News

The Norddeutsche Rundfunk announced on Wednesday they will further expand its digital radio station network, with a new DAB+ transmitter in Lingen to supply the region between Meppen and Schüttorf in northern Germany.

The specific TCe 90 Ambiance version chosen by What Car? comes with features as standard such as air conditioning and DAB radio.

British armed forces radio service Forces Radio BFBS will begin broadcasting on DAB+ on Wednesday morning.

Eight new DAB+ channels will be added, as German public broadcaster NDR has drawn up a new schedule for the rollout of the digital standard in the northern states of the country. A new channel will be switched on in the town of Lingen on January 24.

As part of official New Year's wishes from the Conseil supérieur de l’audiovisuel (CSA), its president Olivier Schrameck has addressed progress in delivering DAB+ to France, following extensive consultations last year. Mr Schrameck highlighted the focus of coverage in regions with high populations and highways, and the target of reaching 20% coverage in metropolitan areas to trigger all receivers to be made compatible with DAB+.

Beginning 31 January, 12 new commercial radio stations will take to the air via DAB+ in the German cities of Leipzig and Freiberg, due to promotion of local DAB+ multiplexes by the Saxon State Media Authority for Private Broadcasting and New Media (SLM). In Denmark, transmission services provider Teracom has ordered three additional DAB+ multiplexers from Paneda. In the Flanders part of the Netherlands, anyone traveling between Central Zeeland and Zeeuws-Vlaanderen can now continue to listen to DAB+ in the car without interruption.

WorldDAB has published a list of those that will be on a panel of international speakers for a digital terrestrial radio session, which will take place 26 January between 11:30 and 13:30. There will be broadcasters, regulators and digital radio professionals from across Europe and the United States discussing the latest developments and innovations in DAB+.

27 new radio stations will begin operation from 31 January in Leipzig and Freiburg, following a successful tender process by the Saxon State Media Authority for Private Broadcasting and New Media (SLM) last year.

WorldDAB will also host a session this Friday, 26 January between 11:30 and 13:30, featuring lessons learned from the DSO process in Norway with Ole Jørgen Torvmark (Digital Radio Norway), better communicating with the listener with Carsten Zorger (Digitalradio Büro Deutschland), recent developments of DAB+ receiver legislation with Sergio Natucci (DAB Italia), the French perspective with broadcaster Antoine Baduel (Radio FG), digital radio and the connected car with Joe d'Angelo (Broadcast Radio, Xperi), and the user experience in vehicles with Laurence Harrison (Digital Radio UK).

Applications for a new DAB+ tender has been announced by the State Institute for Communications Baden-Württemberg (LFK) for the region. The broadcast takes place via the state-wide multiplex (channel 11 B), which focuses on the Rhine, the Rhine-Neckar region, the Stuttgart region and Ulm. Applications close on 28 February.