOR DAB+ multiplex. Pavel Hájek, managing director of pHmedia, told Digital Radio that the inclusion of Radio Sázava follows the positive reception of Color Music Radio and Radio Hey in the Fiera multiplex.

Pure West Radio has launched on both the North Pembrokeshire and South Pembrokeshire DAB digital radio multiplexes. This milestone for the station takes it from an online service to one that can be heard across its coverage area on terrestrial radio. “Launching on DAB marks an important chapter in Pure West Radio’s journey,” says Toby Ellis, Station Manager. “Our goal has always been to keep Pembrokeshire connected and bring our communities closer together. Expanding to DAB allows us to reach new listeners across the county and provide them with the local stories, news, and music they love.”

The start-up phase of the local DAB markets continues: the Mediadab and Spacedab consortia have activated the crucial Monte Mario transmitters in Lazio and will activate the Monte Cavo transmitters tomorrow on the blocks granted following the allocation of usage rights. In this regard, after having activated the Monte Mario transmitter on block 9B, Spacedab will start broadcasting from Monte Cavo tomorrow for the service over Rome. For its part, the Mediadab consortium has put the Monte Mario transmitter on block 12A into operation and will continue from tomorrow with Monte Cavo.

RTI cz was granted individual authorisation for the use of frequencies for digital radio broadcasting from Trutnov - Černá hora and Hradec Králové - Stěžery. From both locations, it can launch its national multiplex C, which it won in the frequency auction at the beginning of this year. As in the case of the Moravian sites, RTI cz will also use the transmitters of Teleko digital in eastern Bohemia, which already distributes the signal of its radio Regional Network 6 from Černá Hora and Stěžery. Thus, four digital radio networks will already be broadcasting from Černá Hora.

Schleswig-Holstein, Germany’s northernmost state, will transition from FM to DAB+ digital radio by 2031. This decision, made by private and public radio stations, the state government and the state media authority, aims to enhance radio quality and expand programming options. The decision comes amid strategic shifts in broadcasting consumption in Germany. The “Audio Trends 2023” report shows a 19% rise in DAB+ radios in German households, now at 283 million. The transition will occur in phases from 2025 to 2031. By mid-2031, FM broadcasting will be completely phased out in Schleswig-Holstein with all radio programs accessible through DAB+ and online platforms.

As of 1 November, Estonia has three new radio stations on DAB+ from NOSTALGIA MEDIA, a media company known for its successful RADIO NOSTALGIA project, which is loved by listeners for its atmosphere and quality sound. The new stations are a variety of music formats: RADIO TOP is an Estonian-language radio station that offers modern hits and new releases of this year. NOVOYE RADIO is a Russian language radio station that emphasises music from the current year. ALL THE BEST RADIO is a premium radio station broadcasting in Estonian language, oriented towards people who like a variety of hits from the past and modern hits.

In Saxony, there are new licences for four radio stations that can be broadcast via DAB+ digital radio. In Bavaria, digital radio has been expanded. Silvacast GmbH has been granted a licence for state-wide DAB+ coverage for the Free State of Saxony (channel 12A) for its "Radio Paloma Sachsen ’ programme. This was decided by the Media Council of the Saxon State Media Authority at its meeting on 29 October 2024. The SLM Media Council has also decided to grant BCS Broadcast Sachsen GmbH & Co. KG, based in Dresden, with licences to broadcast the locally oriented programmes ‘Radio Erzgebirge 2’, ‘Radio Lausitz 2’ and ‘Radio Zwickau 2’.

Listeners in Saarland can now receive Antenne Schlager via DAB+. With the slogan ‘Feel good’, the station is now also broadcasting its popular Schlager hits on the Saar and Blies. Antenne Schlager offers a wide range of pop hits and cult hits. The morning show with Tom Meyer and the afternoon show with Hanna Alschner are just some of the highlights that await listeners. The station promises good humour around the clock with music by Helene Fischer, Ben Zucker and Udo Jürgens. Antenne Schlager can be received via DAB+ in Lower Saxony, Bremen, Hamburg and now also in Saarland.

SRG SSR is making sure listeners understand why the Swiss public broadcaster is moving quickly to end its FM broadcasts. Swiss lawmakers set a 2026 deadline for stations to transition to digital, but SRG SSR is ready to make the change at the end of the year. In June 2024, the broadcaster announced it would leave the FM band at the end of 2024. Now, it is going into detail about the benefits of the full switchover, stating that “Analogue broadcasting modes, such as FM, which have been operational since 1952, have had their day.” According to SRG SSR, ending its FM broadcasts will reduce energy demands by several gigawatt hours of energy each year, saving a significant amount of money. Savings are also expected from reduced maintenance and replacement of antennas and transmission systems.

Celtic Music Radio is pleased to announce that the station is now available on DAB digital radio in the Inverclyde area, the third Scottish area to enjoy such a service. “Celtic Music Radio has been providing a service via DAB in the Greater Glasgow and Edinburgh areas for some time,” said Alex Jenkins, chair of the station’s board of directors. “Inverclyde has been in the pipeline for a while so we are delighted to finally provide DAB there as it demonstrates our ongoing commitment to delivering quality programming to more and more listeners.”