News

WorldDAB has announced speakers for its upcoming summit on Nov. 17 at Kings Place, King’s Cross in London and online. Diana Franganillo, director of in-vehicle UX research at Strategy Analytics, is a keynote speaker. Franganillo will deliver insights on emerging use cases, consumer priorities and experience optimisation for in-vehicle connectivity and autonomous and electric vehicles. According to WorldDAB, she will present the latest trends related to radio and audio in the car and what to expect in the future. She’ll delve into how fast the UX is changing and consider the impact of voice control and connectivity.

Former LFM presenter Philippe Morax is launching "M le média HD", a new radio and TV channel, on 31 October. It will be available on DAB+ in audio as well as via a free-to-air television broadcast on Canal+ Suisse for its morning programme. Philippe Morax, who hosted LFM's morning show from 2014 to 2021, is now the managing director of Millenium Média Groupe. On RTS's Médialogues programme, he explained that his "objective was to set up a medium that is both a radio and a television station, but with a digital angle. So we're not killing two birds with one stone, but killing three birds with one stone."

Radio Sázava will soon be available to more listeners. The station is about to start broadcasting via DAB+. The station will be distributed on the COLOR DAB+ multiplex. Currently, technical tests of Radio Sázava are being conducted on the COLOR DAB+ mux on the position called "TEST". Regular broadcasting on DAB+ will be launched as soon as the Czech media regulator RRTV (Radio and Television Broadcasting Council) grants a broadcasting licence to Dada Media s.r.o., which has already applied for a digital licence from the Council at the end of August.

Based in Contrexéville, "Magnum la radio" has been broadcasting its programmes in DAB+ in Strasbourg since 2018. Benoit Boulanger, the station's president, is quite taken with this new technology. "It is still a technology in which we believe, on which we are betting. Listening is still totally free for the listener, and the sound quality is really better. DAB+ also has the possibility of offering texts, visuals and maps on small screens, which can give radio a new look. This is revolutionising our business a little bit."

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.