News

Ofcom recently completed a trial of its “small-scale DAB” technology for 70 local and community radio stations. The official report that Ofcom created for the Department of Culture, Media and Sport deemed the trials “a success.” Small-scale DAB is designed to allow smaller radio stations that were not able to afford the United Kingdom’s DAB radio platform go on the airwaves with available software and equipment for a lower cost, explains Ofcom.

Helen Boaden has resigned from her post as Director of Radio at the BBC, and radio industry colleagues have been quick to show their appreciation. Ford Ennals CEO of Digital Radio UK said: “Helen Boaden has been a great champion for radio and a strong supporter of digital broadcast radio.

Jean-Éric Valli, president of the French economic interest group “Les Indés Radio”, representing 132 radios, 8.2m listeners and €8.5m annual turnover, says he is following developments on DAB across Europe, and talks about the risk of relying on internet and gatekeepers.

The expansion of the DAB+ network in Italy continues, with a further 14 DAB+ transmitters switched on by network operator DAB Italia. DAB+ coverage in Italy has now extended significantly, to cover major highways and populations in the north (Tyrol, Lombardy, Turin, Ahr Valley), centre (Tuscany, Umbria), and southern Italy (Adriatic Coast, Campania, and Puglia).

XORO has launched two new compact DAB+ digital radios onto the market - the DAB 110 and DAB 200.

BBC Director of Radio Helen Boaden has resigned from her post, retiring after 34 years. Helen will step down in March 2017 as James Purnell, who already has responsibility for education, will bring together network Radio, Arts, Music, Learning and Children’s as Director, Radio & Education.

With their retro designs and simple lines Pure digital radios have been a fixture in many British households for more than a decade. Now the company that initially designed them as a platform for its DAB decoding chip has sold the business to an Austrian company for £2.6 million.

Imagination Technologies has sold digital radio manufacturer Pure to an Austrian investment company, AVenture GmbH. Commenting on the deal, Pure’s general manager, Paul Smith said: “We have an ambition to grow, and under the umbrella of AVenture, we can achieve that. The future for DAB+ across Europe is extremely exciting and Pure is a leading brand in a rapidly growing market, driven by geographical adoption and digital switch over. We have a strong vision for the future with innovation at the heart of this, giving Pure a unique opportunity within the market.”

Media Broadcast has launched its 100th transmitter in Kreuzberg in Bavaria. The end of 2016 will be a total of 110 transmitter sites in operation

At an event held by the regulator AGCOM at the Italian Parliament in Rome on 27 September, AGCOM called for more support and further investment from public broadcaster RAI in the continued rollout of DAB digital radio. Citing the leading role taken by public broadcasters in Norway, Germany and UK in the rollout of DAB digital radio in those countries, RAI was urged to do more in terms of investment, to ensure adequate DAB signal coverage on motorways, tunnels, and indoors, and by offering new programmes and services to ensure a digital future for radio in Italy.