News

Towercom has recently obtained several new licences for digital radio broadcasting (DAB+) transmitters. In addition, in one case the operator can increase the power of an existing transmitter. Specifically, it is the transmitter Žilina - Krížava, which can increase its power up to 7 kW ERP in the future.

The broadcasting of commercial DAB+ multiplexes with final frequency allocations has not yet started, but the first plans of broadcasters are already appearing. In addition to Rock Radio, which has confirmed its interest in joining the platform and could gain coverage in areas where no FM signal is available, Christian Radio Proglas has a clear strategy in place. It already broadcasts on the RTI cz and Teleko DAB networks. "At the end of 2023, the technical resources are finally being allocated by the CTU (Czech Telecommunications Office, ed.). The applicants are professional companies. We would like to conclude a contract with the winners, who will receive the means to cover the whole country," Martin Holík, the station's managing director and director, informs Radio Proglas listeners in the current newsletter. Proglas has previously announced through its media outlet that if DAB+ succeeds in a nationwide rollout, the station will limit its broadcasts to FM.

Following recent major natural disasters in Germany, such as those in the Ahr Valley and parts of Upper Bavaria in 2021, the country’s authorities recognize the value of emergency warnings and are turning increasingly to DAB+. The broadcast format, which provides more radio stations in digital quality, boasts technical parameters ideally suited for reaching those under threat. Its robust transmission and broad “high tower, high power” reach mean DAB+ can remain available in crisis situations, even if the cellular network infrastructure fails, such as due to flooding or the loss of DSL switches.

NDR radio programmes around Hannover Münden will have even better reception via DAB+ digital radio from 28 November. With the commissioning of two DAB+ transmitters in the south of Lower Saxony, radio listeners from Scheden to Staufenberg will be able to receive NDR radio programmes in even better quality. Here, the modern digital radio on block 6C (185.360 MHz) can be received almost everywhere in the house. At the same time, coverage on the A7 motorway will be extended from Hedemünden to the Kassel-Süd junction.

The German electronics manufacturer Technisat is counting on further growth through digital reception via DAB+. Since the introduction of DAB+ around 16 million devices have been sold in Germany, said managing director Stefan Kön from their German Press Agency. And in the future, these radios could also play an important role in alerting the population in the event of a disaster. From Kön's point of view, a binding date is finally needed for switching off analogue FM. He expects this to give additional impetus to the spread of digital reception.

Austria's largest private radio station kronehit is to be expanded to include four radio stations for new listener groups via DAB+ in 2024. Together with the main programme, which is broadcast via FM, "Krone" would therefore broadcast five radio stations terrestrially. What's remarkable is that until now, kronehit had categorically rejected entry into DAB+, previously saying the future of radio was internet and 5G Broadcast.

On the 100th birthday of Australian commercial radio, industry body Commercial Radio & Audio (CRA) has paid tribute to all those in the industry, past and present, and the listeners, who together have ensured radio remains a much-loved, enduring part of the everyday Australian experience. Ford Ennals, CRA CEO, has congratulated the Australian radio industry on 100 years of laughs, connection, entertainment, music, news, and community. “100 years ago, listeners had to buy a set that was locked to a single station. A century on and you can listen to radio in your car, on your phone, on your digital radio or through your smart speaker. More than ever, commercial radio is part of the everyday Australian experience,” Mr Ennals said.

Bayerischer Rundfunk will be broadcasting its radio programmes in DAB+ from the Weigendorf (Flurberg) transmitter site from 22 November 2023. The transmitter will improve digital radio reception, particularly in the municipalities of Etzelwang, Neukirchen (near Sulzbach-Rosenberg), Pommelsbrunn and Weigendorf as well as in the surrounding area. In addition to better sound quality, DAB+ offers a significantly greater variety of programmes than FM. The folk and brass music station BR Heimat, the pop radio station BR Schlager and the young BR programme PULS can also be heard in top audio quality via DAB+.

DAB+, webradio, IP radio, apps... what will be future? Leaders of the French radio industry considered what a future without FM could look like during a round table discussion that included Charles-Emmanuel Bon, Secretary General of Radio France, Aurélie Brevan Masset, Director of Institutional relations, NRJ Group, Prune De La Farge, Deputy Director at Radio Classique, Tristan Jurgensen, CEO of RTL2-FUN RADIO and Jean-Eric Valli, co-founder of Les Indés Radios. (in French)

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