News

The terrestrial DAB+ networks are still being built. New transmitters are about to be switched on in several federal states. We summarise all the news. The DAB+ network of private stations in Baden-Württemberg (channel 11B) is to be further expanded by four locations. Südwestrundfunk (SWR) also wants to expand its network.

rbb is continuing its DAB+ network expansion and has put another DAB+ transmitter on channel 10B into operation at the Forst location. The new transmitter closes a coverage gap in south-eastern Brandenburg. Since 1 August 2023, all rbb radio and the COSMO station can be received digitally via an aerial in the best quality. In the coming years, further small transmitters are planned to close the remaining white spots in Brandenburg's digital radio coverage.

Germany’s broadcast regulator — Der Kommission für Zulassung und Aufsicht (ZAK) — has issued radio SAW, a private radio station covering the north-central state of Saxony-Anhalt a DAB license that effectively allows it to “poach” in neighboring states. As Saxony-Anhalt’s first private radio station, dating back to 1992, radio SAW is an established FM brand. Its programming already reaches beyond the state’s borders courtesy of a powerful 100 kW transmitter on the Brocken, the highest peak in the Harz mountain range. The DAB+ license that ZAK issued radio SAW on 26 July officially allows the station to extend its reach via multiplexes in neighboring states.

On FM, many private, local and regional stations have clearly defined broadcasting areas. With digital radio DAB+, it is becoming increasingly fashionable for them to "poach" in neighbouring areas as well. This is not just a matter of mapping the previous FM broadcast area on DAB+. Radio SAW is a private, state-wide radio station from Saxony-Anhalt. SAW stands for "Sachsen-Anhalt-Welle". In order to map this large area onto digital radio DAB+ as well, Radio SAW will be allowed to broadcast its programme nationwide in future - at least in theory. The Commission for Licensing and Supervision (ZAK) of the state media authorities granted the corresponding licence on 26 July.

The South Durham small-scale DAB multiplex has launched with seven digital stations broadcasting to Darlington, Bishop Auckland and Newton Aycliffe. Alpha Radio, Aycliffe Radio, Dance Revolution, Durham OnAir, Frisk Radio, Prince Bishops Hospital Radio and Sun FM are all based in the northeast. Bishop FM will follow at a later date. Local community broadcasters worked with specialists in the field to launch Durham Digital which is running the transmitters. Gary Burgham, Programme Director at Bishop FM said: “I’m thrilled to be part of a great team presenting the opportunity to bring a community-based DAB service to Bishop Auckland, Aycliffe and my hometown of Darlington.”

Commercial radio in Australia turns 100 this year and kicked off celebrations today with the launch of a new report that shows the industry contributes $1 billion to the nation’s annual GDP, including a $320 million boost to regional Australia. The “Connecting Communities: The Economic and Social Contribution of Commercial Radio and Audio in Australia” report was commissioned by industry body Commercial Radio & Audio and produced by Deloitte Access Economics. The report notes: "Commercial radio has evolved with the disruptors, giving audiences more avenues to listen to content, such as through podcasts and DAB+ radio. Such innovation has fostered listenership, which has continued to grow."

The winners of the auction of the national commercial radio frequencies can finally put their frequencies into use on 1 September. The Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate has now granted new licences for FM and DAB+, according to publication in the Government Gazette. This means that all winning parties have fulfilled their payment obligation and paid at least half of the winning bid within two weeks of the auction. In early July, the nine nationwide commercial FM lots with associated DAB+ capacity on channel 11C were auctioned. This netted the treasury almost €153 million.

The non-commercial local radio stations (NKLs) in Saxony have now all increased their range on digital radio DAB+. Radio Blau now broadcasts on the "Region Leipzig" multiplex on channel 10A, Radio T can be heard on the "Region Chemnitz" mux on channel 8A and coloRadio, Radio Zett and the now non-commercial Radio WSW broadcast on the "Region Dresden" bouquet on channel 7A. Radio Blau and Radio T have already ended their parallel broadcasting in the local muxes Chemnitz and Dresden.

The launch of Nordseewelle 2, which was actually planned for July, has now taken place. The station can be received exclusively via DAB+ in the north-west of Lower Saxony. It will be broadcast on the multiplexes Nordseeküste (Aurich) on channel 11A, Oldenburg (Steinkimmen) on channel 10B and Emsland (Cloppenburg/Molbergen) on channel 10C.

MIMIT will publish DAB calls for expressions of interest in obtaining available usage rights in several Italian areas during the last week of August. This decision suggests a wish to conclude the competitive tenders by the end of 2023. The areas are: Piedmont, Valle d'Aosta, Lombardy, Liguria, Tuscany, Umbria, Campania, and Sicily.