Austria

Last update: 11.03.2024 - older versions

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.

Last update: 27.05.2022 - older versions

As of August 2020, DAB+ population coverage in Austria stands at 83% for the national MUX I and about 35% for the regional MUX II in the area of Vienna.

Coverage of the regular DAB+ multiplex on air in Austria is available at https://dabplus.at/empfang/

DAB+ national network expansion in 2019

1) Following the launch of the first expansion phase in May 2019, Vienna-Kahlenberg, Vienna-Liesing, Vienna-DC Tower, Graz-Schöckl, Linz-Lichtenberg and Semmering-Sonnenwendstein were connected. In the course of this first expansion phase, Vienna, Lower Austria, Burgenland, Styria and Upper Austria will be able to receive DAB+, with almost 60% of the Austrian population covered with a DAB+ signal.

2) The commissioning phase of the nationwide MUX took place on March 31, 2020 and included the locations Bregenz-Pfänder, Innsbruck-Patscherkofel, Salzburg-Gaisberg and St. PöltenJauerling. With this expansion stage, 75% of the Austrian population is covered with DAB+ reception.

3) The last stage of expansion in Carinthia was brought forward, taking place in August 2020 and bringing population coverage to 83%.

 

Last update: 19.08.2022 - older versions

In this country there are

on air.

The most up to date listing of services on air in Austria is available at https://dabplus.at/programme/.

Please note:

(a)    These web pages are updated regularly to reflect current services on air, however they may not be exactly up to date.

(b)    The logos shown on these pages are for illustrative purposes only – manufacturers and broadcasters are directed here for information on implementing station logos.

Simulcast on AM / FM Exclusive on digital Total of services
DAB+ programmes 12 20 32
Data services 0 1 1
Total122133

Last update: 16.02.2022 - older versions

In Austria, 94% of new cars sold in 2021 have DAB+ as standard (Source: JATO Dynamics 2022).

Last update: 19.08.2022 - older versions

In July 2020, Austria's digital radio office launched a new online store for featuring a wide range of DAB+ receivers from a number of brands.

In May 2019, ahead of the launch of the national DAB+ network, the Austrian Regulatory Authority for Broadcasting (RTR) released a report (here) including information on the network expansion plans and the area covered by the expansion, as well as some findings on consumer receiver sales in Austria, specifically –

  • Sales of DAB+ devices in Austria rose by 77% in 2018
  • Sales of DAB+ devices in Austria rose by 66% in Q1 2019
  • Sales of non-DAB+ devices in Austria declined by 20% in Q1 2019

 

Last update: 05.04.2018 - older versions

DAB+ trial May 2015- April 2018

In Vienna, DAB+ was tested in a pilot project until 7th April 2018, when it became a regular operation. Two transmitters operated as a single frequency network, with one transmitting a 10kW signal. This test mode was originally scheduled to last 10 months from May 28th 2015. Vienna’s DAB+ testing period was extended by one year by media regulator KommAustria. The pilot project was approved by the broadcasting regulator, KommAustria. The multiplex platform operator ORS comm GmbH & Co KG was able to test transmission capacities on "VIENNA 8 (Liesing) channel 11D", "Wien 9 (DC Tower 1) channel 11D" and "Wien 8 (Liesing) channel 12B". Items which were tested in the pilot project were, for example, switching between two frequency blocks (11D and 12B) and their impact on the recipient.

Previous Trials

Two DAB trials ended in 2008. One began in 1999 in the capital Vienna and covered up to 1.73 million people, the other one started in 2000 in the federal state of Tyrol (two sites near the capital of Innsbruck) and covered round about 295,000 people, approximately 40% of the Tyrolian population. The two trials were run by the public broadcaster ORF, with only ORF programs transmitted. About 19% of Austria’s population was covered by a T-DAB signal.

In 2011 the network operator ORS GmbH, a 60% subsidiary of the ORF, made plans to launch a DAB+ trial in 2012 but stopped the project in autumn 2011.

The trial that ended in 2008 included three transmitters in Vienna on Channel 12B. The multiplex featured classical music, Radio Wien (local station), pop music and FM4 pop music (all by ORF). The Austrian public broadcaster ORF was also awarded a DAB digital radio trial licence for the Federal State of Tyrol. ORF set up two DAB digital radio transmitters in Tyrol, covering the Inn Valley between Kufstein and the Brenner Mountain (Channel 12C). Ö1, Ö3, FM4 and the regional station Radio Tyrol, were available on the multiplex. This meant that there was continuous DAB coverage between South Germany and Northern Italy.

These tests have taken place behind closed doors. 

 

Last update: 03.08.2018 - older versions

The market is regulated by the Austrian Communications Authority (KommAustria) and by the Regulatory Authority for Broadcasting and Telecommunications (Rundfunk und Telekom Regulierungs-GmbH, RTR) that provides operational support for KommAustria.

Austria is committed to a digital radio future and a report by the regulators, the Austrian Communications Authority (KommAustria) and RTR-GmbH recommended DAB+ in Band III as the way forward.  A working group was created in 2009 and its members are stakeholders from the Austrian radio market who represent opponents and proponents of digital radio. It consists of the regulatory authority, the public broadcaster ORF, the commercial and non-commercial broadcasters associations, the electronic industry and consumer associations. The group is watching and evaluating the progress of digital radio in other European countries. 

Success factors for the introduction of DAB+ in Austria

  • Active will of the Federal Government to digitise terrestrial radio broadcasting as the last media genre, which has not yet been able to experience terrestrial digitisation in Austria. Thus securing the media and economic location of Austria in order to create non-disruptive, non-Austrian offers. Solving the frequency problem, coordinating with the neighboring countries, and the economic use of the existing broadcasting systems with an active decision for a terrestrial digitisation of the radio broadcast.
  • New programming possibilities for private radio operators. More than two programs are to be made available by an organizer. The number is intended to regulate the market and for a further development of the radio, a maximum of two programmes must be given by one organiser.
  • New possibilities for public broadcasters. In addition to the national programs of public-law audiovisual broadcasting, max. 2 other nationwide, non-regionalisable, advertising-free (!) Programs are made possible.
  • Change of ORF-G, PrR-G and AMD-G with regard to the possibilities offered by the program and service providers (programs, data, additional services, etc.).
  • Promotion of program providers from the digitisation fund for the time of the simulcast. The increase in the allocation of the digitisation fund from currently EUR 500 TSD p.a. To EUR 1.2 million p.a .. Prioritisation of the digitisation fund for the agendas of the digitisation of terrestrial radio broadcasting.
  • Compulsory equipment for newly registered vehicles from 2017 with DAB+ enabled terminals (traffic safety). The need of TPEG-Services is evident.
  • From 2017 onwards, each newly-placed radio receiver intended for terrestrial reception must be capable of receiving digital signals corresponding to a standard of a recognised European standard organisation.

Last update: 30.07.2018 - older versions

The association 'Digital Radio Austria' is an initiative to develop the media genre radio, which is supported by the Association of the electrical and electronics industry, together with research institutions, private radio operators, manufacturers and dealers. The club members have set themselves the goal of establishing digital radio in Austria. For more information please visit, http://www.digitalradio-oesterreich.com/.

WorldDAB General Assembly 2016 theme and keynote speakers announced
07.10.2016 - WorldDAB News - Austria Austria
“This year's General Assembly will showcase the innovative ways DAB is being used around the world to deliver new content, reach new audiences and enable new business models,” said Patrick Hannon, President of WorldDAB.

(Radioinfo) Read more


WorldDAB General Assembly previews agenda
07.10.2016 - WorldDAB News - Austria Austria
With the theme of “New content, New markets,” the organisation has announced a trio of keynote speakers who will discuss new opportunities and different markets for digital radio. The three keynote speakers include Jimmy Buckland, director of strategy at Wireless Group; Andreas Geiss, head of unit — radio spectrum policy at the European Commission; and Patrice Gélinet from French regulator CSA.

(Radio World) Read more


Austria's radio broadcasters on DAB+
05.09.2016 - Austria Austria
Gabriele Schöngruber, of the FEEI (Austria’s Association for the Electrical and Electronics Industries) answers questions about the development of DAB+ in Austria.

(Radio Magazine) Read more


The revival of the radio in the digital age
26.08.2016 - IDAG - Austria Austria
The Austrian Media Days will take place on 20 & 21 September and will be held in the WU campus in Vienna. The theme for this year's event is the future of media. Gunnar Garfors , President of International DMB Advancement Group (IDAG) will present about the recent launch of the world's first DAB+ smartphone, the LG Stylus 2.

(Radioszene) Read more


Austria’s commercial radio sector keen to expand on DAB+
06.07.2016 - Austria Austria
DAB+ will offer a way to balance Austria’s radio market, where public broadcaster ORF currently has 70% market share, by giving all players equal access to national network coverage. Wolfgang Struber, MD of Radio Arabella, said “It is worth noting that for ORF to broadcast a programme with 85% coverage via DAB+ it would cost approximately €150,000 a year. For a commercial radio station to achieve 95% coverage on FM the cost would be about €3.5m”. He recommended the inclusion of DAB+ (alongside FM) in all devices in the home and in-car, and that digital switch over could be considered once there is sufficient DAB+ receiver penetration.

(Heise.de) Read more


Introduction of digital radio in Austria
30.06.2016 - Austria Austria
Komm Austria has published a report “Introduction of Digital Radio on Austria”. The report publishes the results of a survey on the level of interest for digital radio among stakeholders in Austria. The report notes that there will be a nationwide tender for DAB+ launched in 2017. It also states that all industry experts – including public broadcaster ORF – are aware that DAB+ offers better quality and lower cost transmission.

(RTR) Read more


Digital Radio Austria lauds success of first year of DAB+
31.05.2016 - Austria Austria
The first pilot year of DAB+ in Greater Vienna has been very successful. Looking to the second year of DAB+ service, 16 stations will be heard via the mux, subject to regulatory approval.

(Radio Magazine) Read more


A year of digital radio DAB + in Austria, second pilot year starts
25.05.2016 - Austria Austria
The first pilot year of DAB+ in Greater Vienna has been very successful. In the second pilot year, 16 new stations will be launched offering listeners an even greater variety of programmes.

(Radioszene) Read more


DAB+ develops in Austria
25.05.2016 - Austria Austria
It has been a year since Austria launched 15 DAB+ radio stations in the greater Vienna area, reaching about 2.5 million. The focus of the second year of digital radio in Austria is said to be additional data services like traffic information services in the TPEG standard and public protection and disaster warning services (EWS).

(Radio World) Read more


One year of digital radio in Austria: DAB+ makes terrestrial radio fit for the future
25.05.2016 - Austria Austria
The first pilot year of DAB + in Greater Vienna has been very successful. In the second pilot year 16 stations will be on board.

(FEEI) Read more


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Key Information

Status: regular
Population: 8.9 million
Population coverage: Sparkline Graph 83%
Services: 32 DAB+, 1 Data
New cars with DAB/DAB+ as standard: Sparkline Graph 97%
Penetration by household: Sparkline Graph 30%
Last update: 26.02.2024

Useful Links

Awareness and reach measurement of DAB+ digital radio Austria 2022
www.citymux.at/aktuelles-und-ausschreibungen/aktuelles/
Digital Radio Austria
www.mpdx.at/
New vehicle registration data