News

KTO is continuing its roll-out and entering a new phase in its history with the launch of its radio channel on 4 September in digital quality using DAB+ technology. This method of broadcasting, whose development is accelerating in France, is of better quality, easier to use and more environmentally friendly than FM broadcasting. The programme schedule includes original creations (the morning show), joint live broadcasts with television (prayer times, major events, some editorial programmes), reworked television archive programmes (re-editing, sound enhancement) and programmes from partners (radio or podcast).

With the switch-on of the Dequede digital radio site, the Altmark will be able to hear the DAB+ stations from Funkhaus Halle. In addition to Radio Brocken, 89.0 RTL and 89.0 RTL In The Mix will also be heard in the north of Saxony-Anhalt on channel 11C from tomorrow. "We are pleased that we can now finally also supply the north of our state with digital radio. With the new coverage, we can now potentially reach as many as almost 2.7 million listeners in and around Saxony-Anhalt with the additional station structure," says Mike Bröhl, management spokesman at Funkhaus Halle.

Digital use of radio continues to increase in all regions, age groups and listening locations in Switzerland. Almost 70% of radio listened to in the car is now via digital channels. This was announced by the Digital Migration working group (DigiMig WG) at Swiss Radio Day on 31 August 2023. Of all radio minutes listened to in Switzerland, 81% are digital. Around half of these (41%) are listened to via DAB+ and the other half (40%) via the internet. In the first half of 2023, 245,600 new DAB+ devices were added in Switzerland, bringing the total stock including vehicles to approximately 6.7 million. 54 percent of all passenger cars in Switzerland are now equipped with DAB+.

In the latest interview with WorldDAB members exhibiting at IBC2023, Caspar Adriani, CTO, metadata.radio, says they'll be showcasing their cloud solution to create metadata for DAB.

In another of our interviews with WorldDAB members exhibiting at IBC2023, Ted Lantz, Vice President, Product Line Management for GatesAir says they will debut the second generation of GatesAir’s MultiD Series of DAB/DAB+ transmission systems at IBC.

AI (Artificial Intelligence) is currently the hot topic in the tech world, in society and in companies. Media companies move between rejection and innovation. Antenne Deutschland took a courageous step very early on and launched a fully AI-moderated station and put it online. The success now calls for the next logical step. Absolut Radio is going into terrestrial broadcasting in the Braunschweig area via DAB+. "The somewhat unexpected great success of Absolut Radio AI has virtually forced us to take this step," says Mirko Drenger, CEO of Antenne Deutschland. "AI presenter kAI has generated an enormous number of fans in just a few weeks. The streaming numbers are increasing daily. Braunschweig is a start. The sustainable success of DAB+ in Germany means that there are few free capacities. Of course, we do not rule out national distribution in the future," Drenger continues.

The Belgian German-speaking Community’s Medienrat (Media Council) has given the go-ahead for private radio stations to enter the pilot project for the recently started DAB+ mux 8A operated by public broadcaster Belgischer Rundfunk (BRF). With no initiatives taken in Eastern Belgium, BRF decided to take the lead and set up a DAB+ network. The German-speaking Community — one of the three federal communities of Belgium — lies on the country’s eastern border with Germany.

The Saxons can look forward to a new radio station: on 31 August, Radio Galaxy Saxony will be launched on digital radio/DAB and as an internet stream. The full radio programme geared to the Free State broadcasts the best current hits, important regional information and service tips for all young Saxons and those young at heart around the clock.

A new radio station will be launched in North Rhine-Westphalia via DAB+ on 1 September with the national media brand bigFM. "We are delighted that bigFM with Germany's biggest beats will finally be heard on the radio throughout North Rhine-Westphalia," says bigFM Programme Director Patrick Morgan. "The whole team around the morning show presenters Kristina Fixemer and Rolf Vogel have been waiting for this for a long time."

On 22 August, Ghana became the first nation in west Africa to launch DAB+ digital radio. The trial service makes Ghana the fourth nation on the African continent to deploy DAB+. The National Communications Authority is overseeing the trial, which includes 11 stations in the capital, Accra, and seven in Kumasi, the second-largest city in the country. The trial is expected to run through for six months, at which time NCA will determine the next phase of the deployment. By adopting DAB+, Ghana hopes to increase the number of stations able to operate in the country, as well as for stations to extend their reach beyond their current coverage area.