News

Founded in 2012 and based in Lorient, Jaime Radio is a relative newcomer to the Category B radio landscape. With a single FM frequency, it has opted for hyperlocal coverage. It is now the No. 1 radio station between Quimperlé and Vannes and from Pontivy to Lorient on France’s northwest coast. The station’s future lies in its proximity. “We’ve turned our weakness into a strength,” explains Jean-Philippe Olivieri, president of Jaime Radio. The challenge for Olivieri: How can the station expand beyond its home territory? Like many others, Jaime Radio is banking on DAB+ and has obtained six broadcasting authorizations for several towns in Brittany. But there’s no question of Jaime Radio seeking frequencies in other regions, as it wants to retain its local radio station identity. And to develop the audience, it believes the recipe will be simple: Be at the service of listeners and advertisers.

The North Rhine-Westphalia State Media Act stipulates that the Ministerpräsident allocates transmission capacities for broadcasting. By administrative act dated 28 June 2024, Westdeutscher Rundfunk Köln (WDR) was allocated the transmission capacity for a digital multiplex in the DAB+ standard (channel 9A) for programme use for state-wide radio broadcasting. This has only now been made public. As reported, WDR plans to broadcast the regional versions of WDR4 and selected WDR2 programmes via this second multiplex, which will ultimately be state-wide. Freed-up capacity in the first mux (channel 11D) will allow bit rates to be increased there. The start of transmission of the second coverage is - as of now - planned for the turn of the year 2024/25. Test transmissions on channel 9A have already been observed.

Südwestrundfunk (SWR) is further expanding its transmitter network for DAB+ digital radio reception in Rhineland-Palatinate. The commissioning of the Daleiden site will improve DAB+ coverage in the respective regions. The Daleiden site will go into operation on Tuesday, 20 August 2024, improving DAB+ coverage along the B410 between Arzfeld and Dasburg, as well as between Dahnen and Rodershausen in frequency block (channel) 11A.

The National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) convened a meeting on 16 August with officials from the Public Relations Department (PRD) to discuss enhancements in broadcasting and television efficiency for the digital era. The meeting focused on gathering feedback from key broadcasting agencies and improving operational strategies for Radio Thailand and NBT, both holders of Type 3 public service licenses. PRD Director-General Sudruetai Lertkasem and other PRD executives provided insights into the broadcasting units' past performances and discussed ways to enhance content delivery across television, radio, and online platforms. Their discussions sought to leverage digital advancements to improve the reach and effectiveness of public broadcasting services. The collaboration between the NBTC and PRD highlights a joint commitment to adapt Thailand’s broadcasting services to the digital age, ensuring that they continue to serve the public effectively while embracing new technological advancements.

The Service des médias, de la connectivité et de la politique numérique (SMC) has just launched a call for applications for an operator's licence to set up, manage and nationally broadcast a first DAB+ multiplex in Luxembourg. Information on applications and specifications can be found on the SMC website: https://smc.gouvernement.lu/fr/dossiers/dab/dab.html. The deadline for submission of applications is 11 October 2024.

Westdeutscher Rundfunk (WDR) plans to launch a second DAB+ multiplex by next year at the latest. Here, the regional windows of WDR4 are to be broadcast digitally terrestrially for the first time, and selected windows of WDR2 are also to switch to this new coverage so that the bit rates of the remaining programmes in the first WDR mux (channel 11D) can be increased. WDR is currently testing the new transmitter network. Following the Aachen site, tests are now also being observed in the eastern Ruhr region, the Bergisches Land and Westphalia. WDR is currently testing further transmitter sites here.

The National Digital Infrastructure Inspectorate (RDI) has granted the first licences for commercial local radio on DAB+. The licences will take effect from 1 September. Should there be more valid applications than licences for an allotment there would be scarcity and an auction would take place. However, this is not necessary. ‘After assessing the applications, it was found that there is no scarcity. Permits have already been granted,’ the RDI said. A summary on the RDI's website now shows that licences have been granted to several commercial broadcasters. The local public and commercial radio stations must now sit down together to make agreements around the network rollout. The broadcasters have until 1 September 2025 to start their broadcasts.

DJ FM and POWER FM have joined the Kyiv DAB+ multiplex, which already brings together a number of popular radio stations. According to the industry community Telecom Circle, the new participants have joined the digital multiplex on channel 11D, marking the next stage in the development of digital radio broadcasting in Ukraine. The following radio stations are currently available in the Kyiv DAB+ multiplex: ARMY FM, DJ FM, POWER FM, PRIYAMIY FM, Prosto Radio, PROSTO MARIA, UA:RADIO PROMIN, UA:RADIO KULTURE and UKRAINSKE RADIO. The expansion of the digital broadcasting network is an important step in the development of the Ukrainian radio space, which helps to improve the quality of broadcasting and expand the audience.

Teleko digital, a company from Příbram, is planning a massive expansion of its radio network in the eastern part of the country. The company's managing director Tomáš Řapek confirmed this to the Digital Radio portal. By the end of August, the operator will launch the final transmitter in Vysočina, which will replace the existing channel 8A and other locations will follow. The most anticipated one is undoubtedly Velka Javorina located in Slovakia. The Strážník transmitter in Vysočina will be the next site on the final technical parameters granted by the Czech Telecommunications Office, following the Moravian-Silesian Lysá hora. At Strážník, channel 8A with a power of 1 kW will be switched off and re-tuned to frequency block 10D, which has been granted 5 kW by the CTU.

STUDIO GONG launches a state-wide marketing combination for the federal state of North Rhine-Westphalia. The NEW AUDIO KOMBI NRW comprises nine programmes, each of which can be received throughout the state via DAB+. The combined members are the 80s radio station harmony, bigFM NRW, ENERGY NRW, kulthitRADIO in NRW, Radio Paloma, Radio Paradiso, Radio Holiday, Schlager Radio and the most recently launched station STAR.FM NRW. All stations have a high technical reach and are broadcast via the state-wide DAB+ multiplex in NRW. Changing markets and user habits are creating new challenges for the media. For this reason, the Kombi covers all sections of the population with its different formats, from rock to pop to youth formats, and reaches new listeners in the middle of society in every relevant target group that the established programmes do not or no longer reach.