News

A year and a half earlier than the development criteria required by the Czech Telecommunications Authority, the Czech Radiocommunications (CRA) nationwide network for digital broadcasting of commercial radios will reach coverage of over 80 percent of the population and the motorway network in the Czech Republic next month. While 48 per cent of the Czech population can tune in to the network from 17 transmitters and repeaters since 4 February, when the nationwide multiplex B started, CRA plans to launch 14 more transmitters in March. These will provide a radical increase in coverage, as 11 of these transmitters will transmit at 10 kW, one even at 20 kW.

Radio Metro continues its expansion and is now extending its broadcasts to Telemark and Vestfold, on local DAB. With this expansion, Radio Metro ensures continuous coverage from Mandal in the south to Røros in the north, which marks a milestone for the channel. ‘This is an important strategic investment that strengthens our position in southern and eastern Norway. We want to provide our listeners with an even better radio service and look forward to welcoming new listeners,’ says CEO Yvonne Stikbakke. ‘We are proud to be able to expand our distribution to Vestfold and Telemark. With this expansion, we can reach even more listeners and offer our unique combination of experienced presenters, good music and exciting competitions.’

Almost half of the 57 planned local DAB+ networks are now on air. With the switch-on of transmitters in Leeuwarden and Winschoten, the number has reached 28. The remaining 29 networks should be commissioned by 1 September this year. Some of the networks (allotments) were already on air before last September through temporary licences and have remained on air on a temporary basis or otherwise until the cooperation agreement between all licence holders is concluded and a definitive network can be built. Local commercial broadcasters that do not yet have a DAB+ licence, but still want to get in, will soon get a new chance. The RDI is currently preparing a second distribution round.

A first look at the life-saving Automatic Safety Alert (ASA) system on DAB+ will be available to delegates at this year’s Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union (ABU) Digital Broadcasting Symposium (DBS), held from 24 - 27 February in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The event is the premier technical symposium in the APAC region focussing on the broadcasting industry. WorldDAB — the global industry forum for DAB+ digital radio — is again a major sponsor of ABU DBS, presenting an expert DAB+ workshop and hosting a DAB+ Pavilion at the conference exhibition. The Pavilion features several major solution providers: Aldena, AVT Audio Visual Technologies, Paneda, and RadioDNS. WorldDAB member Digidia is also exhibiting at ABU DBS.

Wireless Ireland is planning on launching “a suite of new digital radio services” on DAB+ this year. The move comes as RadioToday breaks the news that a new DAB+ trial will operate for 12 months from April by FáilteDAB. The new stations are set to launch in the spring, with more details announced in coming weeks. Sean Barry, Managing Director of Wireless Ireland, said: “Wireless Ireland is proud to lead the charge in Ireland’s transition to digital broadcasting. The new FáilteDAB platform will offer listeners a broader and more immersive experience, with a blend of existing and new content offerings, creating diversity of choice for listeners across a large coverage area. Wireless Ireland’s commitment will see us become the largest content provider on this new and exciting platform.”

Comreg has commissioned FáilteDAB to carry out a new high-powered DAB+ trial in Dublin and surrounding areas for 12 months. The experiment, starting in April, will be operated by Foothold Communications, which owns and operates transmission towers around Ireland and currently has over 1000 radio link and broadcast systems under management. FáilteDAB says only Irish Coimisiún na Meán licensed radio operators will be allowed to participate in the trial. A 20kW transmitter in Three Rock will cover Dublin, along with a number of 8kW and 10kW sites, giving coverage along the coast from Belfast to Rosslare, and inland to reach Kilkenny, but stopping short of reaching Limerick, Cork and Galway.

talkSPORT has been granted permission from Ofcom to turn off seven of its 18 transmitters. The move will reduce its national AM radio coverage from 92% to 88.9% of the UK adult population. The transmitter sites talkSPORT will close are; Clipstone (Nottinghamshire), Duxhurst (Surrey), Lisnagarvey (in County Antrim, Northern Ireland), Lydd (Kent), Stockton (Durham/North Yorkshire), Southwick/Brighton (West Sussex) and Rusthall (Tunbridge Wells). The reasons given by talkSPORT for these changes include declining listenership to its AM service as people turn to alternative platforms, considered against the ongoing viability of each transmitter site. The station will remain available nationally on DAB and other platforms.

WorldDAB Steering Board member Javier Sánchez is the new Director of Audiovisual Policy and Public Service at RTVE. A Telecommunications Engineer from the Alfonso X El Sabio University, his professional activity has always been related to the provision of audiovisual communication services and related aspects. He joined RTVE by competitive examination in 2008. He has been responsible for Strategy at the RTVE Innovation Centre since its creation in 2015 until the present, and has been part of the Impulsa Visión team since its creation. He has also been responsible for RTVE's European Spectrum Strategy (2014-2015) and head of Technical Planning at RNE (2008-2014).

Under the NLPO banner, hundreds of radio stations will start distributing their programmes through frequency layer 6 by 1 September. This is intended for public and commercial broadcasters. Regulator Rijksinspectie Digitale Infrastructuur (RDI) has divided the Netherlands into 57 regions, known as allotments. More than 200 public and commercial broadcasters have received a licence for this and will be allowed to broadcast locally via DAB+ from 1 September for a period of six years. In any case, DAB+ distribution must have started by 1 September 2025. As there is still some space left on the allotments, a new round of applications for the licence necessary for broadcasting is being worked on behind the scenes.

Broadcast Services is launching a new DAB+ multiplex, which will operate from six transmitters in the first phase. The move expands the group's Juke Box portfolio, which already operates FM radio, DVB-T and DVB-T2 broadcast networks. The new multiplex will distribute Radia Čas and Radia Čas Rock programmes at a bitrate of 96 kbps, with other stations under negotiation. Broadcast Services plans to progressively finalise the network to make efficient use of the frequency allocations. The aim is to provide complete DAB+ content for the Prague, Central Bohemia, Pardubice, Vysočina, South Moravia, Zlín, Olomouc and Moravia-Silesia regions.