News

Italian regulator AGCOM agree to proceed with the planning of new regional areas for T DAB +.

The latest figures from Rajar for Q2 2014 show that DAB radio is still the most popular device when it comes to listening digitally, accounting for 65% of all digital hours (24% of Total Hours).

6 Music has attracted 1.89m people listening on digital radio only, whilst BBC Radio 3, which has a full network of FM transmitters across the country pulls in 1.8m. Ford Ennals, CEO of Digital Radio UK, says: “Digital listening held steady in Q2 2104 but there has been a huge shift in radio listening over the last few years. This is highlighted by the decline in analogue listening to 56.6% which is even more extreme in home, where analogue and digital listening share are now nearly equal. For digital listening to increase to the next level will require significantly more growth in digital listening in car, as well as for local DAB coverage to be expanded towards FM equivalence and for more national digital-only stations to be launched.”

BBC Radio 6 Music's listening figures have overtaken those of BBC Radio 3 for the first time. An average weekly audience of 1.89m tuned in to the digital-only rock station over the last quarter, a 5.5% increase on the same period last year. 6 Music's audience has doubled since a public campaign saved it from a proposed closure in 2010. "BBC Radio 6 Music continues to perform well in the digital space, with Shaun Keaveny and Steve Lamacq reaching record audiences," Bob Shennan, controller of Radio 2 and 6 Music.

At Bauer Media, which owns channels such as Magic 105.4, Liverpool’s Radio City and Edinburgh’s Forth 1, more than half of listeners (50.8 per cent) tuned in through digital, its highest ever number and higher than the industry average of 36.8 per cent. More than three quarters (82 per cent) of Absolute Radio listeners tuned in via digital.

In total, 26 million adults have access to a DAB receiver, up 7% year on year. Digital listening hours remain high for Q2 2014 with 378 million hours being listened to in an average week. DAB radio is still the most popular device when it comes to listening digitally, accounting for 65% of all digital hours.

Earlier in the year I'd read various reports of new car manufacturers coming on board and now fitting digital radios to their fleet. In fact the rate of growth looks pretty impressive - it was widely reported that by April 2014, 55% of new cars came with DAB installed as standard. This compares to just over 37% in the previous year. While at this point it may not be at the lofty levels that were once targeted, this growth is showing that the car industry is now well and truly on board with the UK's digital plans.

Will Carpenter, 1st Chairman Bayerischer of VBL analyses the current DAB+ situation in Germany and his hopes for the future.

To ensure a digital future in Germany, more commitment is needed to promote the listening of DAB+ radio and thus increase demand and distribution.

Skoda has introduced eight new limited editions of its existing models in the UK market with DAB radio as standard. The new cars include the Octavia and Yeti, as well as updates to the Citigo, Superb, Hatch and Estate.