News

On Friday, the last day of the call for applications to be one of the 12 radio stations in Luxembourg's DAB+ multiplex, entrusted to BCE, the founder and partner of CBTW and investor in Tera House, Damien Chasseur, submitted an application. The aim is to bring Crooner Radio to Luxembourg. On the final day of the government's call for applications to be one of the twelve radio stations to be included in the Dab+ multiplex, the founder and partner of CBTW finally submitted his application to bring to Luxembourg an FM station that is fairly well known in France: Crooner Radio. "I've always been eclectic. And in applying, I want to bring a new offer to Luxembourg with the DAB+ and not just copy and paste," he explains.

At the Avala Tower, the Minister of Information and Telecommunications, Mr. Dejan Ristić, and the Director of the Public Enterprise "Broadcasting Techniques and Communications", Mr. Sava Savić, marked the beginning of the implementation of the third phase of the capital project for the renovation of the FM and DAB+ network. The renewal and expansion of the DAB+ network includes 10 broadcasting sites, from which complete coverage of all highways with a digital radio signal in DAB+ format has been achieved in the Republic of Serbia, as well as in the border areas of neighboring countries, which will provide 90% of the population with access to digital radio.

Südwestrundfunk (SWR) is further expanding its transmitter network for DAB+ digital radio reception in Baden-Württemberg. The Langenburg site will be commissioned on Tuesday, April 8, 2025. The commissioning of the site will improve DAB+ coverage in the Jagst Valley/Hohenlohe along the L1025 and K2542 between Ailringen and Eichenau, as well as in the Mulfingen and Sonnhofen areas, parts of Berndshofen, Ober- and Unterregensbach, and also in Blaufelden in frequency block (channel) 9D.

The digital radio technology ‘DAB+’ has set out to replace analogue FM broadcasting in the future. However, there are still major and minor gaps in coverage, particularly in rural areas. In Stromberg in the district of Bad Kreuznach, the municipality of Langenlonsheim-Stromberg, together with the Rhineland-Palatinate Media Authority, the Federal Network Agency and the company Milling Broadcast Services GmbH, have now successfully plugged a ‘reception gap’ in a joint project. "You could say that the more beautiful the landscape, the more difficult the broadcasting coverage. Idyllic valleys and vineyards in the surrounding region are pleasing to the eye and palate, but are a horror for radio waves," explains Christian Milling, Managing Director of Milling Broadcast Services GmbH.

KeyStone is proud to announce that it has achieved Automatic Safety Alert (ASA) technology provider certification under the initiative spearheaded by WorldDAB. This milestone highlights KeyStone's commitment to innovation, public safety, and enhancing digital radio experiences worldwide.

The first market figures to be published following the switch-off of FM broadcasting of SRG radio programmes on 31 December 2024 confirm what has been shown for years by the usage surveys commissioned by the Federal Office of Communications for the Swiss radio industry: the vast majority of radio listeners in Switzerland now listen to radio digitally. Three months after the end of FM broadcasting, Mediapulse SA's quarterly figures for radio usage can largely be regarded as reliable. The market share of SRG radio stations is down overall by -6 percentage points compared to the same period in 2024 - a result in line with forecasts. SRG remains the clear market leader with a 53% share, ahead of private broadcasters with a 41% share.

The digitalisation of radio broadcasting in Schleswig-Holstein is progressing: ‘RADIO BOB! rockt Schleswig-Holstein’ will be available exclusively via DAB+ and the internet (web radio, app, smart speaker and smart TV) from 10 April 2025. The rock programme is the first state-wide station to give up its analogue FM frequencies. In the Niebüll area, NDR is also switching its N-JOY programme from analogue to digital broadcasting. Private and public radio stations have reached an agreement with the state government and the state media authority to gradually switch to DAB+ digital radio in the northernmost federal state from 2025 to 2031. The aim is to offer listeners a diverse and future-proof radio landscape.

NRJ Group has published its annual results for 2024. The report states: "The Broadcasting division had an excellent year in 2024. Its revenue rose by +6.5% (+5.8% on a like-for-like basis) to €79.9 million. This growth is mainly due to the continued roll-out of DAB+ and the integration of RadioKing, which was taken over in June 2023." In the outlook for its radio division, it adds: "Internationally, the Group will focus on developing its positions, in particular through rolling out DAB+ and the Nostalgie brand in Germany and Austria." The report notes: "In 2024, NRJ Group cemented its dominant commercial position among individuals aged 25 to 49 in France, with an audience share of 19.6%... NRJ also cemented its position as France’s number one in-car radio station."

A Sheffield-based media organisation has launched their digital radio station this week. African Voices Platform officially launched its community DAB radio station on 1 April. To commemorate the launch, the team held a radio studio tour, joined by community leaders in Sheffield, providing a space for people to engage in creative discussions about the programmes. Enoch Karimba, director of partnerships and community engagement at AVP, said: “Our primary goal is to foster community engagement and promote cultural exchange across the continent, as well as the diaspora. By focusing on local stories, social issues and cultural expression, we hope to empower our listeners and provide them with a space where their experiences and perspectives can be heard and valued.”

A new radio station for Thuringia: ANTENNE THÜRINGEN is expanding its digital portfolio with Dorfkindradio. Dorfkindradio can be heard on DAB+ in Thuringia as of 3 April 2025. Jochen Fasco, Director of the Thuringian State Media Authority (TLM): "With today's launch of Dorfkindradio on DAB+, a fresh and innovative station is enriching the Thuringian radio landscape. The TLM is delighted to welcome this new member to the Thuringian radio family and wishes the Antenne Thüringen team every success in the further development of this unique format". Under the slogan ‘Because village children celebrate better!’, Dorfkindradio can now be heard by around 1.2 million Thuringians via DAB+.