News

Rundfunk Berlin-Brandenburg is reducing the terrestrial coverage of its cultural programme radio3 in western Brandenburg. From 1 February 2026, broadcasting via the FM transmitter in Bad Belzig will be permanently discontinued. The regional broadcaster is thus continuing its policy of reducing analogue capacities in favour of digital distribution channels. The measure is part of a long-term strategy to optimise costs within ARD, which involves gradually reducing the parallel transmission of analogue and digital signals. As terrestrial coverage via DAB+ in Brandenburg is now well advanced, the broadcaster no longer considers analogue coverage in smaller locations such as Bad Belzig to be economically necessary.

Albrecht Audio has expanded its portfolio of digital radios with the DR 710. This is a portable DAB+/FM digital radio in a retro design with a carrying strap, which, according to the manufacturer, combines good sound, versatile playback options and mobility in a compact retro design. The DR 710 receives DAB+ and FM, providing access to a wide range of stations. For important warnings, the DR 710 offers the ASA warning function, which ensures that users are warned in good time in the event of an emergency, such as severe storms, flooding or other emergency situations in their region, even in standby mode. In addition, the station memory lists can be used flexibly: 40 memory slots each for DAB+ and FM allow quick switching between favourite radio stations.

At the end of January, Expres FM will cease operations of six analog FM transmitters located in western Bohemia. The information was officially confirmed to MediaGuru.cz by Hana Holubová, PR manager at Seznam.cz. "This is the so-called western circuit, which includes Plzeň, Karlovy Vary, Tachov, Domažlice, Klatovy, and Železná Ruda," said Hana Holubová. "Until now, we had duplicate transmitters," explained the spokesperson for Seznam's radio stations, adding that the change is directly related to the station's strategy. "At the same time, we are working intensively with ČRA to develop nationwide digital broadcasting via the DAB+ network," added Hana Holubová on the future direction.

Viaplay Radio has launched DAB+ in Östergötland and Småland. New DAB+ transmitters have been installed in Motala, Norrköping, Nässjö and Värnamo. The network already covers the three metropolitan areas plus Uppsala and Gävle. ‘This means we now cover a large part of the E4 motorway from Gävle to Ljungby. This is another step in our plan to gradually roll out digital radio broadcasting across the country,’ says Viaplay's radio director Christer Modig. Viaplay Radio's DAB+ network includes Viaplay's FM channels Rix FM, Star FM, Lugna Favoriter and Bandit Rock, the company's digital radio stations Bandit Classic, Disco 54, Hitmix 90's, Rix FM Fresh, Sonic and Power Hit Radio, as well as Skärgårdsradion, Go Country, Dansbandskanalen and Dansbandskanalen Klassiker from other companies.

A broad, cross-party group of MEPs from the EPP, S&D, Renew and the Greens has written to Commission President Ursula von der Leyen calling for strong safeguards for radio in connected cars in the upcoming Digital Networks Act (DNA). The letter urges the Commission to ensure that all new cars include radio receivers, that radio services remain easy to find on in-car interfaces, and that a level playing field is preserved between radio and global audio platforms. The initiative was launched by MEP Sunčana Glavak following the AER roundtable “Tune in to Trust: Radio’s Future in the Digital World” she hosted on November 4 2025 at the European Parliament. The Commission is expected to publish its proposal for the DNA on 20 January 2026.

Commercial Radio & Audio (CRA) has welcomed the latest GfK Survey 8, 2025 results, with commercial radio reaching 12.4 million Australians weekly. Since mid-2022, through a post-COVID media landscape, commercial radio has sustained audiences exceeding 12 million. "The consistency, innovation, and value commercial radio provides brands is unmatched by any other media channel and it's exactly what advertisers need," said Lizzie Young, CEO of CRA. The shift to an audio everywhere approach is transforming how audiences consume content. Listeners move seamlessly between platforms such as AM/FM/DAB+/streaming - engaging on their terms: at home, in the car, at work, on the move and on demand.

Ahead of ARN launching new stations in Adelaide, Brisbane and Perth, and the wrap up of the festive season which saw most capital cities listen to a lot more Coles Radio, with some sneaky Elf Radio for good measure, DAB+ listening in GfK Radio 360 Survey 8, across the country, yielded some interesting changes and data for networks and advertisers. There have been some stations quietly dropped in the last 12 months. Easy Hits and MMM 70s vanished from Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane DAB, as did MMM 80s in Adelaide and Perth. These stations likely made way for SCA’s launch of their new Heart Network and associated stations Heart and Heart Hits, that were announced in October 2025.

RTR99 Ti Ricordi continues its expansion on DAB+. The Rome-based broadcaster has been connected in Campania. It is broadcast on channel 10D of CR Dab Campania. This is a further step forward for RTR99 Ti Ricordi's coverage, which is already available digitally in Lazio, Umbria, Tuscany and Lombardy.

The Christian O'Connell Show has launched as Australia's first-ever national commercial breakfast program, broadcasting across major cities including Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, and Perth. This marks a significant expansion for the show, which has been a morning staple in Melbourne since 2018. Christian O'Connell, the show's host, is the only radio presenter to have reached number one in two different countries. He previously built an audience of 2.5 million listeners in the UK and achieved the top spot in Melbourne within 16 months of his arrival in 2018. The program can be heard every weekday morning on GOLD101.7 in Sydney, GOLD104.3 in Melbourne, and GOLD DAB+ in Perth, Adelaide, and Brisbane.

In the second half of 2025, people aged 15 and over listened to live broadcasts from Swiss and foreign radio stations for an average of 76 minutes per day. Radio audiences in Switzerland remained strong in the second half of the year following the partial deactivation of the FM band in early 2025. This is according to radio audience data for the second half of 2025 collected on behalf of the Mediapulse Foundation. This stability is worth noting, as it indicates that although the switch-off of FM broadcasting for SRG radio stations in early January 2025 had an impact on the audience of the stations concerned, the overall radio audience has not suffered as a result.