Belgium - Current situation - History
26.02.2024
DAB+ digital radio is being launched in East Belgium on 1 October 2023. In addition to the programmes of BRF1 and BRF2, four other radio stations will be heard via DAB+: 100,5 Das Hitradio, Radio Contact Ostbelgien Now, Radio Sunshine and Radio 700. The first transmitter in Petergensfeld (Raeren) is already in operation. A second transmitter is expected to be added in spring 2024 at the Wallerode site (Amel) to cover the south of the DG (German-speaking community).
In the French-speaking part of Belgium (Walloon region/French Community), legislation has been adopted stating that all receivers need to have a DAB+ receiver, with the exception of low-entry receivers (which do not have a alpha-numeric display). These (low entry without digital display) receivers do not need a DAB+ receiver built in. The text has been adopted by their Government on December 21st and enters into force on January 1st 2023.
In Flemish-speaking Belgium (Flanders and Brussels), by decree (Flemish law) of 12/02/2021, a government-proposed text was adopted by the Flemish Parliament stating:
"Art. 209/1. All equipment intended for the reception of FM radio signals from a radio broadcaster intended and sold in Flanders must be able to receive digital radio signals. The obligation stated in the first sentence of this paragraph does not apply to radio equipment used by radio amateurs, smartphones and tablets."
This text entered into force on January 1st 2023.
DAB+ was officially launched in Belgium across Flemish-speaking parts of the country in November 2018, while the official launch of DAB+ in French-speaking Belgium took place in November 2019, following a year of trial broadcasts.
DAB+ population coverage across the country currently stands at 97%, while the number of new cars equipped with DAB+ in the country is 99%.
DAB+ awareness and sales in French-speaking Belgium
On 10 February 2023, maRadio.be, the cooperative in charge of the digital transition of Belgian French-speaking radio stations, presented the results of its fifth annual IPSOS study on the consumption of digital radio in the Wallonia-Brussels Federation. DAB+ is preferred by French-speaking listeners with 20% of digital listening, followed by streaming (listening to radio via the internet) with 16% and listening via television with 7%.
22.09.2023
DAB+ digital radio is being launched in East Belgium on 1 October 2023. In addition to the programmes of BRF1 and BRF2, four other radio stations will be heard via DAB+: 100,5 Das Hitradio, Radio Contact Ostbelgien Now, Radio Sunshine and Radio 700. The first transmitter in Petergensfeld (Raeren) is already in operation. A second transmitter is expected to be added in spring 2024 at the Wallerode site (Amel) to cover the south of the DG (German-speaking community).
In the French-speaking part of Belgium (Walloon region/French Community), legislation has been adopted stating that all receivers need to have a DAB+ receiver, with the exception of low-entry receivers (which do not have a alpha-numeric display). These (low entry without digital display) receivers do not need a DAB+ receiver built in. The text has been adopted by their Government on December 21st and enters into force on January 1st 2023.
In Flemish-speaking Belgium (Flanders and Brussels), by decree (Flemish law) of 12/02/2021, a government-proposed text was adopted by the Flemish Parliament stating:
"Art. 209/1. All equipment intended for the reception of FM radio signals from a radio broadcaster intended and sold in Flanders must be able to receive digital radio signals. The obligation stated in the first sentence of this paragraph does not apply to radio equipment used by radio amateurs, smartphones and tablets."
This text entered into force on January 1st 2023.
DAB+ was officially launched in Belgium across Flemish-speaking parts of the country in November 2018, while the official launch of DAB+ in French-speaking Belgium took place in November 2019, following a year of trial broadcasts.
DAB+ population coverage across the country currently stands at 97%, while the number of new cars equipped with DAB+ in the country is 98%, a figure which is expected to reach 100% in 2022.
DAB+ awareness and sales in French-speaking Belgium
The annual Ipsos DAB+ survey published in February 2022 showed that by end 2021 was 78% of French-speaking Belgian listeners had already heard of DAB+. Sales of DAB+ enabled home receivers grew by 13% in 2021, offsetting sales of analog FM receivers, which fell by 7%. Listening on DAB+ has grown steadily since 2018, with 22% of French-speaking Belgians tuning in.
05.01.2023
In the French-speaking part of Belgium (Walloon region/French Community), legislation has been adopted stating that all receivers need to have a DAB+ receiver, with the exception of low-entry receivers (which do not have a alpha-numeric display). These (low entry without digital display) receivers do not need a DAB+ receiver built in. The text has been adopted by their Government on December 21st and enters into force on January 1st 2023.
In Flemish-speaking Belgium (Flanders and Brussels), by decree (Flemish law) of 12/02/2021, a government-proposed text was adopted by the Flemish Parliament stating:
"Art. 209/1. All equipment intended for the reception of FM radio signals from a radio broadcaster intended and sold in Flanders must be able to receive digital radio signals. The obligation stated in the first sentence of this paragraph does not apply to radio equipment used by radio amateurs, smartphones and tablets."
This text entered into force on January 1st 2023.
DAB+ was officially launched in Belgium across Flemish-speaking parts of the country in November 2018, while the official launch of DAB+ in French-speaking Belgium took place in November 2019, following a year of trial broadcasts.
DAB+ population coverage across the country currently stands at 97%, while the number of new cars equipped with DAB+ in the country is 98%, a figure which is expected to reach 100% in 2022.
DAB+ awareness and sales in French-speaking Belgium
The annual Ipsos DAB+ survey published in February 2022 showed that by end 2021 was 78% of French-speaking Belgian listeners had already heard of DAB+. Sales of DAB+ enabled home receivers grew by 13% in 2021, offsetting sales of analog FM receivers, which fell by 7%. Listening on DAB+ has grown steadily since 2018, with 22% of French-speaking Belgians tuning in.