News

Virgin Radio UK is delighted to announce the launch of pop-up station Virgin Radio Christmas. From Saturday 1st November until midnight on Boxing Day, you can listen to non-stop Christmas favourites on the Virgin Radio network’s newest seasonal station. On weekdays in the lead up to 25th December, The Chris Evans Breakfast Show with The National Lottery will be broadcast from 6:30am to 10am, with back-to-back Christmas tunes kicking in straight after. You can listen to Virgin Radio Christmas on DAB Radio in London, on the Virgin Radio app, on your Smart Speaker and online.

The countdown to Christmas in Jersey has begun as Channel 103 joins forces with the island’s ferry operator DFDS to launch the Channel Islands’ first radio station dedicated to non-stop festive favourites. Channel Christmas powered by DFDS, is now live playing the islands’ biggest festive tunes from Slade to Shakin’ Stevens and Mariah Carey to Michael Bublé throughout the day, every day up until December 27th. The Christmas-themed sister station to Channel 103 and Island FM, is broadcasting on DAB+, Radioplayer, app and smart speaker. DFDS Route Director Chris Parker said: “Christmas is a special time for islanders as well as our teams on board and in port so we’re delighted to teaming up with Channel 103 for the perfect Christmas soundtrack.”

In October, Hessischer Rundfunk and Norddeutscher Rundfunk put several DAB+ transmitter sites into operation. In October, Hessischer Rundfunk massively expanded its digital radio network. In this month alone, it added five new transmitter locations to its network within just 15 days. This means that Hessischer Rundfunk's radio waves are now broadcast via 24 DAB+ transmitter locations on channel 7B. Norddeutscher Rundfunk is also working on consolidating its regionally organised digital radio station networks. On 24 October, the Verden Kichlinteln site was added to the NDR regional network ‘NDR NDS OL’ in Lower Saxony on channel 8D.

Sunrise Radio has announced the launch of two new digital stations, Sunrise Hits and Sunrise Retro, alongside its transition to DAB+ broadcasting across the UK. Starting 5th November 2025, Sunrise Hits will broadcast nationwide on DAB+, offering what the station describes as “the UK’s smoothest Asian hits,” while Sunrise Retro will air on DAB+ in London, focusing on classic Asian music. The launch coincides with Sunrise Radio’s own upgrade to DAB+, providing improved audio quality and broader digital coverage for listeners across the country. Tony Lit MBE & MD of The Sunrise Radio Group adds, “I’m excited about the expansion of The Sunrise Group network, offering listeners across the UK more choice.”

West Coast Radio has launched a new digital radio station on DAB+, designed by young people and for young people, giving local youth across the Peel region of WA a platform to create, connect and be heard. Targeted at listeners aged 14 to 24, the new station will be a creative playground for the next generation of media minds. From choosing the music and designing the logo, to producing the shows and shaping the marketing, young people will have hands-on involvement in every part of the station’s operation. The station is an a partnership between local schools, the youth of our region and West Coast Radio who will invite teachers to integrate radio and media studies into their curriculum, opening up pathways for students interested in broadcasting, content creation, sound production, and digital storytelling.

Comment from Steve Ahern: "Two new Gold stations on DAB in Brisbane and Adelaide and a new KIIS DAB station in Perth allows the company to expand its network brands to all GfK surveyed capital city markets without risking its existing FM brands in those cities. This has proven to be a successful strategy for Nova Entertainment's smooth network in recent ratings, so there is a precedent. The expansion to DAB has increased the total size of the radio listening audience, so any new station activity is another 'raising all boats' benefit for the industry. I expect that the most interest will happen first in Perth, where Kyle and Jackie will stir the market and make people realise there is more radio available on that DAB button that they may never have pushed before."

ARN’s KIIS and GOLD networks are going fully national in 2026, in a move which brings Kyle & Jackie O to a new audience in Perth, via a new KIIS DAB+ station. Confirming the rollout at ARN’s Upfront event in Sydney, Chief Content and Audience Officer Lauren Joyce, said “In 2026, ARN will deliver true national scale across two of the most recognisable media brands in the country.” Adelaide’s Cruise1323 evolves into GOLD1323, with refreshed programming designed to attract a younger audience, and new GOLD DAB+ stations will launch in Brisbane and Adelaide. Every market will continue to feature local news, sport, traffic and weather.

DAB+ digital radio, which has officially launched in Estonia, has already changed radio listening habits, according to a recent audio consumption survey by research company Kantar Emor. The launch of digital radio brought more than ten smaller radio stations to the Estonian market, which do not broadcast on FM frequencies, but on the new DAB+ network and the Internet. According to the survey, 26,000 people listened to such stations between April and September. According to Priit Vare, head of Duo Media Network's radio division, the launch of the digital network has been a success. "I am very pleased that listeners found these small stations right away," he said. "If we add the larger channels that also joined the DAB+ network, it is clear that consumers are interested in trying out the new technical solution."

On 29 October 2025, at 10am, the DAB+ radio landscape in North Rhine-Westphalia will welcome a new station: Radio Mixtape – the soundtrack of your life will begin broadcasting on this day. Radio Mixtape is a joint project of RADIO NRW and the local radio stations in North Rhine-Westphalia. Radio Mixtape will be available from 29 October 2025 on channel 9D in the North Rhine-Westphalia multiplex. With Radio Mixtape, NRW-Lokalfunk is creating an additional programme offering for the "Best Ager" target group. The new programme is the answer to the needs of an active, fun-loving, self-determined and affluent target group that is looking for music and stories from their own world – modern, honest and true to life.

SCA today unveiled the Heart Network, a new national music brand launching on DAB+ and LiSTNR. Debuting with two stations, Heart and Heart Hits, and backed by a clear roadmap for further expansion across genres and formats, SCA reinforces its leadership in digital audio and cements its position as the Number 1 Network for DAB+. Heart represents a significant opportunity to engage new and diverse audiences through a digital-first music experience. Matthew O’Reilly, SCA Head of Broadcast Content said: “Heart is built for listeners seeking a more personal and mood-based experience, while expanding our reach as the Number 1 network on DAB+. With Heart, SCA continues to lead the evolution of digital audio in Australia.”