News

During January and no later than in the first half of February, operators of the auctioned networks for digital terrestrial broadcasting of commercial radios must launch transmitters in all regions for which they have auctioned frequencies. This is required by the Electronic Communications Act. The one-year deadline is calculated from the moment the operators received the decision on the frequency allocation from the Czech Telecommunications Office (CTU). This happened during January and February this year, and all participants in the auction of frequencies for DAB+ networks had to pay the auctioned amounts by 16 February.

The auction of frequencies for networks dedicated to digital broadcasting of commercial radios this year started the gradual building of infrastructure for 29 DAB+ multiplexes. The year 2024 in digital radio broadcasting got off to a literally bombastic start. On 5 January, the Czech Telecommunications Office (CTU) published the results of an auction of frequencies for two nationwide and 27 regional DAB+ networks for commercial radio. The Czech Digital Group (CDG), owned by Czech Radio Communications, won the all-screen multiplex B, while the competing multiplex C was acquired by RTI cz.

The switch-off of FM will begin at the end of the year. Unlike the SRG, which will switch off its FM broadcasting as early as 31 December 2024, the private radio stations will follow a different timing. The Association of Swiss Private Radio Stations (VSP) is providing information on the planned switch-off of FM broadcasting by its radio stations. Some private radio stations will gradually switch off individual FM transmitters in their broadcasting area from 1 January 2025 as part of a so-called ‘fadeout process’, while others will not cease their entire FM broadcasting until the end of 2026 directly. The different timing of FM switch-off for private radio stations is due to the specific circumstances in the respective broadcasting areas. Some FM sites of Radio 32 were switched off on 31 December 2024.

RTI cz's Central Bohemian transmitters are switching from channel 5A to the final channel 8D and increasing their power, which will require a lockout. Then, tomorrow night, the operator plans to re-identify all of the radio multiplex C transmitters that have been launched so far and regionalise its entire network. The changes to the Central Bohemian network for digital radio were announced by RTI cz this morning via its own Facebook profile. "On Monday, 30 December 2024, between 10.00 and 16.00, there will be a switchover to the final DAB frequency 8D on the Příbram and Beroun - Zahrabská sites. The transmitters will therefore be out of service for several tens of minutes," said the operator.

On Boxing Day, Viaplay Radio launched a new radio channel called Sonic Radio, which is distributed via Viaplay's DAB+ network and the internet. Sonic Radio has a music focus close to that of P3, with an emphasis on alternative music in various genres and the positioning ‘The music you like’. Sonic is using the DAB+ airtime previously used for Svenska Favoriter and during December to broadcast Star FM's regular oldies format when Star FM switched to Christmas music.

Radio station Radio Stad Den Haag can also be heard via DAB+ and medium wave in the near future. The radio station normally broadcasts only via the Internet. Radio Stad Den Haag was active as a radio pirate in the 1980s. The radio station broadcast a lot of Italo and dance music and managed to reach a large number of listeners in a short time. The radio station is back on air temporarily until 1 January 2025. The radio station can be heard in part of South Holland via DAB+ (channel 12D) and medium wave (747 kHz). The station can be heard temporarily via the channels of Impact Radio.

The Italian Ministry of Enterprises and Made in Italy (Mimit) has announced the launch of a comparative selection process for awarding DAB+ usage rights in Veneto, Tuscany, Lazio, Campania and Puglia. On 20 December 2024, the Director General of Mimit’s DGTEL issued six decrees, published on the Ministry’s website, detailing plans for local network allocations in Veneto, Tuscany, Lazio, Campania, and Puglia. The official tender notices will be published on Mimit’s website under the Digital — Radio and Television section on 5 February 2025. Aeranti-Corallo has reiterated the need for additional frequencies in these regions to meet local broadcasting demands.

In an era marked by the dizzying speed of technological innovation and the rapid obsolescence of one shiny new platform after another, Radio is beginning its second century of service as one of the most dependable and widely utilized forms of media in the world. Proclaimed in 2011 by UNESCO Member States and adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 2012 as International Day of the United Nations, February 13 became World Radio Day (WRD). 2025 marks a pivotal year for climate change. To support radio stations in their journalistic coverage of this issue, World Radio Day on February 13, 2025 will be dedicated to “Radio and Climate Change”. WorldDAB is pleased to be a partner of World Radio Day 2025.

MC Radio, well-known in the capital of Wielkopolska, has joined the Poznan version of Polish Radio's DAB+ multiplex. This is the digital debut of this station. It can now be listened to not only in Poznań and the surrounding area, but also in the entire region - via the Poznań *Piątkowo*, Poznań *Śrem*, Kalisz *Mikstat*, Konin *Żółwieniec*, Piła *Staszyce*, Jarocin *Żerków* and Nowy Tomyśl *Bolewice* sites. As readers report, the changes to the multiplex line-up occurred on Friday, 20 December. The bit rate of the stream is 64 kbps.

New in DAB+ in the Canton of Ticino. Radio Number One and One Dance made their entry - in the ‘Digris AG’ mux -. Broadcasting takes place on channel 8A. Within the same multiplex are RFT Pop, Radio Gwen, Open Broadcast, Maxxima TI, Spoon Rock, Radio Tell, 105 Dj Radio, Radio Morcote, Radio Positiva, RTO, Radio Studio Star, Radio Maria, Radio Italia.