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The team behind the recreated LASER558 have obtained a licence to broadcast on DAB digital radio. Whilst a DAB (DSP) licence is available upon application these days, it marks another station using a previously unlicensed brand name and taking it legal. LASER558 will soon be on the relaunched Winchester DAB and the forthcoming Basingstoke DAB multiplexes. Station Director, Steve Bannister, said: “We are very excited to be able to announce that, after forty years of being classed a ‘pirate’ radio station, LASER558 is finally broadcasting legally in the UK and that we’ll be available on DAB Radio.

Streaming services like Spotify, Amazon Music and Apple Music may dominate the headlines, but radio isn’t going anywhere. 89% of us tune in at least once a week, according to UK radio measurement body Rajar. And, while FM radio is definitely still around, DAB (Digital Audio Broadcasting) now accounts for the majority of listening. The benefits? You don’t need to tune, so DAB isn’t as fiddly and you’ll pick up the clearest sound quality. Some of the best DAB radios also have Bluetooth connectivity, connectors to charge your phone, or the ability to add more of your favourite stations as presets. If you’re convinced, here are our picks for the best DAB radios in 2024.

On 13 February the World Radio Day event took place in Milan, organised by radiospeaker.it. Among others, Marco Rossignoli, coordinator of Aeranti-Corallo, spoke via videoconference, interviewed by Giorgio D'Ecclesia, coordinator of the Italian edition of World Radio Day. Rossignoli took stock of the procedures for the assignment of the rights to use digital terrestrial radio frequencies in DAB+ technology, confirming the expectation, based on statements collected at MIMIT, to be able to conclude the process by the end of this year; this, of course, subject to the progress of the beauty contest that may be necessary in some regions, and the subsequent disputes.

The aim of the campaign is to sensitise drivers in Switzerland to the upcoming switchover to DAB+ and to support them in converting their vehicles. The campaign focuses on radio reception in the car and at the same time illustrates what would be lost without the changeover - such as music in various styles and editorial formats from news to sport. This is ensured by "Bobbleheads", which are attached directly to the car radio on the dashboard and address radio listeners directly. They symbolise radio content, give the abstract topic an emotional approach and do this in an entertaining way, in keeping with the medium of radio. The campaign is now on air throughout Switzerland on TV, radio, OOH, digital, social media and content. Partners from the radio, automotive and retail sectors also have access to advertising material via a portal.

On World Radio Day 2024, Spanish radio listeners in six cities can begin turning in to the future of radio in the country. In line with plans announced in December, Spanish public-service broadcaster RTVE threw a symbolic switch at the Torrespaña to officially launch new DAB+ services. Starting 13 February, listeners in Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia, Seville, Murcia, and Bilbao can now tune DAB+ broadcasts of Radio Nacional and Radio 5, as well as Radio 3 in Valencia, Seville, Murcia and Bilbao. The new DAB+ channels join RTVE’s existing DAB broadcasts from Radio Nacional, Radio Clásica, Radio 3, Radio 5 and Radio Exterior in Madrid and Barcelona. Additional DAB+ services are slated to launch in other cities across Spain on a monthly basis, according to a RTVE announcement.

The trend toward innovation as a positive sign of our times has always distinguished us at LifeGate. This is why, for LifeGate Radio, we have chosen to continue the transition to DAB: after the switch-off of the FM frequencies in Rome and Turin and the related transition to the new technology, the historic Lombardy FM frequency 105.10 will also be replaced entirely with digital coverage starting 29 February 2024. LifeGate CEO, Enea Roveda, says, "Courage and foresight guide our choices in favour of innovative solutions that improve the quality of our offerings and respect the principles of sustainability. With a further shift from analogue to digital, we anticipate what will become the norm in the coming years, in favour of a solution that allows us to reach many more people while reducing CO2 production."

Members of Wrexham Premier Community Radio say they are "delighted" to announce that it has been granted a Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB) licence by Ofcom. Wrexham Premier Radio will go live via the new Wrexham DAB multiplex on 17 February. Since the station's inception during lockdown, Wrexham Premier Community Radio has provided information, companionship, and support to those isolated and in need during challenging times. The station was born out of a necessity to combat loneliness, support mental health and well-being, and ensure that accurate information reaches those most vulnerable in our community.

Coinciding with the celebration of World Radio Day and the centenary year of radio in Spain, Radio Nacional de España has started digital radio broadcasts in DAB+ together with Cellnex Telecom on 13 February 2024, with the firm intention of deploying this digital radio standard in our country, which is set to replace FM in the long term. This Tuesday saw the symbolic 'switch-on' of DAB+ at an information day in Torrespaña inaugurated by Verónica Ollé Sesé, Director of the Office of the President of RTVE: "We are looking to Europe, learning from the experience accumulated by our neighbours over the last few years, and committing to a technology that helps to guarantee the provision of this public radio service, with a vocation for universality, in the open, for everyone and everywhere, with no exclusions", she pointed out.

Nielsen, a global leader in audience measurement, data, and analytics, has released its latest radio listening trends for Norway. The research, which provides insights into daily and weekly reach, time spent listening, and the most popular radio stations, highlights the enduring popularity of radio among Norwegians. Key findings from the research include: Daily reach has increased from 58.7% in 2022 to 60.3% in 2023; weekly reach has increased from 83.3% to 84.1% in the same period. Daily time spent listening among the population has increased from 82 minutes to 83 minutes. Nielsen attributes the resilience of radio listening to a number of factors, including the launch of new stations, the increasing availability of digital platforms, and the use of personal listening devices.

Coinciding with the celebration of World Radio Day, 13 February, and the centenary year of radio in Spain, Radio Nacional de España, the country’s state-owned public service radio broadcaster, has started broadcasts in DAB+ in conjunction with Cellnex Telecom. The broadcaster intends to employ the DAB+ standard throughout the country and replace FM in the long term. A symbolic ‘switch-on’ of DAB+ took place in an informative day in Torrespaña, inaugurated by Verónica Ollé Sesé, director of the Cabinet of the Presidency of national broadcaster RTVE. “We’ve been watching Europe, learning from the experience accumulated by our neighbors over the last years, and are investing in a technology that helps guarantee the provision of a public service that is for everyone,” Sesé said.