News

Viaplay's Christer Modig: "Terrestrial broadcasting is a prerequisite for our survival, but listening will be marginalised over time because FM offers too limited a range. DAB can give us greater diversity and better conditions to digitise the radio medium over time and thus maintain a strong robust platform for terrestrial broadcasting. No one has said that we should switch off FM, at least not in the next 15-20 years. But without DAB, FM will be marginalised in less than 10 years."

The Brno-based Black Hornet Production company has entered the DAB+ digital broadcasting in Prague and Central Bohemia with its new digital station. The move was officially approved by the RRTV at its latest meeting this week. Black Hornet is the thirteenth programme position in the COLOR DAB+ multiplex, which can be tuned in Prague and Central Bohemia with natural overlaps to other regions on channel 7C. The radio station aims to appeal in particular to fans of harder rock genres who will not be satisfied on existing, similarly oriented programmes.

DAB+, the digital successor to FM, continues to assert itself as a strong driver of the digitisation of radio in a difficult market environment. This is the finding of the media broadcasters' "Audio Trends 2023". The number of DAB+ radios in households (car and stationary devices) grew to 28.3 million, 4.4 million more than in the previous year. The momentum has increased compared to the previous year and corresponds to a relative increase of 19 percent.

Although 1 in 2 French people live in an area where DAB+ is available, there is still a long way to go to make it widely available. Hervé Godechot, journalist and chairman of Arcom's Radio and Digital Audio working group, explains why broadcasters have high expectations of DAB+. "DAB+ is what will enable radio to adapt to today's competitive environment and maintain its popularity and success. But Arcom is not alone in its efforts to ensure the success of DAB+: the channels are just as committed," says Godechot.

A new report published by over-60s advocacy group Silver Voices has today revealed the extent of the British public’s support for the protection of broadcast TV and radio for the long-term. According to the Safeguarding Universality: The Future of Broadcast TV and Radio report’s findings, over 80% of respondents believe broadcast TV and radio should be protected well beyond 2040 – to at least 2051, with some going further and calling for them to be protected until 2079. This is far in advance of the UK Government's current commitment to protect these services until 2034.

Radio programmes can still be broadcast on FM until the end of 2026. At its meeting on 25 October 2023, the Federal Council extended the FM licences due to expire in 2024 for another two years. This will give broadcasters more flexibility to successfully migrate from analogue to digital radio. The Federal Council has made it possible for existing FM radio licences to remain valid beyond their current expiry date until the end of 2026. Radio broadcasters can also choose to discontinue analogue broadcasting before then; they have not been required to broadcast on FM since 2020.

FM analogue radio broadcasting will be phased out in Azerbaijan from 2028. This was reflected in the "Action Plan for the introduction and development of digital radio broadcasting in the territory of the Republic of Azerbaijan". After 99.6 percent of the country's territory is covered by DAB+ digital radio broadcasting, radio receivers in new cars manufactured and imported in the country comply with the DAB+ standard, there are enough DAB+ radio receivers for household use and cars on sale, and after the population is properly informed, FM analogue radio broadcasts will be phased out.

Justin Kings, a senior media professional with over 30 years’ experience in the industry, has been appointed as the new Head of the EBU Academy. He will take up the position on 1 November 2023. Kings began his career at Capital Radio in London where he rose to the role of Group News Editor. He moved to the BBC’s radio station for the capital, BBC London, where he led journalists and programme teams in the Corporation's first multimedia newsroom. He left the BBC to start his own consultancy and training business and, as part of this, joined the EBU Academy Faculty in 2009. Over the past 14 years, he has specialized in social media trainings for the Academy as well as teaching topics including constructive journalism, young audiences, and podcasting.

Central Radio North West will expand to East Lancashire this November as the area’s small-scale DAB multiplex launches. The commercial station is already carried on the Blackpool and Preston multiplexes, and will add another potential 350,000 listeners in towns including Blackburn, Darwen, Accrington, Burnley and Colne. The East Lancashire small-scale DAB multiplex is owned by BBD Digital – and has three transmitter sites to cover the area. On awarding of the licence 18 months ago, 23 services had signed heads of agreement to broadcast on the multiplex.

Hospital radio service Rookwood Sound is evolving into a health and well-being service and joining DAB in Cardiff. Stephen Allen, Chief Executive of Rookwood Sound, said: “After launching on the internet and now on DAB+ we will be able to provide a service to most people across Cardiff & Vale of Glamorgan and further afield. We can act as a link between loved ones receiving care wherever they are and DAB+ provides us with that platform, along with the launch of our App in the next few weeks, it is an exciting time for our volunteers and listeners old and new."