News

With the national launch of DAB+ in October, commercial radio stations OÜI FM, Latina and others are educating its listeners via its website about DAB+: "82% de la population française pourra écouter OÜI FM en DAB+". Listeners are informed that listening on DAB+ is better sound quality with no interference, is free-to-air, and no longer any need to search frequencies.

Czech Radio will continue to lead the way for DAB+ digital radio in the coming years. After enshrining the public multiplex in legislation, it now wants to focus on strengthening its coverage inside buildings. According to the regulator, the Czech Telecommunication Office, in addition to the public broadcaster DAB+ network, nationwide commercial radio multiplexes will be established, which will complement the regional muxes. Czech Radio aims to obtain further investments in DAB+ by switching off AM.

Radio Austria can now be received via DAB+ in addition to FM, cable and internet. It is the 16th digital radio programme that was switched on in the ORS nationwide DAB+ multiplex. Network operator ORS operates the nationwide multiplex platform for digital terrestrial radio. "We are proud that ORS, as the technical broadcasting partner of private radio stations, is allowed to write the DAB+ success story," said ORS spokesman Michael Weber.

According to Roberto Sergio, the Director of Italy's public broadcaster Radio Rai "I have not calculated a date [for the switch off], I just said to get there as soon as possible and taking into account everyone's needs. Since we said before that the switch-off with regard to television lasted ten years, it seems reasonable to think that we can return to that perimeter: 2030 would go in that direction, then if we were able to do it sooner, in my opinion it would be better for everyone.

An amendment to the Electronic Communications Act was passed by the Czech government's Chamber of Deputies on 15 September, granting Czech Radio the right to operate its own digital radio network in Band III. It now remains only for the President of the Republic, Miloš Zeman, to formally approve the legislation.

In an unprecedented collaboration between North and South, maRadio.be, Digitale Radio Vlaanderen and the Vanden Boore retail stores have joined forces to help listeners switch from analogue to digital radio. Belgian listeners have until 30 September to visit their nearest store to recycle their old radio and receive a discount on the purchase of a new DAB+ device. Says maRadio.be: "broadcasting on DAB+ is greener, consumes less electricity, requires fewer antennas and generates much less electromagnetic radiation than FM".

In a hearing of the Senate Public Works Commission, the coordinator of the Italian association for local TV and radio, Marco Rossignoli, said that due to the expansion of DAB+ broadcast radio in Italy, it will be necessary to pass anti trust legislation in order to prevent concentration of national radio stations in the hands of only a few owners.

Germany's digital radio bureau has this week published a comprehensive update on the rollout of DAB+ across Germany. The update includes an overview of the services that are now on air via the two national DAB+ multiplexes. Several regional launches have taken place over recent months, a highlight of which has been the launch of a state-wide DAB+ multiplex in the state of North Rhine Westfalia bringing up to 16 new radio stations to Germany's most populous state with 18m inhabitants.

The CSA has authorised an experiment in DAB+ broadcasting of Radio Fusion, Radio Évangile Martinique, Radio actif Martinique, Radio identité, Fusion 100 % Infos, Fusion Compas, Fusion salsa kl@moson, Fusion Gold and Maknet Jazz from three sites in La Trinité, Rivière-Pilote and Le Diamant for a period of one year starting on 1 September 2021.

Vaunet - the German industry association of commercial broadcasters - has published its research on in-car infotainment systems becoming smarter and more connected. Marci Maier, Head of Radio and Audio Services at VAUNET said: "Thanks to collaborations between the radio industry and the automotive sector, systems are being tuned to meet users' requirements, and the in-car audio experience is being perfected." Key findings are that radio is permanently integrated into the infotainment system on all the vehicle models examined, 87.5% of the infotainment systems analysed have DAB+ while around 50% have a permanently integrated internet radio. VAUNET is currently conducting further interviews with experts from the radio and audio industry and the automotive sector on strategies, technological developments, and the use of data (vehicle and usage data, metadata) - results to be published later this year.