News

The reception of radio programmes via DAB+ in Germany is becoming increasingly popular. This is confirmed by the results of the Media Authorities' Digitisation Report Audio 2022, which were presented today as part of the online presentation "Audiotrends 2022". According to the report, 30.8% of households in Germany now have at least one DAB+ radio. The proportion of people over the age of 14 with access to a DAB+ receiver grew by 10% to more than 23 million, which corresponds to 33.5% of the population.Growth was particularly strong in the most populous federal state, North Rhine-Westphalia, where usage rose by 35% compared to the previous year.

Radio Drenthe can now also be received via the DAB+ network for Friesland on channel 5A. With this, the regional broadcaster restores reception via digital radio for a large part of the province. Since early this month, Radio Drenthe transmits via the new network for Groningen and Drenthe (channel 7C) and the old network for Oost-Noord-Nederland on 6B is off the air. This network however had a transmitter in Hoogersmilde, which provided a signal for a large part of Drenthe. Because the new network for Groningen and Drenthe is still under construction, there are currently only transmitters in Hoogezand, Stadskanaal and Emmen for this network. The transmitters in Hoogersmilde and Meppel are still to follow.

Since this afternoon, the French-speaking local Brussels mux has been on the air. After three years of behind-the-scenes tug-of-war, 16 of the 17 radio stations recognized in 2019 will finally participate. Since this afternoon, the French-speaking local Brussels mux has been on the air. After three years of behind-the-scenes tug-of-war, 16 of the 17 radio stations recognized in 2019 will finally participate. The start of the mux is not unexpected. In June we already reported that a breakthrough was forced in the file of the Brussels DAB+. After the RTBF received the agreement of 15 of the 17 local stations recognized for the Wallonia-Brussels Federation, the public broadcaster was officially appointed by the CSA as operator. A few weeks later, sources within the RTBF announced that the start would take place in September.

The car of the future challenges radio’s prominent role in the dashboard: new connected cars will come with internet connections in-built and large touchscreens that make accessing entertainment other than live radio the easiest it has ever been. Radio’s role in the car is under threat. Jaime Chaux, Head of Digital, Commercial Radio Australia (CRA), spoke on what does audio entertainment look like in the future connected car? What is being done right now to ensure radio is as best placed for the rise of the connected car? More than 80 percent of the people surveyed across the world in a WorldDAB 2021 Car Buyers Survey said they typically listen to the radio in a car and broadcast radio is a must have in cars. When considering which car to purchase, radio is the most important audio feature to have ahead of USB ports, Bluetooth, Android Auto and CarPlay. “In car radio is one of the easiest ways to consume radio in the world,” he said.

WorldDAB, the global industry forum for DAB digital radio, has revealed the guest speakers for its special IBC2022 session, As we previously reported, the session is on Sunday, Sept. 11, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., in Room E102. The session will be hosted by Jacqueline Bierhorst, project director with Digital Radio NL and Vice President of WorldDAB.

As of today, radio station Decibel can also be heard in Gelderland via the digital airwaves (DAB+). The radio station already had coverage via the digital airwaves in Noord-Holland, Zuid-Holland, Utrecht, Noord-Brabant and Limburg. The province of Zeeland was added a month ago. As of today, the radio station can also be heard in Gelderland via DAB+ on channel 12B (broadcast quality 96 kbps). The expansion is related to a recently implemented reallocation of the regional digital frequency space.

On Tuesday 6 September, Maison FG launched a new radio station in Paris, Marseille and Nice called "DanceOne". The station has been authorised by Arcom to broadcast in Paris, Marseille, Aix-en-Provence, Nice and Cannes on DAB+, the new digital terrestrial radio broadcasting standard, whose deployment in France is accelerating.

Blackpool’s small-scale DAB radio multiplex has launched just three months after being awarded a licence by Ofcom. Fun Coast Digital CIC, led by former Radio Wave and Wish FM news head Alistair Clarke, along with DAB radio experts Viamux, started officially on 1st September with five services. Central Radio, Sandgrounder Radio, Happy Radio, 45 Radio and Timeless Radio can now be heard along the Lancashire coast from a single transmitter at the top of the local Blackpool Tower landmark. Other services, including Hit Music Radio, Coastal Radio DAB, Fylde Coast Radio, Ultimate Beats Radio and WBPL (Wow Blackpool) will join in the near future.

One of Germany's most popular presenters, Barbara Schöneberger, is launching her own radio station in Hamburg via DAB+. The station "barba radio" will be broadcast from 09.09.2022 in Hamburg and the surrounding area on channel 12C. Barbara Schöneberger has already been on air with barba radio since 24 October 2018, with the radio company REGIOCAST as a partner.

While regional deployments are continuing in France and Switzerland is preparing to abandon FM for good in favour of digital radio, even though digital radio now accounts for more than half of all car radio listening there, several European countries are stepping up their initiatives... In Germany, a study shows that the DAB+ audience is younger on average than the radio audience. This is good news for the rejuvenation of the radio audience. In Sweden, the country has just transposed the European directive on DAB+ (obligation to integrate DAB+ into car receivers). Sweden was one of the last countries not to have transposed the directive in the EU.