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ma 2025 Audio I once again confirms the high relevance of radio and audio: 75 per cent of the population in Germany use audio services every day - from analogue radio and streaming to DAB+. DAB+ in particular continues to grow: DAB+ is listened to by 30.3 per cent in the WHK (ma 2024 Audio II: 29.1 per cent) and is used disproportionately, especially in the target group of 30 to 59-year-olds (WHK: 36.4 per cent - ma 2024 Audio II: 34.4 per cent). The nationwide DAB+ programmes in particular are benefiting from this growth. Overall, the DAB+ daily reach grew nationwide by 11 per cent compared to the previous year. For the distribution of local and regional radio stations, an increase of 17 per cent was recorded for Bavaria compared to the previous year.

Nation Radio South is now available on DAB across the county-wide Somerset multiplex. The move means the station can be heard on digital radio in Yeovil, Weston-Super-Mare, Glastonbury, Frome, Taunton and Bridgwater. The station also recently extended its broadcast footprint into Sussex, taking its potential audience close to 4M adults across southern England. Nation Radio South’s Commercial Director Stewart Dennis said: “Our newly enlarged DAB footprint means that those listeners can stay with us for even longer in the car, whilst we have significantly extended choice for listeners, local and regional businesses in Somerset can also now access the South’s biggest regional radio station.”

The Czech Telecommunications Office has carried out checks on the development criteria set out in the framework of the allocation of radio frequencies for national, supra-regional and regional broadcasting networks intended for the distribution of private DAB+ radio broadcasting. Development criteria and deadlines for each category of frequency allocation were set in the selection procedure. The criteria audited were met, some well in advance. "We are pleased to note that the auction has resulted in a relatively rapid increase in the availability of terrestrial digital radio broadcasting, not only in terms of the number of people who have access to the signal, but also in terms of the growing range of radio programmes being distributed by private broadcasters," said Marek Ebert, Chairman of the CTU Council.

This exciting development means listeners can now enjoy Vibe 107.6 FM in crystal-clear digital sound, offering a new and enhanced way to experience the station. In addition to broadcasting on FM from Watford, Vibe 107.6 FM now also transmits via the South Herts DAB digital radio multiplex. This expansion allows the station to reach a wider audience across Hertfordshire—north of London—where more than 813,047 people live, travel, work, study, and play. Ryan Thrussell, General Manager of Vibe 107.6 FM, shared his enthusiasm for the station’s digital expansion: "Broadcasting on DAB+ gives the people of Watford and Hertfordshire a new way of listening to Vibe 107.6 in cars, shops, and on DAB+ radios at home."

Radio reception remains a key communication channel for warning citizens of impending disasters such as floods, as reception is possible even when internet and mobile phone connections are down. A new logo will identify digital radios that support the official warning function. Devices with ASA support can be alerted by the authorities' disaster warning system. Manufacturers may only use the new logo for DAB+ digital radio models that have been successfully tested and certified for the reliability of their warning function in a special test laboratory

The Local DAB Multiplex Association met Ian O’Neill OBE, Head of Radio and Audio at the Department for Culture, Media & Sport recently to talk about industry challenges. Local DAB Multiplex Association Directors Chris Hurst and David Duffy engaged in a discussion with Ian, focusing on the successes, opportunities, and challenges faced by the rapidly evolving small-scale DAB sector. “It was a pleasure to meet with Ian and discuss the bright future of small-scale DAB,” said Chris Hurst. “The sector has made incredible progress, and it’s vital that we continue working collaboratively to ensure its long-term success. We greatly appreciate the engagement and support from DCMS in tackling key industry challenges and unlocking new opportunities.”

Ireland’s newest media brand, Onic, has launched with a commitment to re-shaping the future of the audio and digital landscape in Ireland. Onic, formerly Wireless Ireland, is home to some of Ireland’s best-loved radio stations. In a significant move, Onic also confirmed the launch of 10 new services on the much anticipated DAB+ trial across the broader Leinster area, a suite of new digital streams, an expansion of talkSPORT Ireland and newly refreshed websites. Highlights that underpin today’s announcement include a suite of DAB+ and digital services delivering expanded consumer choice, and complementary audiences to our existing brands. These will target audiences in niche formats including Rock, Kids, Country and RnB amongst others.

Radio Nova Xtra will be a new radio channel broadcast by Radio Nova on DAB+. Nova Xtra will bring all the best from Radio Nova - The Home of Seriously Addictive Music in Ireland. Nova Extra is a specialist, rock radio service, designed as a supplement to Radio Nova. Radio Nova is owned by Bay Broadcasting, an Irish-owned radio group that also owns Classic Hits Radio. In 2025, the Broadcasting Services Strategy will be implemented by Coimisiún na Meán, Ireland's regulator for broadcasting and media. This strategy will lay the groundwork for radio licensing over the following five years.

The Czech Telecommunications Office has confirmed that private DAB+ radio network operators are meeting their coverage obligations—some even ahead of deadlines. With 93 transmitters now in operation, digital radio availability is expanding rapidly. Other deadlines by which operators must increase population or highway coverage will expire in the second half of 2026 or later, and therefore the CTU has not yet checked these criteria.

The Czech Republic is currently in the imaginary halfway point of the DAB+ digital broadcasting rollout. This year should be an important milestone for DAB+. Now we are waiting for České Radiokomunikace to expand its nationwide network to 80 percent of the population at the end of March and for Play.cz to put its cards on the table, which, in addition to the Pardubice Region and Vysočina, won the auction of the CTU to cover virtually the entire Czech territory. But what we did not know at the very beginning of 2025, we know now. Several radio stations on the market have decided to fundamentally change their signal distribution, which has so far been based exclusively on analogue broadcasting. The imaginary "holy trinity" consists of Radio Proglas, Radio Prostor and Country Radio.