News

The Government of Navarre has awarded the first 19 digital radio licences (digital audio broadcasting or DAB) in the Autonomous Community of Navarre, after the Evaluation Committee made public the evaluation of the 45 proposals received. The 19 licences will be distributed in the following locations: Pamplona / Iruña (5 licences), Altsasu / Alsasua (2), Baztan (2), Estella - Lizarra (2), Larraun (2), Lesaka (2), Tudela (2), Sangüesa / Zangoza (1) and Tafalla (1). The largest number of licences was obtained by Abian Media S.L., with licences in the nine areas in which licences will be awarded.

In this guest EBU blog, Tomas Granryd, Head of Digital Partnerships at Sveriges Radio (SR), writes about one of the major strategic focuses for the EBU in 2024: How radio can preserve its prominent position in cars. He sets out why radio deserves to be prioritised and what the EBU is doing, along with its Members and the wider industry, to achieve this. "Public service broadcasters from across the EBU membership have agreed to create a common, clear map of who are the key players (including broadcasters) and what is required to ensure that audiences can continue to easily find and listen to the content they love. The project is called The Playbook and is all about collaboration – all parts of the value chain: the car industry, operating system providers, app stores and the radio industry must work together."

As part of a drive to broaden its horizons, Toulouse-based radio station Le Bon Mix, whose chairman is Pierre Denjean from Cadur, is announcing its expansion into Switzerland via DAB+ broadcasting in the cities of Geneva and Neuchâtel, covering an area of more than 1.3 million inhabitants. "The introduction of DAB+ in Switzerland is an important step for Le Bon Mix, but we're keeping a close eye on the reactions of our new audience and are ready to adapt," said Denjean. Broadcasting is entrusted to the Swiss company DIGRIS via two transmitters in Yverdon/Neuchâtel and two transmitters to cover Geneva, with outdoor listening possible as far as Annecy, as well as in the Arve Valley as far as Chamonix.

Gorka Zumeta writes: The obvious delay in the introduction of Digital Terrestrial Radio in Spain gives us a competitive advantage over those who have been working with it for years: we know, without taking any risks, the rights and wrongs. While British radio must now migrate from DAB to DAB+, in the case of Spain, we should start the new expansion, practically from scratch, with the DAB+ standard, forgetting the remains of DAB (Madrid and Barcelona). The most notable success of British radio repeats the story of the arrival of FM: new stations, mainly music stations, which have brought the younger audience into radio, so that listeners and also commercial radio revenues have increased.

Radio Fama from Kielce is completing preparations for the launch of an experimental DAB+ multiplex in the city. Jan Jagielski, president of the Fama Radio and Television Agency, tells Wirtualnemedia.pl that the matter is at the stage of technical arrangements. "I think it is a matter of a month and a half and we will act," he adds. The Fama Radio and Television Agency from Kielce obtained permission from the Office of Electronic Communications to operate the DAB+ experimental multiplex in mid-2022. Although the MUX has not started, the UKE extended the permission in June last year and it is valid until 1 July 2024.

Swedish radio can only develop if the terrestrial network is digitised so that both commercial radio and public service can offer a competitive range. Without a larger range, global platforms will take over and Sweden will lose all influence over Swedish audio distribution, writes Christer Modig, CEO of Viaplay Group Radio. "Expanding digital radio with the DAB+ standard is currently the only practical way to increase the number of channels before it is too late, because political decisions are needed," he says. "The DAB network can accommodate 30 commercial channels, more players and a much greater variety for listeners. DAB is a prerequisite for commercial radio to be able to broaden its range and focus on news, debate, sport and youth channels," Modig adds.

The Community Broadcasting Association of Australia (CBAA) has created a directory of community radio DAB+ stations. Some are also simulcast on AM or FM radio, others are exclusively digital stations. At present there are more than sixty community radio services available via DAB+ across Australia which you can find using the CBAA directory link. The directory provides additional information on the type of content the station provides. Commercial Radio and Audio (CRA) provide a similar directory of DAB+ stations.

Following a successful public consultation and the support of Ofcom, all 19 radio stations using the Winchester Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB) network, some broadcasting exclusively on DAB, are available again. Managing director of Outreach Radio, Osman Sen-Chadun, founded a new rescue consortium, including Winchester Radio, Winchester Today, Outreach Radio and Southampton’s Voice FM, to get the Ofcom licences and retrieve the equipment from liquidators. On 8 February, they were back on air. With support and guidance from Ofcom, new plans were agreed and the required public consultation began. During this time, the Winchester DAB team prepared a new transmission site, just 200m away from the original site in Crabwood Farm, in sub-zero temperatures ahead of the launch.

The team behind the recreated LASER558 have obtained a licence to broadcast on DAB digital radio. Whilst a DAB (DSP) licence is available upon application these days, it marks another station using a previously unlicensed brand name and taking it legal. LASER558 will soon be on the relaunched Winchester DAB and the forthcoming Basingstoke DAB multiplexes. Station Director, Steve Bannister, said: “We are very excited to be able to announce that, after forty years of being classed a ‘pirate’ radio station, LASER558 is finally broadcasting legally in the UK and that we’ll be available on DAB Radio.

Streaming services like Spotify, Amazon Music and Apple Music may dominate the headlines, but radio isn’t going anywhere. 89% of us tune in at least once a week, according to UK radio measurement body Rajar. And, while FM radio is definitely still around, DAB (Digital Audio Broadcasting) now accounts for the majority of listening. The benefits? You don’t need to tune, so DAB isn’t as fiddly and you’ll pick up the clearest sound quality. Some of the best DAB radios also have Bluetooth connectivity, connectors to charge your phone, or the ability to add more of your favourite stations as presets. If you’re convinced, here are our picks for the best DAB radios in 2024.