News

At its meeting today, the Media Council of the Bavarian Regulatory Authority for New Media (BLM) extended the allocation of capacity for five Bavarian DAB radio stations. Dr Thorsten Schmiege, President of BLM: "The recently published DAB+ figures for Bavaria from ma 2025 Audio I are impressive and have confirmed that DAB+ is the future of terrestrial radio: DAB+ is the future of terrestrial radio in Bavaria. Today's decision by the Media Council strengthens Bavaria as a radio location, gives the very different DAB-only stations a tailwind for the future and contributes to the diversity of information and opinion in Bavaria."

The Dyleň transmitter in western Bohemia, which was originally announced at the beginning of the year, has launched the nationwide radio multiplex C. The network operator, RTI cz, has requested frequency coordination for five new transmitters. The West Bohemian transmitter Mariánské Lázně - Dyleň has joined the regional group of multiplex C transmitters referred to as ‘North-West’, which are identified by the abbreviation RTI cz SZC. These include the transmitters Ústí nad Labem - Kukla, Jáchymov - Klínovec, Karlovy Vary - Bohatice and Toužim - Třebouňský vrch. All of them broadcast on channel 9B and, in addition to the national radios, they can also distribute regional content.

EBU Members have today elected a new Radio Committee, made up of fourteen senior executives of public service media from throughout Europe. Re-elected as Chair for another two-year term, Sibyle Veil, CEO of Radio France, will continue to lead the committee in shaping strategic priorities that will define the future of public service radio in Europe. WorldDAB Steering Board member Javier Sànchez (RTVE) rejoins the committee, having previously served during terms 2019-2021 and 2021-2023. Optimizing radio distribution across connected devices, especially in cars, will remain an important focus for the committee, alongside advocating for stronger legal protection for radio in the EU.

A vital worldwide product certification scheme for the innovative new DAB+ Automatic Safety Alerts (ASA) system has launched, with WorldDAB appointing DTG Testing as the authorised global partner to provide testing and certification. The new scheme ensures that products with the ASA logo have passed the certification process, comply with minimum requirements according to ETSI TS 104 090, and are recognised as an ASA-compliant product. DTG Testing will issue the ASA Certification Mark Approved Product Licence. The DAB+ ASA logo on certified device packaging builds trust in the technology. Once the certification process has been completed, WorldDAB offers a logo and style guide for free, as part of a new marketing toolbox.

The operator of SeeJay Radio, which has returned to the airwaves after six years, has significantly expanded its reach. The initial distribution from the Prague-Děvín transmitter was supplemented by three more locations of the Fiera touch operator. The most significant coverage is now provided by the East Bohemian town of Černá hora on channel 7D. In the coming weeks, the final antenna will be installed here to strengthen the signal. This will improve availability not only for regular listeners, but also for the operator's other clients. The Černá hora transmitter currently carries six programmes in the Fiera touch multiplex. In addition to SeeJay Radio, there are also Color Music Radio, Energic, Hey Radio, Rádio Sázava and ZUN radio.

Since 3 March 2025, Phare FM has been running a fund-raising campaign to support a new phase in its development. Already present on DAB+ in several French conurbations and Geneva, the community radio station is preparing to extend its broadcasting to new areas, including Alsace and several medium-sized towns. The Phare FM teams are announcing the station's imminent arrival in Montélimar, Évreux, Chartres, Laval, Belfort-Montbéliard and Alsace. These new listening areas will make it possible to reach a potential population estimated at 22 million by 2025.

The decision to extend the BCAST multiplex in Katowice was issued on 25 March and is valid until 25 March 2026. The multiplex includes the online academic Radio Egida, Muzyczne Radio from Jelenia Góra, Radio Jasna Góra from Częstochowa, Radio Niepokalanów, Radio Maryja, Radio Eska Rock and Radio Bezpieczna Podróż. The Cyfrowy Polsat-affiliated company can still carry out DAB+ test broadcasts in Gdańsk, Warsaw, Wrocław (permission until 18 October 2025). DABCOM permits in Andrychów, Gliwice, Kraków, Przehyba and Szczecin are valid until 3 July. PSN Infrastruktura can experiment in Opole until 29 June and in Łódź until 1 August. Radio Express 92.3 FM's consent ends on 19 July.

Radio Dimensione Musica - now Radio RDM - is a historic radio station in the Bolognese Apennines. It is based in Silla di Gaggio Montano (Bo), where it has been operating since February 28, 1976. Although serving parts of the provinces of Bologna, Modena and Pistoia, the station did not serve the capital of Emilia. On March 31, Radio RDM was connected on the CrDab mux of Emilia-Romagna, channel 9B. Now, in digital, it therefore serves Bologna and Ferrara, with gradual extension to the region's other provinces soon.

The UK's commercial radio trade body, Radiocentre, has reported that annual commercial radio revenue for 2024 was £738m, up by 3.2% on 2023 and just £2m short of its record revenue year of 2022. Radiocentre CEO Matt Payton said: “Although there is still a degree of economic uncertainty, it’s good to see that radio growth is back on track after a slight dip in 2023. It’s also encouraging that so many digital-only brands recognise the power of radio advertising to help them grow. Using radio and audio to advertise a brand not only helps build trust but also helps drive those all-important website visits.”

In Cuxhaven, NDR will change the DAB+ channel from 8D (201.072 MHz) to a new channel, specifically 6C (185.360 MHz), on Tuesday, 1 April 2025. This will be rewarded with two additional programmes. The island of Neuwerk, a district of Hamburg, will also be digitally supplied with NDR 90.3 in future and NDR 1 Welle Nord will also be added. The DAB+ programme tailored to the region of Cuxhaven, Neuwerk and the south-westernmost part of Dithmarschen will be broadcast from the Friedrich Clemens Gerke Tower. This changeover will further optimise digital radio coverage in the region and expand the range of channels on offer.