News

DAB-Swiss reports: "Network operator digris is planning to commission various micro-transmitters for three of its DAB areas in the coming months. This is intended to close gaps in coverage. It should be noted that the specified transmission powers are probably not final and may be increased at a later date." The new sites are: Aarau-Olten (channel 5D) - Frick, 66 watts and Nätteberg, 23 watts, both in March 2026; Basel (channel 10A) - Liestal-Schleifenberg, 380 watts, July 2025 and Nenzlingen-Uf Egg, 400 watts, March 2026; Winterthur-Schaffhausen (channel 5D) Bauma-Neuguet, 13 watts, Weisslingen-Schwendi, 13 watts, and Wildberg-Tössegg, 15 watts, vertical, all in October 2025, and Siblingen Randen, 38 watts, March 2026.

Cordiant Digital Infrastructure Limited, the operationally focused, specialist digital infrastructure investor, managed by Cordiant Capital Inc, is pleased to announce that its Czech portfolio company, CRA, continues to successfully expand and commercialise its DAB+ network with the launch of a further six commercial radio stations with Active Radio and Londa, which have combined weekly listeners of over 5 million. These DAB+ radio stations, similar to the other stations on the network, have been launched under long-term contracts. CRA’s commercial DAB+ network (“DAB B”) now broadcasts from 31 transmitters, reaching 83.4% of the Czech population and, with the recent launch of additional radio stations, is now at 73% capacity.

With the activation of six new DAB+ zones just around the corner, Phare FM is launching its spring RadioDonation campaign with a target of 90,000 euros. This community radio station, founded in Mulhouse, is based on an atypical model: 95% of its funding comes from its listeners. A rare form of independence in the French radio landscape. Founded in Mulhouse 35 years ago, Phare is continuing to expand throughout France and beyond. At the start of the 2025-2026 academic year, six new areas will be covered by DAB+: Belfort-Montbéliard, Chartres, Évreux, Laval, Montélimar and the whole of Alsace, enabling seamless listening in its home region. With these additions, the station will reach 44 transmitters and 23 frequencies, potentially reaching 22 million people.

Together with its members, the Austrian Digital Radio Association organised an intensive and inspiring workshop day that was all about the future: How will radio be used in 2035? What role will current social megatrends play in listening behaviour? And what steps are necessary to establish DAB+ as a reliable reception channel in Austria in the long term? Florian Haas, Head of Innovations at Maxfive, presented current developments and forecasts from the Zukunftsinstitut. The effects of these trends on radio use were discussed in working groups: What changes are emerging? What specific opportunities does this present for the medium of radio and for DAB+ in particular? And how does radio compare to other media types?

With the launch of the Federal Ministry of Housing, Arts, Culture, Media and Sport (BMWKMS), a centralised body has taken up its work in Austria that is also important for media policy. The Austrian Digital Radio Association recently had the opportunity to meet and have a constructive dialogue with Answer Lang, the person responsible for media policy and media law. Digitalisation is changing all areas of the media - including radio. In a discussion with the BMWKMS, Managing Director Thomas Pöcheim and Chairman of the association Roman Gerner presented the current developments and strategic goals of Digitalradio Austria.

Regional broadcaster RTV Zulthe can be heard on DAB+ from 23 May. The broadcaster can be heard on the digital airwaves via channel 6D. RTV Zulthe is the regional broadcaster for the municipalities of Noordenveld and Westerkwartier. The broadcasts via DAB+ are made possible by transmitter operator Radio Netwerk Nederland (RNN). It will be broadcast from a transmitter mast in Tolbert. Currently, local broadcaster RTV Zulthe is the only broadcaster that can be heard over this network. ‘Thanks to this development, the regional broadcaster of the municipalities of Noordenveld and Westerkwartier is now firmly represented in the digital ether,’ RNN said.

When MENT TV was founded, it focused on homegrown Flemish talent. Its mission was to strengthen links with the Flemish culture and music industry. The station then broadened its horizon to include an international hit repertoire. With MENT TV already producing TV content with a “radio feeling,” the step to a fully-fledged radio station was evident. “Online radio streaming is not sufficient to build a strong radio brand. We’ve set up a completely new radio station while maintaining the link with our TV channels. TV is limited when there’s no video clip for every song on the playlist. Radio doesn’t face these limitations,” said Marc Hallez, station manager with MENT TV. “We launched MENTpop-radio on 6 January, broadcasting on the 11A DAB+ multiplex, operated by Broadcast Partners.”

Nation Broadcasting has hired a team including former Capital DJs, to launch Nation Classic Hits on DAB across London and the southeast. Nation is also investing in its broadcast platforms and distribution, adding Nation 90s and Nation 70s to its London DAB portfolio and Nation 80s to the Central Scotland and Ayr multiplexes from 23 May. Nation’s founder Jason Bryant said: “Nation has recently enjoyed a period of sustained growth and last week posted a record weekly audience of over 1.3 million listeners. This is a milestone investment; adding Nation Classic Hits, Nation 90s and Nation 70s to Nation Radio and Nation 80s will give us five services available across the UK’s biggest market and signals our ambitious plans for expansion.”

UK media regulator Ofcom has published its latest research looking at how people in the UK listen to different content and platforms. The findings are based on its 2025 annual Audio and Podcast Surveys, in which it asks people about their use of and attitudes towards different types of audio. "The importance of in-car listening to the radio industry is exemplified by its steady, gradual growth. Just over a quarter of live radio listening took place in cars, vans and lorries in Q1 2025 (26%), up by 4pp in the last decade," the report states. "The majority of this listening (56%) is via DAB, which has been steadily subsuming AM/FM listening in cars as the technology has become more widely available."

Ofcom has today awarded small-scale DAB multiplex licences for five more areas in the UK. Small-scale DAB is an innovative technology which provides a low-cost way for local commercial, community and specialist music services to take to the digital airwaves. These latest awards mark the conclusion of the round six small-scale DAB multiplex licences. Alongside these awards, we have published the 24 applications we have received for the 33 licences advertised in round seven. We are also today announcing the list of areas that we will be advertising later this year in round eight. This will be the last currently planned round of small-scale DAB multiplex licensing as part of this programme.