News

The Swedish Press, Radio and Television Authority (MPRT) has today - in two reports - presented its mission to the government on the conditions for commercial radio in the longer term. MPRT makes proposals for the future conditions for commercial radio and has mapped and analysed the development of digital radio in Europe and the market for digital radio in Sweden. The Authority believes that radio needs to be available on all platforms in order to be competitive in a digital media world. This gives radio the opportunity to develop content that suits the listener regardless of the platform the media consumer chooses to listen to. The Authority intends to announce additional space for digital commercial radio in 2023.

Albrecht Audio presents a new, versatile outdoor radio with emergency functions - including hand crank, solar panel and retractable light The new DR 114 DAB+ from Albrecht Audio is the perfect companion for all outdoor and survival fans: as a true all-rounder, the compact radio not only provides listeners on the move with the latest information and music (reception via FM / DAB+ / streaming), but also functions as a camping light at the same time - and that without an external power supply if required.

FG Chic, the sound-design radio station from the House of FG, has started broadcasting its programmes in Monaco on DAB+, the roll-out of which is accelerating rapidly in France. This is FG Chic's second DAB+ frequency after Paris in the Île-de-France region. Maison FG is thus continuing to develop its DAB+ network in France with its four stations FG DJ Radio, FG CHIC, Maxximum and DanceOne.

DAB+ coverage will be significantly expanded in the near future. This will be facilitated by the more powerful transmitters Borský Mikuláš - Dubník (6D) and Košice - Dubník (10C). The public broadcaster RTVS is also interested in the expansion of digital radio broadcasting and has agreed on a new contract with Towercom to distribute its stations via DAB+. The new contract is valid until the end of 2023 and thanks to it the public broadcaster can distribute nine stations on Towercom's DAB+ multiplex.

TDF announced today that it has been selected as the operator for digital radio broadcasting in four new areas (extended allotments of Metz, Nancy, Limoges and Bayonne defined by Arcom). In 2023, the inhabitants of Lorraine (from Thionville to Epinal), the South-West (from Hendaye to the south of the Landes) and Limousin (from Bellac to Brive-la-Gaillarde) will benefit from radio services broadcast in digital quality thanks to the 19 DAB+ transmitters that TDF will be putting into service in these areas. In 2022 alone, TDF has commissioned 21 transmitters that bring radio in digital quality to the population of some twenty towns in France every day.

Swiss fibre optic and communications technology company Huber+Suhner has developed a new rooftop antenna for use by the Ostdeutsche Eisenbahn GmbH trains operating throughout Germany to enable DAB+ radio broadcasts throughout train carriages. The project was in conjunction with German company Paxlife Innovations GmbH, which specialises in passenger information, content and digital services onboard delivery for transport operators.

Leading UK communications infrastructure and media services company, Arqiva, is pleased to announce the appointment of Gaurav Jandwani as Executive Director, Media & Broadcast. Gaurav joins from Telia, where he was Business Head, TV & Streaming and will sit on the Arqiva Executive Committee (ExCo) reporting to CEO Shuja Khan. His appointment is effective from 03 January 2023. Shuja Khan, Arqiva CEO said: “Gaurav is an outstanding hire for Arqiva and I’m excited about the knowledge and expertise he will bring to Arqiva. He has a wealth of experience in the industry and in providing innovative solutions for customers bringing together both the traditional as well as cloud and IP based distribution. His experience of working across international markets in the US, Asia and Europe will be a key asset in helping us deliver our Vision 2031 strategy. I’m really looking forward to working with him in January."

Cerence Inc., AI for a world in motion, today announced new partnerships with two of the world’s leading audio content providers – iHeartMedia, the number one audio company in the United States and home to iHeartRadio, the free all-in-one digital music, podcasting and live streaming radio service, and Radioline, which manages the largest audio content database of 110,000 radio and podcast streams from 161 countries – bringing enhanced, conversational AI-powered access to radio and podcast content to automakers and mobility OEMs.

From 2023, SUNSHINE LIVE will also be broadcast in Switzerland. As in Germany, a distribution strategy via DAB+ and IP will also be pursued here. A station adapted for Switzerland will be broadcast, and SUNSHINE LIVE will also cooperate locally with strong and established partners.

Last Friday, 16 December, a new era began for Albanians in Switzerland. The broadcasting of the first and only Albanian radio station in Switzerland "albradio" began. "albradio" broadcasts via DAB+ on the multiplexes of digris AG: Schaffhausen-Winterthur, Aarau-Olten, Bernese Oberland, Lausanne and Central Switzerland. In addition, the station can also be received via the internet.