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The Radio Broadcasting Convention Africa 2025 commenced in Johannesburg, South Africa, bringing together influential figures to explore radio’s significant role in cultural preservation and its future in an increasingly digital media landscape. With over 19 stations, SABC is advancing towards digital audio broadcasting (DAB+) and leveraging artificial intelligence for content development. The Convention featured engaging panel discussions that tackled the most pressing issues shaping the future of radio and audio services across the continent. Key discussions revolved around adopting Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB), monetisation models in the digital space, and the growing demand for on-demand content.

Thanks to the innovative ‘Automatic Safety Alert (ASA)’ technology, the population can be reliably supplied with information digitally via certified DAB+ radios in the event of an emergency or crisis. TechniSat was involved in the development of ASA from the very beginning and is now launching its first device with this pioneering technology, the DIGITRADIO 3 ASA. The warning mix for disaster situations has been enriched by an important component: in addition to cell broadcasting on mobile phones and other options for informing the population in crisis situations, DAB+ radio is also positioning itself as an optimal warning medium. Listeners benefit from a system that keeps them informed even if local mobile phone or internet connections are interrupted.

Paneda is proud to support the FáilteDAB trial in Ireland by providing a complete DAB head-end system. This advanced platform enables testing of a wide range of DAB features, including sophisticated metadata capabilities. Designed for multi-multiplexer environments, the system also incorporates redundancy through Paneda’s unique SMART switching technology. The FáilteDAB trial, which started in May, is licensed by ComReg to Foothold Communications. The trial aims to offer a broader and more diverse range of content than what is currently available via FM broadcasting, with the potential for expansion during the licence period. Foothold Communications owns and operates transmission towers across Ireland and currently manages over 1,000 radio link and broadcast systems.

Radio usage in Bavaria will reach a turning point in 2025: for the first time, daily use of digital reception channels will be on a par with FM. DAB+ is the driving force behind this. 34 per cent of the population listen to the radio via DAB+ on weekdays, which corresponds to 44 per cent of all radio listeners. These are preliminary results on DAB+ from the Radio Analysis Radio Bavaria 2025 (FAB), which will be presented on 25 June at the Local Radio Days. ‘The current figures confirm our audio strategy: the future belongs to DAB+,’ emphasises the President of the Bavarian Regulatory Authority for New Media (BLM), Dr Thorsten Schmiege. "For many years, we have consistently relied on digital distribution channels to ensure local programme diversity for everyone in Bavaria. In the future, there will be no way around DAB+ in marketing."

Nearly 200 radio industry professionals gathered in Madrid for one of the most important events organised by WorldDAB at a global level: the one dedicated to guaranteeing the presence of radio in future connected cars. The meeting began by showing the unity of the sector, which brings together public and private companies, around this priority objective, given the real threat that, on the future screens of smart cars, radio will not occupy a predominant position, to the benefit of other audio content, such as access to platforms like Spotify or Amazon Music, for example. Megan Lazovick, one of the vice presidents of US measurement institute Edison Research, provided the key data that underpins WorldDAB's primary objective in organising Automotive'25: to work to ensure that radio continues to dominate future connected car entertainment screens.

Madrid was the setting chosen by representatives of the UK's third largest private radio company, Bauer Media Group, on 19 June to present “Radio Ready”, the initiative in defence of the presence of radio in future connected cars. Speaking at the “Automotive'25” event, organised by WorldDAB, Tobias Nielsen, senior vice president of digital at Bauer Media Group, highlighted the “historic moment” we are in, which calls for “collaboration between broadcasting leaders in Europe and Australia on a new vision to ensure listener access to radio in connected cars”. The reason is none other than to defend the interests of an industry - the radio industry - which accounts for more than 80 percent of audio consumption in today's car.

Mitteldeutscher Rundfunk (MDR) began switching off the first FM frequencies on 24 June 2025. The reason for this step is the planned transition to purely digital broadcasting via DAB+ and the internet. The switchover will initially affect 15 smaller transmitters in Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt and Thuringia - including two frequencies of MDR SACHSEN-ANHALT. This is the broadcaster's response to savings targets set by the Commission for the Determination of the Financial Requirements of Broadcasters (KEF), which explicitly identified potential savings in parallel analogue and digital broadcasting in its report from February 2024. FM transmitters with a low range will be switched off in regions where there is already nationwide DAB+ coverage.

A new radio station, Frajer radio, will be launched on National Day (25 June), exclusively playing Slovenian folk and entertainment music, reports Slovenske novice. Lucija Vrankar, who we have already met as a TV presenter on TV Slovenia's Japajade show, will try her hand as a radio presenter. The slogan of the new Frajer Radio will be "the first in the village and the first in the city" and it will be available to listeners via the DAB+ network, a modern mobile app and radiofrajer.si. Programme Director David Irgolič adds that the new radio station will be aimed at young people with a soul, who like frajer folk music, merrymaking and good times.

At the WorldDAB Automotive 2025 conference in Madrid, public and commercial broadcasters defended a clear position: to guarantee the visibility, accessibility and ease of use of radio in connected vehicles. A global initiative has been launched to preserve broadcasting and promote a hybrid approach to on-board technological developments. Meeting in Madrid on 19 June, the main representatives of public and private radio presented a united front. At the WorldDAB Automotive 2025 conference, they reiterated the importance of maintaining broadcast radio (FM and DAB+) as an essential distribution channel in connected vehicles. The challenge is technical, commercial and societal: to ensure that radio remains easy to find and use on the new digital dashboards.

Radio United Broadcasting Group has taken an important step towards legally anchoring its stations in the digital airwaves. On 27 May, it submitted applications for its own digital broadcasting licence on the DAB+ network for six of its brands. Until now, these stations have only been broadcast in the digital multiplex as adopted FM broadcasts. The applications concern the stations Signal Radio, Radio Spin, Kiss, Country Radio, Radio 1 and Radio Beat. Granting the authorisation would mean that these stations would be officially listed as separate digital operators in DAB+. The move does not affect their programme offer or technical parameters, but strengthens their position in the digital radio environment and gives them legal certainty.