Austria - Current situation - History
11.03.2024
On 11 March 2024, the Austrian Communications Authority (KommAustria) announced that it has "granted the Austrian broadcasting network operator ORS comm GmbH & Co KG (ORS) a total of six licences for the construction and operation of a nationwide multiplex platform as well as for five further regional multiplexes for the transmission of a total of 28 DAB+ digital radio stations. This brings the total number of existing and future DAB+ stations in Austria to 58.
With the licences, ORS will be able to broadcast a planned programme bouquet of 14 DAB+ radio stations in a nationwide coverage area with a population reach of 79% from the end of June 2024. Also from the end of June, broadcasting operations can start in the five regional coverage areas with two to five programmes each, totalling a further 14 programmes."
ORS added: "From 21 June 2024, a diverse and exciting new programme bouquet will be launched in Austria with 28 new radio stations. Last summer, the licences for nationwide and regional digital radio coverage via DAB+ were put out to tender by RTR. The Austrian Communications Authority has now granted ORS comm the licence to operate a further nationwide terrestrial multiplex platform for digital terrestrial radio in the DAB+ standard (MUX III). A total of 14 very different radio programmes can now be broadcast nationwide, providing a diverse audience with information and colourful entertainment - including many well-known radio brands as well as some newcomers.
In addition to the nationwide licence, ORS comm received 5 further regional licences for the regional broadcasting of 14 additional radio stations via the new MUX II. Here, too, numerous radio stations will provide a wide range of programmes.
In total, up to 28 new radio stations will be broadcast via the DAB+ platform from 21 June this year, giving the Austrian radio industry a considerable boost via digital terrestrial transmission."
On 1 August 2023, the new Private Radio Act came into force, which makes it possible for one operator to broadcast six DAB+ programmes per coverage area instead of the previous two.
In August 2022, the Ipsos study “Awareness and reach measurement of DAB+ digital radio Austria 2022” found that:
- In Austria, DAB+ already has 870,000 monthly listeners.
- 75% of DAB+ listeners listen several times a month, this corresponds to 16% of the Austrian population.
https://dabplus.at/2022/08/01/aktuelle-studie-zu-dab-zeigt-steigende-nutzung-und-bekanntheit-in-oesterreich/
Following the launch of the regional DAB+ network operated by RTG in the eastern region of Austria in April 2018, a national DAB+ network operated by ORS was launched in May 2019, marking the start of a new era for radio broadcasting in Austria.
As part of Austria's DAB+ network expansion plans, population coverage reached 83% in August 2020.
02.08.2023
In June 2023, the Communications Authority Austria (KommAustria) invited tenders for DAB+ digital radio multiplexes. The media authority offers the possibility to apply for licences for the operation of a nationwide multiplex, which can also be regionalised, and several regional multiplexes, via each of which approx. 15 DAB+ radio programmes can be broadcast. The only exception to the regional licences is the province of Vienna, where a regional DAB+ multiplex has already been in operation since 2018.
As a nationwide offering, the new platform designated "MUX III" would be the second Austria-wide DAB+ programme bouquet. Since 2019, 16 DAB+ radio programmes with a technical population coverage of 84% have already been broadcast nationwide via the "MUX I" platform; regionally, 14 DAB+ radio programmes will be added on the "MUX II" platform in the greater Vienna area. Regional coverage areas in other federal provinces can now be applied for from "MUX II", which is also designed to be nationwide in terms of frequency technology.
As an option, KommAustria is offering to extend the current invitation to tender to include a nationwide "MUX IV", which could be used in particular for "must-carry" programmes such as ORF radio programmes. The corresponding demand reports would have to be received by the authority by 31 July 2023 at the latest.
At the end of April 2023, KommAustria had already prepared the invitation to tender with the publication of a Selection Principles Ordinance.
Applications for the licences must be received by the Communications Authority Austria by 13:00 on 2 October 2023 at the latest.
Read the press release: KommAustria invites tenders for new multiplexes and frequencies to expand digital DAB+ radio services
Alongside this, on 1 August 2023, the new Private Radio Act came into force, which makes it possible for one operator to broadcast six DAB+ programmes per coverage area instead of the previous two.
In August 2022, the Ipsos study “Awareness and reach measurement of DAB+ digital radio Austria 2022” found that:
- In Austria, DAB+ already has 870,000 monthly listeners.
- 75% of DAB+ listeners listen several times a month, this corresponds to 16% of the Austrian population.
https://dabplus.at/2022/08/01/aktuelle-studie-zu-dab-zeigt-steigende-nutzung-und-bekanntheit-in-oesterreich/
Following the launch of the regional DAB+ network operated by RTG in the eastern region of Austria in April 2018, a national DAB+ network operated by ORS was launched in May 2019, marking the start of a new era for radio broadcasting in Austria.
As part of Austria's DAB+ network expansion plans, population coverage reached 83% in August 2020.
30.06.2023
In June 2023, the Communications Authority Austria (KommAustria) invited tenders for DAB+ digital radio multiplexes. The media authority offers the possibility to apply for licences for the operation of a nationwide multiplex, which can also be regionalised, and several regional multiplexes, via each of which approx. 15 DAB+ radio programmes can be broadcast. The only exception to the regional licences is the province of Vienna, where a regional DAB+ multiplex has already been in operation since 2018.
As a nationwide offering, the new platform designated "MUX III" would be the second Austria-wide DAB+ programme bouquet. Since 2019, 16 DAB+ radio programmes with a technical population coverage of 84% have already been broadcast nationwide via the "MUX I" platform; regionally, 14 DAB+ radio programmes will be added on the "MUX II" platform in the greater Vienna area. Regional coverage areas in other federal provinces can now be applied for from "MUX II", which is also designed to be nationwide in terms of frequency technology.
As an option, KommAustria is offering to extend the current invitation to tender to include a nationwide "MUX IV", which could be used in particular for "must-carry" programmes such as ORF radio programmes. The corresponding demand reports would have to be received by the authority by 31 July 2023 at the latest.
At the end of April 2023, KommAustria had already prepared the invitation to tender with the publication of a Selection Principles Ordinance.
Applications for the licences must be received by the Communications Authority Austria by 13:00 on 2 October 2023 at the latest.
Read the press release: KommAustria invites tenders for new multiplexes and frequencies to expand digital DAB+ radio services
In August 2022, the Ipsos study “Awareness and reach measurement of DAB+ digital radio Austria 2022” found that:
- In Austria, DAB+ already has 870,000 monthly listeners.
- 75% of DAB+ listeners listen several times a month, this corresponds to 16% of the Austrian population.
https://dabplus.at/2022/08/01/aktuelle-studie-zu-dab-zeigt-steigende-nutzung-und-bekanntheit-in-oesterreich/
Following the launch of the regional DAB+ network operated by RTG in the eastern region of Austria in April 2018, a national DAB+ network operated by ORS was launched in May 2019, marking the start of a new era for radio broadcasting in Austria.
As part of Austria's DAB+ network expansion plans, population coverage reached 83% in August 2020.