News

In this article, Mateo Zanoguera Alfaro, Project Manager at Mallorca Radio Group, discusses the main challenges that Mallorca Radio Group (which includes Das Inselradio Mallorca and Mallorca Sunshine Radio) has faced in adapting to DAB+ technology, making them pioneers of digital radio broadcasting in the Balearic Islands. "On February 27th, we marked a milestone by starting the first DAB+ broadcasting tests in the Balearic Islands. In the pilot phase, which we are currently in, we are transmitting four programmes: Das Inselradio Mallorca and Mallorca Sunshine Radio, simultaneously with the FM broadcasts, and two new programmes have been added: Das Inselradio Mallorca Classics and Mallorca Sunshine Radio Summer Hits."

At its March meeting, the Commission for Licensing and Supervision (ZAK) categorised the in-car entertainment systems from Audi, BMW/Mini and Tesla as user interfaces. The ZAK also categorised the "Tesla Media Player" as a media platform. In doing so, the ZAK has set a milestone, as this is the first time that the Commission has exercised its duty of supervision over the media offerings of car manufacturers. Dr Thorsten Schmiege, Coordinator of the Infrastructure and Innovation Committee: "Radio plays a central role in the car. It's about access to local news or current alerts, but also about users who expect to be able to easily find radio and content worth listening to in the car. With the displays, car manufacturers are acknowledging their responsibility to implement media diversity in the car in practice. We assume that other car manufacturers will follow suit in the near future and will also insist on this."

West Hull FM 106.9FM is launching on DAB+ to a wider area around Hull and Beverley and has rebranded as Humber Wave Radio. Adey Wright, Managing Director of WHCR said: “Our service broadcasts 24 hours a day and touches more places than ever before. Our new digital radio platform increases this reach even further. We all know the future is digital, and we are excited to once again be pioneers in broadcasting the first truly local digital service to Hull, East Yorkshire, and North Lincolnshire as Humber Wave Radio.” Humber Wave Radio will be on Hull DAB from mid-April.

On 3 April 2024, the DGTEL of the Ministry of Enterprise and Made in Italy (MIMIT) published on the Ministry's website the list of expressions of interest received by the same Ministry of consortium companies admitted to the procedures for the assignment of the rights to use frequencies for the terrestrial digital radio broadcasting service referred to in the PNAF-DAB for the following catchment areas: no. 02 - Valle D'Aosta; no. 07 - Liguria; no. 09 - Tuscany.

Nation Radio is to replace Sun FM on across Sunderland, County Durham and Darlington. Nation Radio North East will also be available on DAB in Newcastle + Gateshead, South Shields + Tynemouth, Darlington + Bishop Auckland, Middlesbrough + Redcar when it launches on 1st May. Nation’s Chairman Jason Bryant commented: “Strong, national brands are increasingly important in commercial radio. Nation Radio competes with and often beats other national brands in markets across the UK. Its roll out to the North East is an important moment in our development.”

New WorldDAB member SwissMediaCast recently expanded the coverage of their DAB+ network in Switzerland. We learn more about their recent activities and goals in this interview with CEO, Bernhard Schmid. "DAB+ is a future-proof, secure and expandable technology," he says.

Broadcasting of the Polish Radio DAB+ multiplex in Rybnik was launched on 29 March. A representative of Emitel, the operator of terrestrial television and radio transmitters also told Wirtualnemedia.pl that the multiplex will appear in two more locations within a month and a half. The multiplex is broadcast from the chimney of the Rybnik power plant on channel 11A. The MUX includes: Jedynka, Dwójka, Trójka, Czwórka, Polskie Radio 24, Polskie Radio Dzieciom, Polskie Radio Kierowców, Polskie Radio Chopin, Polskie Radio for Ukraine, Radio Poland and Radio Katowice. The multiplex broadcasts with a power of 4 kW. Further DAB+ broadcasts will be launched soon.

On 10 April, Bayerischer Rundfunk is reorganising the distribution of its radio programmes in its own DAB+ networks. This changeover to DAB+ means that unlike FM, listeners throughout Bavaria can choose from any of the five Bayern 1 regional programmes: Bayern 1 Mainfranken, Bayern 1 Mittel- und Oberfranken, Bayern 1 Niederbayern/Oberpfalz, Bayern 1 Oberbayern and Bayern 1 Schwaben. This will also please car drivers: they will then be able to listen to "their" Bayern 1 regional programme continuously on their DAB+ car radio, even if they are travelling across Bavaria. The basis for this changeover is the major expansion of the DAB+ transmitter network with 88 locations, and coverage of well over 90 per cent of Bavaria's population with the DAB+ signal.

There were a number of changes to DAB+ terrestrial digital radio on 1 April. New programmes were launched or existing radio stations expanded their broadcasting area. There is a new service from Star FM. The rock station was previously available terrestrially in Berlin, Franconia and Saxony. Since 1 April, it has also been offering a separate service for North Rhine-Westphalia. The station took over the capacity of Femotion Radio in the state-wide multiplex on channel 9D. The country station The WOLF has been available in three more federal states since Easter Monday: Bremen (channel 6A), Hamburg (channel 12C) and Hesse (channel 6A and 12C). Last year, the station already expanded to Rheinhessen.

New WorldDAB member RTVE recently launched DAB+ services in Spain. We learn more about RTVE's plans in this interview with Javier Sánchez, Head of Strategy at RTVE Innovation Center, RTVE. “WorldDAB is the only organisation where all stakeholders involved in the deployment of DAB+ worldwide are represented,” he says.