News

Digital listening surged beyond the 50% threshold to reach a new record share of 52.4%, up from 48.8% in Q3 2017, according to RAJAR Q3 2018 data released today. Total digital listening hours grew by 5.4% year on year, or 27.5 million hours. DAB listening in cars accounted for 11 million hours (or 40%) of all digital listening growth, while listening in home via online/Apps accounted for 13.5 million hours (or 49%) of all digital listening growth.

Norkring may operate the new Flemish DAB+ network in the next 15 years. The Flemish Regulator for the Media (VRM) announced this on Wednesday. Other parties that applied were Broadcast Partners and TVV Digital CVBA.

Users of Amazon’s Alexa home pod will soon be able to play nearly 300 Australian AM, FM and DAB+ digital radio stations. Users will be able to ask Alexa to “play Triple M” or Radio Newcastle, for instance. And there’s hope that users outside the big city centres will for the first time be able to tune in to DAB+ digital stations.

Norkring has received approval to operate a new DAB+ network in Flanders for a period of 15 years. This has been announced by the Flemish Regulator for the Media (VRM).

Representatives of regulatory authorities from Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, Serbia, Macedonia and Montenegro are exploring the introduction of DAB+ services following a conference in Sarajevo in order to exchange experiences and discuss the challenges for the future. While DAB+ in Slovenia is the only former Yugoslav republic already in regular operation, Croatia have been testing for the last year. The other Balkan states have expressed interest.

Representatives of regulatory authorities from Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, Serbia, Macedonia and Montenegro are exploring the introduction of DAB+ services following a conference in Sarajevo in order to exchange experiences and discuss the challenges for the future. While DAB+ in Slovenia is the only former Yugoslav republic already in regular operation, Croatia have been testing for the last year. The other Balkan states have expressed interest.

New national digital radio station JACK Radio launches today at 12 noon and unveils a new world first broadcast radio format. Playing 100% female artists, the station provides a platform for women in music, from the female stars of the past to today’s main artists, along with new and emerging female talent.

The new station replaces JACK3 on the Sound Digital DAB multiplex. Despite the male name, JACK Radio will play 100% female artists and target a female audience. The official launch takes place at midday on Tuesday 23 October.

In-car listening presents a huge opportunity for the DAB radio industry, believes Arqiva’s Simon Mason. “In the UK almost a quarter of all radio listening takes place in the car, and as radio listening in general is on the increase broadcasters need to understand the opportunities and challenges facing them when delivering to this audience,” he says.

Digital radio broadcasters are applauding the European Parliament’s vote in favor of mandatory digital radio receivers in new cars, which is still in the proposal stage. But they still want analogue radio broadcasting (AM/FM/SW) to be turned off in the future, to give digital radio (DAB/DAB+/DRM) its best shot at success.