News

Better sound (stereo or multichannel), adding or not synchronized data to the audio (scrolling text, images, information, websites), enrichment of radio offering (more stations than FM alone), broadcast cost lower than that of FM. Digital radio broadcasting has several key advantages which play in its favor. And yet France hastens slowly.

Towercast (part of NRJ Group) received the go-ahead from the CSA in June to run a trial broadcast of Radio France stations on DAB+ in the east of Paris. Radio France has given the green light for France Inter, France Info, France Culture, France Musique, France Bleu and Mouv’ to be available on DAB+. This is a turnaround for Radio France who, until now, had been reluctant to broadcast on DAB+ for budgetary reasons. 40,000 households in the region are not covered by FM.

Boosted by DAB radio promotional campaigns and roll out of DAB networks in their respective countries, the majority of new cars sold in the United Kingdom, Norway, and Switzerland are now equipped with DAB/DAB+ receivers. Globally, “Europe is leading the way for DAB in the car and there’s a consensus from governments to make this happen across borders,” said Patrick Hannon, President at WorldDAB.

According to the survey results from the Digitisation Report 2016 published by Die Medienanstalten, 14 percent of the German population aged 14 and over have a DAB+ device. This corresponds to around 9.5 million DAB devices. 12.6 percent of households also own a DAB+ device. DAB+ receivers in the car also increased by 1.17 million to 3.08 million. Every 13th car radio in Germany can already receive DAB+.

The latest DAB adapter from Pure, the Highway 400 gives users access to DAB+ radio channels and to stream music from their mobile phone through Bluetooth. Pure 400 itself worked perfectly flawlessly while we've tested it. Streaming from mobile and DAB playback has gone without hiccups.

The dance radio station DanceXL will go on air via DAB+ from December 1 2016 and will be available in the southern half of the Netherlands. Dancexl will be received via DAB + in the provinces of North Brabant, maritime, Limburg, Zuid-Holland, Utrecht, Gelderland.

This week, several announcements were made by German politicians at both the national and federal level. In Germany, the political support behind the DAB+ continues to grow, while IFA Berlin opens and presents the latest news from DAB+ receivers.

At the launch of digitalisation report at IFA in Berlin, Dr. Willi Steul discussed the development of digital radio in Germany. He said "DAB+ is the technology of the future in terms of transmission costs."

With the digital switchover planned for January 2017 Ole Jørgen Torvmark, General Manager of Digital Radio Norway has said the country has good DAB+ coverage following recent tests.

Other highlights from the standard kit include front and rear parking sensors, LED daytime running lights, DAB radio, Bluetooth, adaptive cruise control and dual-zone air-con.