News

James Cridland writes: "The latest RAJAR figures came out in the UK. For the first time, online radio listening has overtaken FM and AM radio listening. This is undoubtedly an important milestone in UK radio; but let’s put it into context. Broadcast radio is still much larger than online. The predominant way that people listen to the radio in the UK is to DAB Digital Radio, which is broadcast radio just like you know it - free to receive, using nothing more than a (DAB) radio receiver with an antenna and a speaker. DAB is much larger than online streaming. (I gather that the same is the case in Australia, incidentally.) The UK has been turning off AM services for a long time. Not just that, but radio receivers generally don’t include AM, even if they still include FM alongside DAB. It shouldn’t come as a surprise that when you turn off AM transmissions, digital (DAB or online) will increase in share. The future of radio is multi-platform, not just online. Broadcast radio continues to offer the majority of radio listening in the UK, whatever the headlines say."

Emitel has launched a transmitter of the Polish Radio DAB+ multiplex in Żelaźnie near Choczew. This is the last of the announced broadcasts as part of the coverage expansion. The broadcast in the Choczew area is carried on channel 5B. The multiplex includes: Jedynka, Dwójka, Trójka, Czwórka, Polskie Radio 24, Polskie Radio Chopin, Polskie Radio Dzieciom, Polskie Radio Kierowców, Radio Radio for Ukraine, Radio Poland, Radio Gdańsk and Radio Gdańsk Regions. Thanks to the new facility, trouble-free reception of the multiplex should be possible in such places as Władysławowo, Jastrzębia Góra, Dębki, Lubiatowo, Sasino and Łeba in the Pomeranian Voivodeship. Polskie Radio now estimates that the population coverage of the multiplex will be around 93 per cent, while the area coverage will be around 90 per cent.

Over the past 10 years, radio broadcasters, and independent radio broadcasters in particular, have been working hard to develop DAB+. Following the creation of the Ensemble pour le DAB+ association and a recent campaign to raise public awareness of this broadcasting technology, SIRTI is calling for the reinstatement of Article 15 on DAB+ as a guarantee of radio sovereignty and is highlighting 3 measures needed to ensure that DAB+ continues to play its essential role in modernising the radio medium. The first concerns the Government's support for the provisions of the law on audiovisual reform introduced by L. Lafon. The SIRTI reaffirms the importance of the bill's requirement for new cars to be fitted with an FM/DAB+ radio receiver, to guard against the possible disappearance of car radios. It is also asking that FM-only receivers no longer be put on sale.

1 January 2031 will be the target date to switch off radio listening via FM. By then, we will all have to listen digitally, either via DAB+, internet or digital TV. That is what a study by Imec-mict-UGent and BrightWolves commissioned by Media Minister Benjamin Dalle (CD&V) reveals. To be able to switch off FM, the study proposes the following criteria: the digital listening volume must be at least 65 per cent, at least 60 per cent of the Flemish car fleet must be equipped with a DAB+ receiver (by the end of 2023, this was 29 per cent) and the group listening exclusively via FM must not exceed 20 per cent of the Flemish population. According to the researchers' predictions, all these criteria will be reached during 2028, making 1 January 2031 seem a realistic date to switch off FM. The switch-off date should be communicated at least 2 years in advance, according to the study.

Flemish Media Minister Benjamin Dalle today released the results of the large-scale Radio Study. This study provides insight into the transition from analogue to digital radio, the steps needed to achieve this and the moment when FM broadcasts could be switched off. Minister Dalle is also presenting a future plan for the radio sector with a concept note, which he is also submitting to the industry. According to the researchers' predictions, switch-off criteria will be reached in Flanders during the year 2028. Since the switch-off date should ideally be communicated at least two years in advance, a potential switch-off date of 1 January 2031 seems realistic to the researchers.

Wight Digital Radio CIC has announced its intention to bid for the new DAB radio multiplex licence covering the Isle of Wight. The licence is currently being advertised by Ofcom in Round 6 with any new services likely to be on-air at the end of 2025 at the earliest. Wight Digital Radio is made up of Isle of Wight Radio and local community radio station Vectis Radio. The team at Wight Digital Radio says: “Our proposed service will have the capacity to bring more than twenty new and existing radio stations to DAB delivering a choice of creative content to vibrant and loyal radio audience on the Island.”

Under the ambitious framework of Saudi Vision 2030, Saudi Broadcasting Authority is spearheading a transformative journey to revolutionise its broadcasting infrastructure. With plans to revolutionise digital radio broadcasting as well as improve the quality and accessibility of radio broadcasting throughout the Kingdom, SBA installed new DAB+ transmitters in key cities and along critical highways. Adam Moustafa Hamza, Director of Project Delivery at FGC, remarks: “Deploying the DAB radio system in major Saudi cities marks a significant advancement in our digital broadcast capabilities. Through collaborations with GatesAir, ST Engineering and others, we’re not just expanding coverage, we’re enhancing the quality and reach of radio services. This initiative redefines radio broadcasting, ensuring superior digital sound for all, from city centres to the Riyadh-Abha highway.”

Grand Prix Radio is now more easily audible over DAB+ in the provinces of Gelderland, Utrecht, North Brabant and Limburg. Last Friday, station took up capacity on the supra-regional networks for this purpose. For several years, Grand Prix Radio has been listened to via MTVNL's network on channel 7D. But this network still does not have good coverage in parts of Gelderland, North Brabant and Limburg. And that is why Olav Mol and Alexander Stevens' station has leased extra capacity on the networks for Gelderland and Utrecht (channel 12B) and North Brabant and Limburg (channel 7C).

On 17 May 2024, RNE began broadcasting Radio Nacional, Radio 3 and Radio 5 on DAB+ in Santa Cruz de Tenerife from the legendary Izaña broadcasting centre, which is celebrating its 60th anniversary this year, as are TVE and RNE in the Canary Islands. This start of broadcasts reflects the commitment to increase coverage on a monthly basis until the end of the year, with the aim of reaching around 50% of the population coverage. Once deployed throughout the national territory, DAB+ will allow RTVE to provide the public radio broadcasting service in the terms currently entrusted to it by law, providing maximum geographical and social coverage with better quality, free-to-air broadcasts, complementary information and free reception.

WorldDAB Automotive 2024 – the essential event bringing together the broadcast and automotive sectors – has unveiled its first group of expert keynote speakers. The conference takes place in Prague and online on 13 June. It offers a unique opportunity for industry professionals to gain valuable insights into the latest developments in DAB+ broadcast digital radio technology for the automotive sector. The annual event is organised by WorldDAB, the global industry forum for DAB digital radio. WorldDAB Automotive 2024 will be opened by the organisation’s President, Jacqueline Bierhorst, who will also speak later at the 19th annual Digimedia 2024 conference for Czech media and advertisers, taking place in Prague on the same day. The night before the event, attendees can join an exclusive networking dinner at the Miminoo Garden Restaurant, at the foot of Prague’s iconic Žižkov broadcast tower.