News

The licence of commercial mux Flanders1, currently operated by Norkring, will not be automatically renewed in June 2024. Flemish Media Minister Benjamin Dalle wants to move away from the existing operator model and opt for a 'broadcasting model'. "In the network operator model, licences are granted to a network operator, which then decides which radio broadcasters will be distributed. In the broadcaster model, qualitative content conditions can be imposed, among other things, as is the case with FM. We are now examining the various options. I will clarify this as soon as possible," Dalle said in a written response.

A group of local broadcasters in and around Northumberland have come together to apply the area’s small-scale DAB licence. Northumberland Community Digital has been created to oversee the application and if successful will put Koast Radio, Radio Northumberland, Frisk Radio, Lionheart Radio and others on DAB for the first time. One of the main organisers is Richard Finch, who is part of the team at Tyneside Community Digital – the company which recently switched on its own DAB transmitters in Newcastle and Gateshead. Richard said: “I’m delighted to help bring this exciting new service to the people of Northumberland. Small Scale DAB will bring a diverse range of new and local radio stations, increasing listener choice and helping to build stronger communities.”

Polskie Radio has not yet decided on the tender for broadcasting and coverage expansion in DAB+. "The examination of the submitted bids is underway," Monika Kuś, spokesperson for the broadcaster, informs Wirtualnemedia.pl. Together with the regional radio stations, it is ready to allocate nearly PLN 86 million (€18.9m) for digital broadcasting. Emitel's offer amounts to around PLN 60 million (€13.2m). The tender for DAB+ was launched in March and the envelopes were opened on 26 April. The scope of the contract includes 'signal backhaul services to broadcast stations and the dissemination of the multiplex signal in the DAB+ standard, together with the extension of broadcast coverage'. These tasks will be carried out from 1 October 2023.

On 9 January, news website Business AM launched Business AM radio, Flanders’ first talk radio station, broadcasting on DAB+ and online. Business AM emerged from the ashes of the international publication Newsweek and has grown over the last three years. It now has over two million monthly users and thousands of subscribers. The news website is part of the MediaNation media group of entrepreneur Paul Gheysens, CEO of real estate developer, Ghelamco and owner of Royal Antwerp FC, a member of the Belgian Pro League.

East Sussex Digital Radio Ltd has announced its intention to bid for the new DAB radio multiplex licence covering Eastbourne, Newhaven, Hailsham and Lewes. The licence is being advertised by Ofcom with any new services likely to be on-air in 2024. East Sussex Digital Radio is made up of OpenDAB Brighton & Hove, who pioneered low cost digital radio transmission in the UK - and since 2015 have run the Brighton DAB trial licence, Total Sense Media, operator of local radio stations across Sussex (More Radio/More Radio Retro) for over twenty years and well-established community stations Seahaven FM and Hailsham FM.

Toggo Radio is a nationwide children's and family radio station that was launched in 2020. "With Toggo Radio, we complete our portfolio for children and families, but also for the advertising market. Audio use has increased strongly. Children enthusiastically listen to music, radio plays and news made for them. And wherever children are, we want to be too. That's why this offer is a logical step for us," Claude Schmit, Managing Director at Super RTL, explained at the time. Musically, the station offers a mix for the whole family, news for children's ears, knowledge content and radio plays in the evening. This makes Toggo Radio an ideal everyday companion for families.

Today RAJAR announced 49.4 million adults or 88% of the adult (15+) UK population tuned in to their selected radio stations each week in the first quarter of 2023. 67% of weekly listening hours are consumed digitally. Listening via a DAB has 40% share of listening, Online has a 24% share and DTV is 3%. AM/FM listening hours are less than a third with 32%. In an average week, digital listening accounts for 682 million hours; DAB has a 59% share of digital listening hours, DTV 5%, Website/Apps 15%, Smart Speaker 21%.

A campaign that aims to put pressure on the UK government to protect “traditional” television and radio in the country has gained a number of new members. The Broadcast 2040+ campaign is urging the government to guarantee access to Freeview and radio services beyond 2040. Under the government’s current policy, these services are only guaranteed until the early 2030s. The coalition believes that a lack of certainty about the long-term future of broadcast services is likely to have a detrimental impact on the millions of people who rely heavily on them. It now has over 30 members, including Arqiva, The Voice of the Listener and Viewer (VLV), WorldDAB, the Local TV Network, and Boom Radio.

A coalition of groups demanding vital services are protected has grown significantly. The Broadcast 2040+ campaign, which wants the Government to guarantee access to Freeview and radio beyond the year 2040, now has 30 members. Under current plans aerial services are guaranteed only to the mid-2030s. Broadcast groups which have joined include Local TV Network which represents 34 services, World DAB – the global industry forum for digital radio – and community-focused free-to-air channel Together TV. Broadcast 2040+ says Freeview TV and broadcast radio are universal and do not need high-speed broadband nor a subscription – making them good for low-income homes, senior citizens and rural dwellers.

The ORF must save money, the government demands in return for the introduction of the saving budget levy. But have all savings potentials been used? No, as a data journalistic calculation by the "Wiener Zeitung" shows. Because a very obvious savings potential is often overlooked: The old, analogue FM radio stations, which "burn up" electricity to a considerable extent in 24-hour operation all over Austria. And this despite the fact that the new, digital DAB stations, which are only about one tenth as power-intensive, are already running in parallel in full operation. Thus, two networks are being maintained instead of slowly shutting down and dismantling FM broadcasting.