News

Over 1,000 exhibitors and tens of thousands of attendees make IBC one of the largest annual gatherings of media and entertainment professionals in the world. With the event back in-person at the RAI Amsterdam for the first time in three years, WorldDAB produced a Sunday-morning briefing for delegates, exploring “new opportunities and new audiences with DAB+”. Read a full report from the session, including more on how metadata is critical for radio stations to look their best in the car, and the opportunities presented by small-scale DAB.

Boom Radio, the new radio station aimed at the baby Boomer generation that has enjoyed phenomenal growth in its first 18 months on air, is launching a new million-pound campaign to attract more listeners. It will be spearheaded by a TV ad featuring the station’s lunchtime presenter David Hamilton — the oldest working daily national DJ in the UK — who turned 84 this year. Boom Radio broadcasts on the national commercial SDL digital radio multiplex, and has seen a 29% rise in over-50s tuning into its shows in the last six months, according to audience research body RAJAR.

The new DAB multiplex for Winchester has been officially switched on with a special launch ceremony in the centre of the city. There are 18 radio stations being made available on digital radio for the first time in the area, including Christmas Radio, Winchester Radio, B Radio and News Radio UK. The services are broadcast digitally from a transmitter at Crabwood Farm. It is owned and operated by UK DAB Networks run by Ash Elford, who told RadioToday: “It has always been important to me that digital radio was accessible to all broadcasters of all types. By having something for everyone, digital radio will be able to thrive.”

Radio Saba Sound has been connected on DAB+. The Abruzzo-based broadcaster - which until now had only broadcast via IP - is now present on the digital airwaves in Rome. Broadcasting takes place in the Emme DAB mux. The channel is 10C. The broadcaster is identified as '# SABA SOUND'.

From 14 November to 4 December, DAB+ will be the focus of marketing by the members of the Digital Radio Association Germany: for three weeks, ARD, Deutschlandradio, private programme providers, manufacturers and other members will provide cross-media information on the digital radio standard and its many advantages. The campaign period also marks the launch of a new cross-media communication campaign. The campaign claim "If you want to feel, you have to hear". sums up what it's all about: the emotional value of radio as a medium and unforgettable listening moments. The plus of the DAB+ logo plays an important visual role in the campaign elements and illustrates the "more" in programme variety, listening pleasure and quality. Keywords such as "passion+", "moments+" or "home+" reinforce the emotional message.

In this RedTech Briefing, Omar Essack speaks to Ford Ennals, who began as CEO of Commercial Radio & Audio (previously known as Commercial Radio Australia) in April 2022. He took over from Joan Warner who led CRA for more than 20 years. Ennals says vehicles will “absolutely need to have a broadcast backbone in the car whether it be DAB, FM or AM - or preferably all three,” and discusses the importance of keeping radio prominent in the dashboard.

Lombardia DAB and Radio Digitale Lombardia, consortium companies of the Aeranti-Corallo association system, which operate as DAB+ local network operators in the region, have set up additional transmission facilities in Roncola, Bergamo, in addition to their respective facilities already in operation in Milan. Elena Porta a.u. of the two consortium companies, points out that the activation of the two new facilities in Roncola will lead to a significant improvement in the coverage of their respective broadcasting networks, with an increase in the population served in the region of approximately 1 million inhabitants. Lombardia DAB operates on frequency 7A and Radio Digitale Lombardia on frequency 7B and are each owned by 20 Aeranti-Corallo member local radio stations.

Winchester Today has an entirely new future ahead as it becomes part of a digital radio revolution with the start of a new DAB+ multiplex. The multiplex brings 17 radio stations to a new audience, including Winchester Today. For us, this is the culmination of two years’ hard work in applying for a digital licence from Ofcom and getting on board with the owners of the multiplex, UK DAB Networks. More stations will be added just as soon as they can get their licence approved by Ofcom.

New radio station Vibe Radio has started its broadcasts over the digital airwaves (DAB+). The radio station can be heard via DAB+ in Friesland and Overijssel. The format of the new radio station is 'Dutch Urban'. "Vibe Radio, with mainly 'Dutch Urban', targets the 10-35 age group and young parents. Our own research shows that there is a huge need for this genre. What emerges is that this young target group wants to hear well-known hits by their favourite artists of today, which even their parents don't turn off the radio for," the radio station said earlier in a press release.

On Wednesday, 5 October, Muzyczne Radio appeared on the DABCAST experimental multiplex in Warsaw, Katowice, Gdańsk and Wrocław. This means that the local station from Jelenia Góra can already be heard in ten locations on the digital airwaves. At the end of July, we reported that the Office of Electronic Communications had extended the broadcasting permits for the DABCAST experimental multiplexes. The MUXs can operate until 1 July 2023.