News

More diversity for the radio market in Ingolstadt: "Gong 96.3 in Ingolstadt," a new radio offering from Radio Gong 2000 Programmanbieter GmbH & Co. Hörfunk für München KG, will receive the DAB+ programming slot put out to tender for Ingolstadt. Corresponding data capacities will be allocated for ten years, limited until June 30, 2033. In addition, "rt1 in the mix," an offer from rt1.digital broadcast GmbH, will receive capacity for technical consolidation to compensate for a technical DAB coverage deficit in neighboring, intended coverage areas until June 30, 2025. This was decided today by the Media Council of the Bavarian Regulatory Authority for Commercial Broadcasting (BLM).

With innovation, locality can also be mapped in DAB+. This has been demonstrated by a unique nationwide pilot project for "dynamic reconfiguration" in a test phase lasting several years. From July 1, it will go into regular operation, decided the Media Council of the Bavarian Regulatory Authority for Commercial Broadcasting (BLM) with the corresponding allocation of DAB capacity and the extension of the allocation of the offer to Radio Charivari Regensburg in its meeting today. The allocations are limited until June 30, 2033.

Replay News, "France's 24/7 news radio station," is continuing its expansion by now offering its terrestrial broadcast on DAB+ in Monaco and several towns on the Côte d'Azur. This new initiative marks an important step in the development of Replay News, which has established itself since its creation in 2018 "as one of the strong players in the French radio landscape". With its slogan "La radio de l'info toutes les 5 minutes", Replay News, published by Public Santé, has become one of the most listened-to radio stations in France.

CRRT – the national operator of DVB-T/T2 Digital Terrestrial Television in Uzbekistan, is considering the possibility of launching new DAB digital radio services in several regions. Looking for a quick and cost-effective solution, the decision was made to reuse old analog VHF transmitters. To do so, ENENSYS’ Twister II was chosen to upgrade to the DAB standard. CRRT already successfully upgraded its high-power TV station in Tashkent with Twister II, and thus ensured excellent DAB signal distribution in the capital of Uzbekistan.

WorldDAB Automotive 2023 will once again bring together experts from across the broadcast and automotive sectors to share their vision for the opportunities and challenges presented by connected cars, and why DAB+ remains essential for radio's future. “Keeping radio prominent” is the theme of this year’s event, which takes place in Paris at Maison de la Radio, the home of Radio France, on 15 June. The one-day conference is free to attend in-person or online, and is organised by WorldDAB, the global industry forum for DAB digital radio.

Mark yesterday's date on your calendar – May 23, 2023 – because it was a rare day. A unicorn even. It was the day the broadcast radio celebrated a victory….of sorts. Ford's reversal of course was, in fact, the cause for a brief round of high-fives. And then back to work. But it represented something we haven't seen the industry do in decades: Speak in one voice.

Ford Motor Company has reconsidered removing AM radio from future vehicles in the U.S. and will now include the technology in its newer model cars. “After speaking with policy leaders about the importance of AM broadcast radio as a part of the emergency alert system, we’ve decided to include it on all 2024 Ford & Lincoln vehicles,” said Ford CEO Jim Farley in a post on social media. “For any owners of Ford EVs without AM broadcast capability, we’ll offer a software update.”

In response to the announcement that Ford Motor Company has reconsidered removing AM radio from future vehicles in the U.S. and will now include the technology in their newer model cars, the following statement can be attributed to NAB President and CEO Curtis LeGeyt: “NAB commends Ford for committing to keep AM radio in their vehicles, which will keep Americans safe and informed, particularly in times of emergency. With tens of millions of listeners, AM radio continues to serve as a vital lifeline to the public and a critical source of community news and exchange of diverse ideas."

At the invitation of the Elenos Group company of the Italy, the representatives of the Ministry of Digital Technologies and the management of the "Radioaloqa, Radioeshittirish va Televidenie Markazi" (RRTM) visited the production plants of the Elenos Group located in the Italian cities of Ferrara and Orvieto. During the visit, it is planned to get acquainted with FM and DAB+ standard radio broadcasting devices and production possibilities, and to expand cooperation in these directions, to learn about the construction and operation of new DVB-T2 digital television transmitters and DAB+ standard digital radio networks. Also, the presentation of DAB+ digital radio transmitters, FM radio transmitters, DVB-T/T2 standard digital television transmitters produced by this company was closely studied. Currently, Itelco DAB+ transmitters belonging to this company are working as a test for the introduction of the DAB+ standard in Uzbekistan.

Three Aylesbury Vale radio stations are set to go digital, following a decision from Ofcom, which has awarded Bucks DAB Ltd a licence to operate the small-scale DAB multiplex for North Bucks. This means Bucks Radio, Stoke Mandeville Hospital Radio and 3Bs Radio, which covers Buckingham, Brackley and Bicester, will be able to be heard on DAB digital radios – along with a host of other new and local radio stations. Richard Carr, managing director of Bucks Radio, said: "A DAB licence was always in our plans, but we've had to wait patiently for the broadcast area to be advertised, and then again while the application was reviewed and then approved. Bucks Radio has gone from strength to strength since its launch in February 2021, and today's news will enable us to continue to grow and increase our potential audience."