Denmark

Last update: 22.09.2023 - older versions

In September 2023, Denmark's Radio and Television Board invited tenders for programme services in the 13 areas in DAB block 3 and DAB block 4. In accordance with the contract conditions, up to 32 licences can be issued in each area. If there are more qualified bidders than available licences in a region, the Radio and Television Board will carry out an assessment of the bidders based on their attractiveness. The deadline for submitted bids is Monday 16 October 2023. The licences will come into effect on Monday 1 July 2024 and will apply until 30 June 2032.

 

National DAB+ services

In August 2019, Viacom announced the launch of MTV Radio. The radio station, which is only available in digital format, is available to DAB+ listeners nationwide.

In November 2020, Bauer Media launched three national radio stations - including the launch of new station Pop FM 80s - bringing the total number of Bauer's national stations on DAB+ to nine.

EECC implementation

In June 2020, the Danish Ministry of Climate, Energy and Supply, in charge of the implementation of the Code, published its Draft Proposal implementing parts of the EECC Code. Under chapter 6b on “Applications of regulations”, the proposed bill states the obligation for manufacturers and importers of Class M vehicles to ensure that a car radio receiver which is built into new class M vehicles, consists of a receiver that can receive and reproduce radio services broadcast via digital terrestrial radio transmission. The public consultation period for the draft legislation ended on 11 November 2020

Last update: 30.03.2016 - older versions

Multiplex 2’s coverage was improved during 2012 and both multiplexes now have close to 98% indoor coverage.

Estimated timeline for DAB+ gatekeeper beauty contest

Jan 2016: Decision concerning operating model (gatekeeper)
Q1 2016: Preparation of EU tender material
Q2-3 2016: EU tender prequalification (RFI) and main bid (RFQ)
Q4 2016: Announcement of winner
Q1 2017: Establishment of commercial DAB+ multiplex
Q2 2017: Gatekeeper operation launched

Last update: 03.03.2021 - older versions

In this country there are

on air.

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 120 63 183

Last update: 18.06.2021 - older versions

In Denmark, following a relaxation in tax rules which treated digital radio as a “luxury good”, the proportion of cars fitted with DAB as standard has increased dramatically to 62% as of H2 2020 – up from 5% in 2015 (Source: JATO Dynamics 2021).

Last update: 08.10.2020 - older versions

Cumulative sales of DAB receivers have reached 1.9 million (excludes scrapped units) (Source: Branchen ForbrugerElektronik estimate Q2 2015). Approximately 300 specialised electrical retail stores currently sell DAB radios. Supermarket and food chains are also significant players with frequent product offerings. For information on the Danish market please visit http://www.digitalradio.dk

In January 2015 Danish Retailer Elgiganten reported 50% increase on sales year on year compared to Christmas 2013, and two other retailers Fona and Hi-Fi Club in South Jutland reported tripling of nationwide sales.

Last update: 10.09.2013 - older versions

A local trial is conducted in DAB+ by grass roots station Kanal Plus based on off-the-shelf hardware and encoder/modulator software. The multiplex comprises local radio stations from the area north-northwest of Copenhagen.

Last update: 06.03.2019 - older versions

On 29th April 2015 the Danish Ministry of Culture, together with all political parties, finalised and published a new roadmap for digital radio, saying "the limited frequency space on FM means that we will eventually turn off FM". Read the press release here.

The overall focus of the roadmap is to speed up the process of utilising capacity in the DAB network and to secure a more rapid development of the network. 

Key features of the roadmap are:

- decision to switch off FM to be taken when 50% of listening is digital

- swap of content on MUX1 and MUX2 at the end of 2016 which will ensure that available frequencies can be brought into use, making it possible to have a commercial network operator of MUX1

- "Gatekeeper Model" will be adopted for MUX 1 (currently owned by Danish Radio) which will drive the market

- full transition from DAB to DAB+ by 1 Oct 2017

- new licences for spare capacity in MUX3 available by end 2015

The consensus is that FM shutdown is inevitable, in order to offer listeners more choice and the goal is to stimulate new channels on DAB.  By end 2015 new licences will be available for application, and a shift from DAB to DAB+ is now underway. 

Denmark has one of the highest numbers of DAB users per capita in the world, with 40% of the population having access to a digital radio.  Public service broadcaster DR (Danish Radio) began regular services in 2002 and more than 36% of all radio listening is digital.

Last update: 21.04.2020 - older versions

Denmark's Palaces and Culture Agency, with communications agency Prime Time, produced a public information campaign on digital radio which was broadcast across Denmark in 2017, 2018 and 2019. The campaign inform everyone that DAB radio will be transmitted in DAB+ from 1st October 2017 and have furthermore as its goal to move radio listening from analogue to digital. 

 

 

An industry forum has been established with the participation of major stakeholders, as well as a website portal - www.mereradio.dk - providing information on digital radio in Denmark.  The campaign will receive basic public funding and will be supported by the Danish radio industry.  

Download flyer 

Facebook profile

YouTube profile (campaign videos)

Christmas Campaign 2017

A video advertisement will run on national TV and also on Facebook, web tv and YouTube.

 

New roadmap for digital radio in Denmark
18.05.2016 - Denmark Denmark
A new timetable for the deployment of digital radio has been agreed in Denmark, with a full transition to DAB+ by October 2017, accompanied by a government funded national information campaign.

(Danish Agency for Culture and Palaces) Read more


Denmark national DAB multiplex to be managed by gatekeeper
21.01.2016 - Denmark Denmark
It has been announced by the Ministry of Culture that the national commercial Multiplex (MUX1) is going to be owned and run by a network operator on the expectation that the operator will act as a gatekeeper, developing the radio market and increasing the number of commercial DAB stations.

(Ministry of Culture Denmark) Read more


Bauer Media completes acquisition of SBS Radio
02.07.2015 - United Kingdom United Kingdom - Sweden Sweden - Norway Norway - Denmark Denmark - Finland Finland
Bauer Media Group has completed its acquisition of the Nordic broadcaster SBS Radio from Discovery Communications Nordic ApS.

(Radio Today) Read more


Denmark gets 87 regional stations via DAB+
01.07.2015 - Denmark Denmark
The coverage of DAB+ in Denmark has been expanded as 87 radio stations were assigned to 12 regional DAB+ networks.

(Radio.NL) Read more


FM Switch Off Plans Shift From Country to Country
29.06.2015 - Sweden Sweden - United Kingdom United Kingdom - Denmark Denmark - Germany Germany - Switzerland Switzerland
Technological advancements are sometimes able to turn long-running (but still reliable) items or standards into outdated legacies. Usually, it’s the market that decides, when it comes to broadcasting standards this can be different.

(Radio World) Read more


65% of all new cars in the UK have DAB+ standard or optional
21.05.2015 - Denmark Denmark - United Kingdom United Kingdom
At WorldDMB's car and radio conference in Brussels on May 20, Digital Radio UK told the audience that 64.9% of all new passenger cars registered have digital radio as standard and another 10% of the cars can have it fitted as an option. This is impressive progress and it is clear that digital radio in the car is becoming something of a car owner 'must have'.

(Digital Radio Denmark) Read more


Danish Broadcasting Corporation Installs DAB+ system
13.05.2015 - Denmark Denmark
The Danish Broadcasting Corporation, also known as DR, has recently completed the installation of a DAB+ radio headend system at its headquarters in Copenhagen.

(TV Technology) Read more


Danish Ministry of Culture - "the limited frequency space on FM means that we will eventually turn off FM"
29.04.2015 - Denmark Denmark
In an announcement today, an additional agreement on the migration to digital radio in Denmark identified the opportunities gained from moving from FM. The consensus is that FM shutdown is inevitable. A decision will be taken when 50% of listening is digital, new licences will be available by end 2015, and there will be a full transition from DAB to DAB+ by end 2016.

(Danish Ministry of Culture) Read more


Denmark chooses British model for DAB+ digitisation plans
29.04.2015 - Denmark Denmark
Denmark announced on Tuesday 29th of April an additional agreement on the transition to digital radio that sets clearer conditions for the migration to digital listening. The agreement largely follows the British digitisation plans which sets specific requirements that need to be achieved before an FM switch-off date can be set.

(Mynewsdesk) Read more


All Danish stations will now on DAB+
13.04.2015 - Denmark Denmark
After a revision in March, Danish radio channels will now all be DAB+. Danish Radio has worked for several years for the digitisation of radio and called the transition to DAB+ an important step towards the digitisation of radio in Denmark.

(Digitalradio Norge) Read more


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Key Information

Status: regular
Population: 5.8 million
Population coverage: Sparkline Graph 98%
Services: 183 DAB+
Line-fit automotive sales (cumulative): 624,000 devices
New cars with DAB/DAB+ as standard: Sparkline Graph 98%
Total Sales (cumulative): 1,903,000 devices
Penetration by household: Sparkline Graph 36%
Last update: 26.02.2024

Useful Links

Mere Denmark
DR DK Digital Radio
Digitalradio.dk
DR DK
DR RADIOKANALER
Kanal Plus
Danish Agency for Culture
Cibicom