News

Kathrein's first DAB+ receiver, the DAB+ 1 mini, is available at select retailers. The German company has also announced its intention to introduce two other DAB+ models in the near future.

The latest DAB+ Radio Ratings in Australia have seen the addition of several new stations, while others rebranded as radio networks continue to experiment with the world of DAB+ Digital Radio. In Sydney, The Edge Digital gained over 50,000 listeners, with Coles Radio still topping the national charts with 271,000 listeners.

Media Broadcast has published a map highlighting the coverage reach for Germany's new national multiplex. The commercial multiplex, which is set to go into operation in the third quarter of 2020, will cover approximately 83% of the population and host up to 16 DAB+ stations.

DAB+ digital radio coverage is set to improve in Germany's state of Bavaria, with the launch of two new transmitters, due to go into operation on 19 March. New stations are also expected to go live in the region in coming weeks, with listeners advised to perform a new scan on their DAB+ receivers.

The RTI Digital Radio Day will be held in Karlovy Vary, western Czech Republic, on Monday 16 March. The event,which will help promote DAB+ digital radio in the region, will feature some 50 DAB+ receivers ranging from 15 brands, with select DAB+ receivers available for purchase.

National German Radio GmbH is launching an international call for applications for the remaining slots of Germany’s first private nationwide DAB+ network. Antenne Deutschland will decide on allocation in June, while the service will start in September and run for a 10-year period, with an optional extension until 2040.

Radio Caroline is now available on DAB+ in the Cambridge area. The station becomes the 12th to join the Cambridge small-scale multiplex which covers around 78,000 people in the area. In addition to Cambridge, Radio Caroline is also on DAB in Aldershot, Woking, Norwich, Portsmouth, Glasgow, Birmingham, Brighton and London.

South Africa is currently trialling DAB+, with Magic 828 featuring amongst the channels available to listeners within range of the test signal. The Cape Town trials are to the delight of many owners of cars fitted with DAB+. This article outlines how DAB+ functions and the benefits it offers.

At Monday’s WorldDAB technical consultation in Kuala Lumpur, a range of speakers discussed digital radio and compared it with new technologies such as 5G. With this session, WorldDAB’s technical team offered an opportunity to have a one on one discussion about 5G, AI, Voice control and what these new systems will offer broadcasters, along with a chance to discuss spectrum planning, system design, build and operation for a DAB+ trial or full rollout.

At the ABU Digital Broadcasting Summit, Commercial Radio Australia CEO Joan Warner highlighted the ongoing work being done in Australia to expand the offerings of digital radio, and announced that Gold Coast will be the next city in Australia to introduce DAB+ broadcasts.