News

The latest GfK radio ratings across the five major metro markets show commercial DAB+ stations again performed strongly with nearly 2.8 million weekly listeners, up 35% from 2.04 million a year ago. Nearly 4.2 million people listened to commercial radio via a DAB+ radio. “We’re thrilled that commercial radio is continuing to break audience records with each survey and is growing listeners across all parts of the day,” said Commercial Radio & Audio chief executive officer Ford Ennals.

The 90s stations (KIIS,97.3,Mix,96FM), remain as the top digital DAB+ stations across the five metro markets with 365,000 listeners in Survey 6. The 80’s stations (WSFM,GOLD,97.3 KIIS,Mix,96FM) have 358,000 listeners, with OLDSKOOL HITS 90’s with 350,000 and Coles Radio with 306,000.

The National Broadcasting Council (Krajowa Rada Radiofonii i Telewizji / KRRiT) has announced that it has received 46 positions from broadcasters, organisations and institutions and 12 opinions from private individuals as part of the consultation on the switch-off of analogue FM radio broadcasting. Small and Catholic broadcasters are counting on state financial support for the transition to DAB+.

Six years after TV broadcasts switched from analogue to digital it is now time for radio to follow suit as the regulator seeks to clear the crowded airwaves in major cities. The principal broadcasting engineer from Tanzania Communications Authority (TCRA), Mr Andrew Kisaka, said the regulator has been forced to move from analogue due to the challenge of signal saturation extended to radio stations in various cities. “These FM radio stations use analogue technology signals which vary from megahertz 87.5 to 108….In big cities these waves are full,” said Mr Kisaka. Mr Kisaka said the regulator would not stop using the current FM signals but instead, it will utilize them simultaneously until the technology transfer is as user-friendly as television was when people watched high-quality images.

The Swedish Press and Broadcasting Authority [Myndigheten för press, radio och tv / MPRT] has decided to extend all licences for commercial digital radio (DAB+). The licences, which were due to expire at the end of September, are therefore valid until 31 July 2026. All licence holders have applied for and received the extension, which is being implemented to synchronise the licence periods for analogue and digital commercial radio. Available space in the two DAB+ commercial networks, operated by Bauer and Viaplay, will be put out to tender by MPRT. The authority says that a timetable has not yet been set but that it expects the call to be made after the New Year.

New switch-on in Terni. From the Miranda transmitter site, the TRL Media mux on channel 10D was switched on. The stations present on it are: Radio Leo, Radio Hit FM, Radio Stand By, Radio Easy & Italy, Radio Yes, Radio Tua, Stereocittà and Radio Cafè. Soon TRL Media will also arrive in Viterbo and its province.

Happy Radio UK is expanding its DAB+ coverage across the North West by joining the multiplexes in West Cheshire, Chester, North Wales and on the Fylde Coast. Darren Proctor, who set up Happy Radio with Festival Organiser Max Eden, says: “In the six months since we’ve launched; the response to the station has just been incredible and proves that there has and always will be a want for local radio!” “We’re really excited to be welcoming our latest amazing new sponsors of our daytime line up joining the Happy Radio Family and enabling us to further expand our coverage across the region,” Co-Owner Max Eden added.

Radioplayer's Laurence Harrison spoke about "Keeping radio at the heart of the car dashboard" at yesterday's "Tuning In" conference, organised by the UK commercial radio trade body, Radiocentre. Harrison was asked: If broadcasters had to do one thing to help ensure a strong future for radio in the car, what would it be? "Metadata holds the key to a great experience in the car, no doubt," he responded. "So if you’re providing us with that data, that information, the experience of radio, of your station in the car, is going to be so much better – the station logo, the track and now playing information, even to get voice control right." The full session is available to watch and share.

It’s beginning to sound a lot like Christmas, as Heart Xmas – a radio station dedicated to non-stop Christmas music, 24/7 – launches across the UK on Friday 23rd September. Heart Xmas is the Christmas-themed sister station of Heart, the UK’s biggest commercial radio brand, and is home to the nation’s favourite festive feel good tunes. Due to the growing popularity of Heart Xmas every year, this year the seasonal spin off station will be available on digital radio across the UK meaning Christmas fans can tune in from wherever they are in the UK on DAB as well as Global Player, bringing even wider coverage!

WorldDAB produced a Sunday-morning conference session at this year’s IBC, exploring “new opportunities and new audiences with DAB+”. The packed event was hosted by WorldDAB’s Vice-President and Project Director of Digital Radio Netherlands, Jacqueline Bierhorst who detailed how DAB+ is driving the uptake of digital radio, with it now being standard in over 90% of new cars sold in Europe.