News

The Czech Telecommunications Office has published a list of companies that want to operate national or regional commercial networks in the DAB+ standard on the Czech market in the future. The regulator's auction, which will take place in October, has attracted applications from major players and entities that have not yet operated digital radio. The auction includes not only well-known entities such as Czech Digital Group (České Radiokomunikace), RTI cz or Teleko digital, but also completely new companies.

The largely volunteer-run alternative music station 8Radio has called on the newly minted Coimisiún na Meán to issue more digital radio licences in order to give music fans greater choices or more platforms. Its latest incarnation was brought to the virtual airwaves by ex-Phantom FM manager and presenter Simon Maher in 2013 and while it is allowed access to the FM airwaves for 30 days each year, he has called for more “niche licences” to be issued, encouraging the new media commission “to license localised DAB radio multiplexes immediately, allowing niche Irish broadcasters access to a low-cost broadcast platform.”

8Radio.com is asking the new media commission to license localised DAB radio multiplexes allowing niche Irish broadcasters access to a low-cost broadcast platform. The station’s management group includes ex-Phantom FM Manager and Presenter Simon Maher, who said: “8Radio.com is taking a proactive step by encouraging the new Media Commission to license localised DAB radio multiplexes immediately, allowing niche Irish broadcasters access to a low-cost broadcast platform. With the rise of digital media, 8Radio.com is poised to make an even greater impact in the years to come.”

In June, the 20th edition of the European Digital Forum, a B2B event focusing mainly on trends and developments in the video and multimedia industry, also touched base with some radio-related topics. One of those pointed to a possible future for audio in autonomous cars. RTL 102.5 developed a specific Android Automotive version of their RTL 102.5 Play application, and at this year’s EDF, delegates had an opportunity to experience the look and feel of the new app. “We brought the whole RTL 102.5 user experience into connected cars, where the visual side of our content flows on cars’ screens, enriching passengers’ experience,” says Eugenio La Teana, RTL 102.5 head of innovation.

FG CHIC, which describes itself as "the radio of luxury and the future of disco", has started broadcasting its programme in Monaco, Nice and the Côte d'Azur on DAB+. This is FG CHIC's second DAB+ frequency after Paris, broadcast from Monaco. FG is continuing to expand its DAB+ network in France with its four stations, FG DJ Radio, FG CHIC, Maxximum and DanceOne.

Südwestrundfunk (SWR) continues to expand its transmitter network for DAB+ digital radio reception. In the districts of Heidenheim and Zollernalbkreis, the programmes SWR1 Baden-Württemberg, SWR2, SWR3, SWR4 Baden-Württemberg (with the regional programmes) as well as SWR Aktuell and DASDING can now be received via DAB+.

On 14 September, the next nationwide warning day, DAB+ digital radio will again be an important component, alongside cell broadcast, sirens and other warning means. The members of the Digital Radio Germany Association, i.e. ARD, Deutschlandradio, commercial broadcasters, manufacturers, network operators and state media authorities, have set themselves the goal of defining a new warning system based on the DAB+ data services. Compared to mobile radio, DAB+ is broadcast via transmission masts located at high altitudes, which remain available even in the event of a crisis when the mobile network is overloaded or fails due to severe weather.

In the late 1970s, there were dozens of long wave stations broadcasting. Now, only a handful are left. Among them are those in Denmark and Iceland - but they are due to shut by the end of 2023 and during 2024, respectively. The BBC still broadcasts Radio 4 on long wave as well as on digital radio, FM, and online. However, separate scheduling of BBC radio programmes on long wave will end in March next year - for example Test Match Special will not be available on long wave. The long-term future of the BBC's long wave output is far from certain. "Long wave is coming to the end of its life as a technology," a BBC spokeswoman tells BBC News, adding that Radio 4 long wave is currently set to continue broadcasting beyond March 2024.

The NBTC will propose a transition plan to digital radio in order to have enough spectrum to conduct business for 3,909 community radio stations by creating a new digital radio network. A study found that an investment of 1,000 million baht is required for expanding the network over 3 years to cover 50-60% of the country's service area, while also requiring a digital radio receiver, which costs approximately 1,000 baht per box. For such a plan The NBTC is scheduled to listen to opinions in specific groups or focus groups in 4 regions in October 2023 in order to move forward with announcing licensing criteria by mid-2024 before the trial broadcasting permission of community radio ends in December 2024.

Antonio Arcidiacono, CTO and CIO for the European Broadcasting Union, is focused on launching new ideas and initiatives for EBU members to ensure public service broadcasters are a benchmark for quality in the audiovisual market. "Radio remains crucial for car drivers, with recent surveys confirming that they expect radio to be there. European legislation that the EBU helped to support has ensured that DAB receivers are available in the overwhelming majority of new cars sold in major European markets. However, the in-car experience is rapidly changing, and there are far more media options for drivers. The good news for radio is that it is still in a strong position and perfectly able to adapt."