News

A regional meeting of regulatory bodies on the introduction of digital radio (DAB) is being held in Sarajevo today. On this occasion, the Communications Regulatory Agency hosted representatives of regulators from the Republic of Croatia, the Republic of Serbia, the Republic of Macedonia and Montenegro to exchange experiences, challenges and good practices.

About two thirds of the additional resources (8.4 million francs) go to the 13 regional televisions holding a concession, and a good third to the 21 radio rights holders. With regard to the planned amount for radio, 85% goes to commercial radio stations in the peripheral and mountain regions, and 15% to non-commercial supplementary radios.

The California based Xperi Corporation has announced an agreement between its wholly owned subsidiary, DTS, and BBC Radio, to run a hybrid radio trial for 18 months. Under terms of the agreement, the UK public service broadcaster will provide content directly into the DTS® Connected Radio™ platform.

DAB+ radio frequencies will be available for tender for the first time in the Wallonia-Brussels Federation in Belgium, after the regulator CSA has approved the tender process to proceed. Successful tenders will be awarded for nine years.

Sound Digital, the national commercial DAB multiplex operated by Arqiva, Bauer and Wireless, has announced that its expansion programme of 19 new transmitters is nearing completion, with the first of the extended coverage areas due to go live in the coming weeks.

Margot James MP, Minister for Digital and Creative Industries at the Department of Culture, Media and Sport, has urged the UK radio industry to continue to collaborate to support a successful transition to digital.

A total of 19 new transmitters are ready to be turned on in the coming weeks to bring coverage of the second national digital radio multiplex to a further 4 million people. The Sound Digital consortium of Bauer, Wireless and Arqiva says the proportion of the population able to receive the multiplex will rise from 77% to 83%.

The CSA in Belgium has approved for new DAB+ tenders to proceed in the Wallonia-Brussels Federation, allowing for greater quantity of radio services.

Margot James MP, Minister for Digital and Creative Industries at the Department of Culture, Media and Sport in the UK, has urged for collaboration amongst the industry as the UK government plans to review next steps towards transitioning towards digital radio. Speaking at the Drive to Digital Event in London, the minister's comments were welcomed by broadcasters and the British radio supply chain. Ford Ennals, CEO, Digital Radio UK, said: "The completion of UK radio’s transition to digital will bring significant benefits for listeners, broadcasters and industry and we welcome the opportunity to collaborate with Government and stakeholders to continue to accelerate digital progress.”

A call for interest for DAB+ broadcasting will be launched on 1 October in North-Rhine Westphalia – Germany’s largest state. A study commissioned by regulator State Institute for Media NRW found that transitioning to DAB+ was the best option to progress audio services in the state. Radio broadcasters have until 29 October to finalise and submit applications.