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DAB+ covers 50% of the French mainland population
02.08.2023 - France France
Following recent launches in Bayonne, Besançon, Metz and Nancy, DAB+ digital terrestrial radio continues to roll out, with broadcasts starting up in Brest, Clermont-Ferrand and Pau. The DAB+ offer will also be doubled in Angers, Rennes and Limoges by the end of the summer. A total of 17 local and extended multiplexes are scheduled to go on air this summer. With these start-ups, more than half the population of mainland France will be able to receive at least 13 radio stations on DAB+. Deployment, particularly of metropolitan multiplexes, will continue from October with more than 300 new transmitters, enabling digital terrestrial radio to serve more than 60% of the mainland population by March 2024, according to Arcom.

(La Lettre Pro de la Radio) Read more


New Austrian Private Radio Act brings more digital opportunities
01.08.2023 - Austria Austria
On 1 August 2023, the new Private Radio Act comes into force, which in future will make it possible to broadcast six DAB+ programmes per coverage area instead of the previous two. The associated tender for the licences of the regulatory authority KommAustria has already started and will run until 2 October 2023. Media Minister Susanne Raab said: "With the new Private Radio Act, which is now coming into force, we are creating the framework conditions for radio providers to be able to offer more digital radio in Austria. This also brings advantages for listeners, who can receive more modern audio signals."

(Bundeskanzleramt / Federal Chancellery) Read more


Czech tender for commercial DAB+ networks announced
01.08.2023 - Czechia Czechia
The Czech Telecommunications Office has announced a tender for DAB+ networks. "The frequency band for FM broadcasting is almost full, this new platform will allow new programming players to enter the market. After several years of intensive work, the frequency band for DAB has been coordinated during 2022 and can be used. In addition to the already successfully running digital broadcasting of Czech Radio, we will also enable the development of commercial DAB networks," said Marek Ebert, Chairman of the CTU. The invitation to tender is for two national and 27 regional broadcasting networks.

(Český telekomunikační úřad (ČTÚ)) Read more


Radio, not podcasts, rules the car
31.07.2023 - Australia Australia
June’s Infinite Dial Australia report showed that we are bigger consumers of podcasts than the US with the breakdown of car audio listening from those surveyed over the course of a month showing 84% AM/FM/DAB+, 41% music streaming services, 38% podcasts and 20% online AM/FM stations. Radio rules in the car for a couple of obvious reasons: People want to know what might impact their trip to and from work and local radio provides that information; It’s easier to leave the car after a song or talk break than knee deep in a podcast conversation.

(RadioInfo Australia) Read more


Bundesliga: NDR also broadcasts "Sportschau Live" via DAB+
28.07.2023 - Germany Germany
In the 2023/24 season, ARD will continue to broadcast all Bundesliga, 2nd Bundesliga, DFB Cup and Champions League matches as live audio reports on the internet. If several matches are kicked off at the same time, they can also be heard in a special programme. This programme will also be accessible via digital radio DAB+ throughout northern Germany from the coming season. Norddeutscher Rundfunk (NDR) has decided to broadcast the web radio offering on its NDR Info Spezial channel. WDR also broadcasts the programme on DAB+ - via its digital radio service "WDR-Event".

(SatelliFax) Read more


US Senate Committee passes “AM For Every Vehicle Act,” sends it to Senate floor
28.07.2023 - United States United States
On 27 July, the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation officially passed the AM For Every Vehicle Act on to the Senate floor. The Act would direct the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to issue a rule requiring automakers to maintain AM broadcast radio in their vehicles without a separate or additional payment, fee or surcharge. It says AM should be clearly visible on the vehicle’s dashboard; and until the new standard would take effect, cars lacking AM radio receivers would have to be labeled as such for buyers.

(Radio World) Read more


Audiovisual equipment in France - Q3 & Q4 2022 results for TV and radio
27.07.2023 - France France
Arcom and its partners present the results of the survey of household audiovisual equipment for the past year, which includes data for the second half of 2022 for television and the full year 2022 for radio. 13.7% of people aged 13 and over are equipped with a DAB+ fixed radio or clock radio. DAB+-compatible car radios continue to increase in 2022, with 16.8% of people aged 13 and over now equipped with a DAB+-compatible car radio (+2.6 points in one year).

(Arcom) Read more


Radioplayer announces major new investment for digital radio innovation
27.07.2023 - Radioplayer WorldDAB Member - United Kingdom United Kingdom
Radioplayer announces a new record level of investment from its members to fund new innovation in digital radio, heralded by the Radioplayer members finalising a new long-term agreement. The new era will see Radioplayer deliver further growth of its in-car and connected devices strategy, through recruitment of staff and significant investment in technology development, setting the trajectory across Europe and beyond.

(Radioplayer) Read more


NCA holds stakeholder engagement on DAB+
27.07.2023 - Ghana Ghana
Following the announcement by the National Communications Authority (NCA) about the commencement of trials for Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB) in Accra and Kumasi, the Authority engaged with selected stakeholders involved in the upcoming trials. The stakeholders included the selected 16 FM stations as well as KNET, the partners for the project.

(National Communications Authority (NCA)) Read more


RDS 100% Greatest Hits and Lega Serie A present the first Radio-TV of a soccer league in Europe
27.07.2023 - DAB Italia WorldDAB Member - Italy Italy
The Italian radio and television offer is enriched with a new leading player in sports communication. Radio TV Serie A with RDS is born - on air in DAB and IP mode, visible on digital terrestrial via extension of the Radio-TV channel, on the Lega Serie A website and APP, as well as on the RDS website and APP - starting on Saturday, August 19 to coincide with the start of the championship and created in partnership between the Lega Serie A and RDS 100% Grandi Successi.

(Lega Serie A) Read more