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After announcing a competition for digital broadcasting in Kiev, the National Council has made the first step towards the introduction of a new technology for the spread of radio signals in Ukraine. This was stated during the briefing of the National Council on December 21. In order to implement the digital radio implementation project in Kiev, digital transmitters will be installed at the facilities of the Concern RRT for two years. At the first stage - in January-June 2018 in Kiev will be installed two transmitters with a capacity of 2 and 1 kW, and in the second half of next year, the broadcast of the first radio stations will be launched. A year later it is planned to install a transmitter in Brovary, which will significantly improve the coverage of the left-bank signal in Ukraine.

In the summer of 2014 digital radio made its official debut in France — specifically, Paris, Nice and Marseille. The scheduled roll-out of digital radio in that country has accelerated recently — it will be deployed next spring in Lille, Lyon and Strasbourg, and then in 30 major cities by 2020.

Members of the National Council noted that this project is experimental. Previously, considerable work was done on UCRF, Concern RRT, which will be the operator of a multichannel network, representatives of the industry. The chairman of the National Council Yuriy Artemenko said that the letter to Patrick Hannon, president of WorldDAB, the global sectoral organization, was sent to the regulator, in which he expressed support for this initiative. "We are happy with the news that Ukraine is launching the introduction of digital broadcasting in the DAB+ standard in Kyiv. The competition, announced today, is an important first step towards ensuring future broadcasting in Ukraine, while the DAB+ standard will bring significant benefits to broadcasters and listeners".

Broadcasting of the first radio stations in the digital standard DAB + can begin in the city of Kiev in the second half of 2018. "The National Council has decided to announce the competition on digital frequencies for the development of broadcasting in the city of Kiev in the DAB+ standard. This decision is significant, since today all broadcasting in Ukraine is carried out in analogue format or in the Internet."

The market dynamics of digital radio DAB+ continue to grow. During the year, listeners benefited from the new variety of regional and national programs, including some that are not on FM. The clear, digital and noise-free sound also convinces drivers: every fifth new car rolls off the production line with DAB+ Radio.

Ford Ennals, CEO, Digital Radio UK looks back on the year in digital radio and ahead to 2018: "So this Christmas and what have we done. Another year over and a new one just begun." In the world of digital radio we can look back with some satisfaction at progress made and look forward to enjoying the new golden age of radio.

In 15.1 percent of German households there is at least one DAB + radio, compared to only 12.5 percent in the previous year, according to the digitization report of the state media authorities. This means that six million households have at least one DAB + device, which is one million more than in the previous year. In Germany over 21 percent of new cars will be equipped with DAB + radios in 2017, which will allow free reception via an antenna without internet connection. There are currently around 3.7 million DAB + car radios in operation in Germany.

WorldDAB Communications Manager Darren Willsher looks back on a year when Norway becomes the first country switched to digital radio.

Melbourne digital audiences took to Nova Entertainment's digital station Coles Radio, up 19 points to 73% for this survey. MMM Classic Rock took a hit, dropping 20%, while Aussie came in third behind Double J. Coles Radio also gained ground in Sydney - up 7% - while ABC Jazz retained top spot despite taking a big hit of -22. The DAB+ summary report shows the cumulative audience for digital only stations, which is the total number of different (unique) people who listen to a DAB+ only radio station in that market for at least eight minutes (one quarter-hour), in a defined period.

On December 21, the National Council on Television and Radio Broadcasting decided to announce a tender for digital radio of the T-DAB (DAB+) standard in Kyiv, and also approved the tender conditions.