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Digital radio continues to drive listening figures up, according to the latest RAJAR figures. Nationally, 90% of the population tune into the radio each week, up almost a million year-on-year. Digital now accounts for almost half of all radio listening, with the majority of this via DAB (35.9%).

More than 6 in 10 adults currently listen to radio via a digital platform, according to the latest Rajar results for the third quarter of 2017. In an average week, digital listening accounts for 511 million hours; DAB has a 74% share of digital listening hours, digital TV 10% and online 16%.

Digital radio triumphs nationally this quarter, with record audiences for, among many others, BBC 6 Music, Kisstory, Heart 80s, Mellow Magic, talkSPORT 2 and Virgin Radio.

Digital listening edged closer to 50% by reaching a new record share of 48.8% up from 45.5% year on year, according to RAJAR Q3 2017 data released today. DAB digital listening is at a record level of 36% of all radio listening and 74% of all digital listening, with 61.6% of the population now owning a DAB at home compared to 57% in the same quarter last year.

The Swiss Government took a decision on Wednesday to facilitate the transition from FM to DAB+. Under the plan, which is now confirmed by the Federal Council, the transition to fully digital broadcasting will start in 2020, when the DAB will be the main form of distribution for radio. FM broadcasts will be phased out and digitization must be completed by the end of 2024.

In order to support the radio sector during the switchover from FM to DAB+, the Federal Council has passed regulatory adjustments in the Radio and Television Ordinance of 25 October 2017, as well as in the Implementing Rules on Telecommunications Rights. Among other things, the Federal Council decided that all radio broadcasters' concessions, which expire at the end of 2019, are to be extended to 2024 to ensure stability during the migration process.

Since the spring of 2016, the use of digital radios in Switzerland is higher than that of FM. As a result, the successive shutdown of FM can begin as planned in 2020. On 25 October 2017, the Swiss Federal Council adopted a partial revision in the radio and telecommunication sector in order to facilitate this transition.

Usage of digital radio outstripped that of FM back in spring 2016. FM can therefore be gradually phased out, beginning in 2020 as scheduled. On 25 October 2017, the Federal Council adopted a partial revision of the provisions governing radio and telecommunications in order to facilitate this migration. It also decided that the current radio licences should be extended.

DAB+ has already established itself in Switzerland. Of 57 SSR and private radio programs broadcast on FM, 56 can already be heard digitally. The FM band will disappear by 2024, and radio will then be broadcast only in digital DAB+.

The soulful station takes up new studio premises at The Bottle Yard Studios in Bristol ahead of it’s DAB launch in December 2017.