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Are audio systems and voice assistants in car user interfaces within the meaning of the State Media Treaty? This question is the subject of a legal opinion commissioned by the Media Authority of North Rhine-Westphalia. On 23 November, the expert opinion by Prof. Dr. Ralf Müller-Terpitz entitled "Rechtliche Einordnung von Audiosystemen und Sprachassistenten mit dem Fokus Auto" (Legal classification of audio systems and voice assistants with a focus on cars) was published and can now be downloaded from the Authority's website. The conclusion of the expert opinion is that integrated audio systems represent a user interface for linear radio reception in the car. The same applies to the manufacturers' own voice assistants which are responsible for the navigation of the audio system. Thus, car manufacturers fall under the Treaty and must in future comply with the regulations for linear radio reception in the integrated audio system. "The result of the expert opinion is essentially: What looks like a user interface and is operated like a user interface is a user interface. This is good news for radio, for journalism and for users," said Dr. Tobias Schmid, Director of the Landesanstalt für Medien NRW, commenting on the results of the expert opinion.

Germany will hold a nationwide warning day on 8 December 2022. The aim is to alert the population to warnings in crisis situations. On the federal government's joint action day with the federal states and municipalities, the warning methods of the "Modular Warning System" (MoWaS) are to be used at 11am. These include public and private radio stations, and also SMS and apps. DAB+ has been a successful part of the MoWaS since 2020. DAB+ transmitters have a high level of operational reliability. Due to their mostly higher transmitter locations, they had proven to be more robust than mobile radio networks, for example during the floods in North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland-Palatinate and near Garmisch-Partenkirchen.

How is radio actually doing in the car today, given growing competition from streaming services? What motivates people to choose radio over streaming while driving, and vice versa? And what role will voice control play in managing in-car entertainment systems? These points and others were covered by Diana Franganillo, Director of In-Vehicle UX Research at Strategy Analytics, during her pre-recorded presentation at the WorldDAB Summit 2022. (She was ill with COVID at the time.) It was organised by WorldDAB, the DAB global industry forum, on Nov. 17 at London’s Kings Place and online.

A deadline for FM switch-off in the Netherlands between 2027 and 2032 is still realistic. This is according to Dialogic in the report "Updated arguments on and impact of FM radio switch-off", commissioned by the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate (EZK). The research firm says that with all new cars being required to have DAB+ as standard since the end of 2020, the penetration of DAB+ in the car is actually accelerating considerably, which in turn argues for an earlier switch-off. And rising energy prices also argue for an earlier switch-off of FM. Based on a repeat analysis, Dialogic concludes that the period 2027-2032 is still a realistic period for FM switch-off.

Levira, together with the AEB (Estonian Broadcasting Union) and radio stations, is testing solutions and possibilities for digital radio broadcasting in Estonia. As a pilot project, digital radio transmitters will be launched in the Tallinn TV tower and by the end of the year in Koeru and Pehka broadcasting stations. As of 28 November 2022, the following radio stations are on air from the Tallinn TV Tower transmitter: Radio Kuku, Radio Elmar, Radio Duo, MyHits, Narodnoye, DFM, StarFM Estonia.

Estonia’s consumer protection and technical regulatory authority, the TTJA, has announced a standard set of principles for testing digital radio, allowing market players to test the new technology until the end of 2023. “One of our objectives for the coming year is to create the necessary technical conditions for the development of digital radio,” said Oliver Gailan, head of the communications department. “To enable today’s market players to test the new technology, as a first step, we have drawn up common principles for testing digital radio and are preparing suitable frequencies for testing in the 174-230 MHz band."

With the launch of DAB+ in Switzerland, the Federal Council wanted to diversify the range of radio stations in Switzerland. The objective has been achieved in quantitative terms. But what are the prospects for the various radio genres? What are the opportunities and risks for each of them? These questions will be addressed at the next Atelier Radiophonique Romand, which will take place on 10 February at the University of Neuchâtel.

Digital radio, or DAB, which has been in use alongside FM frequencies in other European countries for years, may also reach the Estonian market in a few years, if the trials that will begin in the near future prove successful. Levira will start preparing for the trial in December and the trial period is planned to last nine months to allow for all weather conditions. One of the special features of digital radio is that several programmes can be broadcast on a single transmitter instead of the current one. That's why Levira wants to test the capabilities of digital radio with one transmitter, or 12 stations, said Kristo Kaasan, the company's technology and IT director.

The future of radio in the car was a key focus of this year’s WorldDAB Summit in London on Nov. 17. Speakers emphasised the need for continued collaboration between the radio and automotive sectors to ensure radio’s continued dominance of in-car audio and to optimise the listener experience. Diana Franganillo from Strategy Analytics said that “radio remains royalty” in the car. To strengthen this position and remain relevant, Franganillo advised providing content for younger listeners as the next generation of car buyers, synergising with other services to provide a holistic user experience for drivers and remaining alert and creative to the advent of autonomous vehicles.

On Thursday 24 November, Czech Radio launched digital broadcasting from eight new DAB+ transmitters of Czech Radio in Bohemia and Moravia. One transmitter is of higher power: Hodonín - Babí lom and seven transmitters of lower power. "The aim of this phase of the DAB+ network expansion is to improve indoor reception, so-called indoor coverage. The use of single-frequency networks allows us to significantly improve reception conditions even using low-power transmitters located as close as possible to residential buildings. We will gradually continue in this way in the coming years," said Karel Zýka, Director of Technology and Administration at Czech Radio.