News

Factum Radioscape has announced the launch of an experimental DAB+ transmission in collaboration with Radio Mais, part of the Mais Media Brazil group, in Florianópolis-the capital of the Brazilian state of Santa Catarina. Beginning with the low-powered, localised transmission of three radio services: Radio More, K Radio, and P7 Nosta, all services are being broadcast using Factum Radioscape’s MultiMuxa system.

The Spanish Government has just launched the prior public consultation on the new National Technical Plan for Digital Radio. This will address the deployment of digital terrestrial radio through the DAB+ standard. David Fernández Quijada, co-founder and research director of South 180, outlines the potential public incentives that Spanish administrations should offer to ensure the consolidation of DAB+ ahead of the next National Technical Plan for Digital Radio.

Hessischer Rundfunk (hr) plans to integrate the Marburg and Aulhausen locations into its DAB+ transmitter network. This is reported by radioblog.eu, citing data from the Federal Network Agency. According to the report, Marburg will be coordinated with 2 kW ERP and Aulhausen with 1 kW ERP for the statewide ensemble on channel 7B. Last year, hr commissioned the three new DAB+ transmitters Rhön, Herborn/Burg, and Schlüchtern for eastern and central Hesse.

The Austrian Communications Authority (KommAustria) has published its "Digitalization Concept 2025" for the introduction, expansion, and further development of digital broadcasting (television and radio) and other media services. The regulation will enter into force on August 1, 2025. Although the Austrian Broadcasting Corporation (ORF) has so far refused to enter digital terrestrial radio DAB+, the media authority has reserved national coverage (MUX IV) for ORF.

At the beginning of July, broadcaster TDF commissioned sixteen new transmitters in Nouvelle-Aquitaine, Occitanie, Sud-Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, Grand-Est and Bretagne to broadcast digital radio. These new deployments often require impressive lifting equipment, such as heli-lifts and cranes. They bear witness to the know-how and technical expertise of TDF's structural experts and the commitment of its operational teams. TDF's technical experts are also closely involved in the rollouts. They have developed a new type of mixed antenna that combines FM and DAB+ technologies on the same equipment. A second antenna using this technology is being deployed in Castres.

The United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction has highlighted the role of RNE during the blackout last April and has shared a video produced by RTVE on the coverage of the public broadcaster on its LinkedIn, Facebook and X profiles. 28 April 2025 will remain engraved in the collective memory of those who lived through the blackout on the Iberian Peninsula. In the midst of uncertainty, radio once again proved its value as an essential medium. While communications were down, information was scarce and rumours multiplied, radio became the most reliable and accessible source of information, thanks to vehicle-mounted receivers and portable battery-powered receivers. In fact, portable receivers were soon out of stock in many shops.

Two new DAB radio multiplexes are set to launch this autumn, bringing dozens of additional radio services to listeners across West and South London. City West Digital, covering West London, and South of the River Digital, covering South London, will each host up to 25 stations on their respective networks. Paul Boon, General Manager of both City West Digital and South of the River Digital Radio, described the opportunity as a significant development for digital broadcasting in the capital. “This is a fantastic opportunity for online radio, DSP licensed services and others, to reach London’s millions,” he said. “The scale of coverage is phenomenal.” A total of nine transmitters will form part of the two new multiplexes.

Mediapulse AG has published consolidated radio usage figures for the first time since SRG ceased FM broadcasting at the end of 2024. Compared to the same period a year ago, the SRG station group's market share fell by 6 percentage points nationwide - in line with expectations. This result is in line with the exceptionally high quarterly figures published by SRG in April. With a market share of 53%, SRG remains the clear market leader. This is an important indicator, as it shows how much SRG radio is used in Switzerland as a proportion of total usage. Radio penetration is declining overall, as usage patterns have been changing for some time.

The invitation to tender for DAB+ transmission capacity for the Münsterland region begins on 9 July. This will enable the broadcasting of a total of 16 radio programmes in the remaining, sixth DAB+ region in North Rhine-Westphalia. The DAB+ transmission capacities for the remaining five broadcasting areas have already been put out to tender and awarded by the NRW Media Authority following a mutual agreement procedure. With the ‘DAB+Regio Funding Programme’, the NRW Media Authority will contribute up to €3.4 million over a period of three years towards the broadcasting costs incurred by the broadcasters. Applications for both the DAB+Regio transmission capacities and for funding can be submitted until 17 September 2025.

The regional DAB+ ensemble for the Leipzig region (channel 10A) can now also be heard via a second transmitter site. In addition to the Leipzig-Messegrund site (with 10 kW), the Oschatz/Collmberg transmitter (with 9.3 kW) is now also broadcasting. The transmitter was switched on in mid-June. Eleven private radio stations and one non-commercial station (Radio Blau) can be heard in the ensemble.