News

Radio Proglas will switch off two of its FM transmitters this Friday, October 31. This measure will affect listeners in the vicinity of Velké Meziříčí, where broadcasting on the 100.6 MHz frequency will be terminated at exactly 12:04 p.m. Less than two hours later, at 2:00 p.m., the Třebíč-kostelíček transmitter, which has been broadcasting on 96.4 MHz, will also go silent. The station will continue to reduce analog broadcasting in the coming month. Another shutdown is planned for Friday, November 28, which this time will affect the Tábor transmitter on the 88.7 FM frequency. Listeners can continue to use alternative distribution channels, including listening via the internet or on DAB+ digital radio.

Audio appears to be one of the winners in the Norwegian advertising market, where the rest of the industry is struggling. This is according to the report “Norwegian Media Economy 2020-2024” from the Norwegian Media Authority. ‘Large parts of the Norwegian media industry have had challenging financial years,’ said Hanne Sekkelsten, acting director of the Norwegian Media Authority. The exception is commercial national radio, which has delivered very strong financial results over several years. The two national radio operators, the P4 Group and Bauer Media, are almost fully financed by advertising revenue, writes the Norwegian Media Authority. With an operating margin of 24 per cent, the two companies performed even better in 2024 than in 2023.

The third operator of digital terrestrial broadcasting networks for commercial radio stations will use the Ostrava location of television multiplex 24. The Lanová transmitter will broadcast networks belonging to Broadcast Services, RTI cz, and GG Omikron. The Lanová transmitter in Ostrava, which uses the nationwide TV multiplex 24, will become the location from which three different digital networks with commercial radio stations will also broadcast. Following RTI cz, which has already confirmed that it will cover the Ostrava metropolitan area from Lanová with its nationwide multiplex C, and Broadcast Services, which will operate this DAB+ transmitter, GG Omikron will also use it, for which Broadcast Services provides turnkey operation of its digital radio networks.

DAB digital radio has been on the air since 1995 and as an early adopter of the technology the UK used a form of encoding called Mpeg Layer 2 known as standard DAB. Almost every other country around the world has adopted AAC+ encoding known as DAB+ and UK broadcasters are now adopting this encoding and upgrading their services. DAB+ encoding generally allows a wider range of services to be broadcast in an area and/or an improved sound quality for listeners. On 3 November 2025, we have converted Dragon Radio, Nation Radio Wales, Nation 80s and Bridge FM Radio to DAB+ in South Wales. This has enabled us to add coverage of Nation 60s, Nation 70s, Nation 90s and Nation Rocks in this area.

The local radio station Radio TOP FM can secure its digital reach in southern Upper Bavaria beyond the current period. Amperwelle GmbH, the station's operator, has been granted an extension of the allocated DAB+ capacities in the southern Upper Bavaria network (block 7A). The station has been allocated a data capacity of 80 CU (80 kbit/s net data rate) for the additional simultaneous distribution of the ‘Radio TOP FM’ programme. This allocation, which is considered a ‘technical rounding off’, will be extended from 1 January 2026 until 31 December 2027. TOP FM is already broadcasting its programme digitally there and will be able to continue doing so seamlessly for another two years.

Boost for the digitisation of radio in Bavaria: At its meeting today, the Media Council of the Bavarian Regulatory Authority for New Media (BLM) voted in favour of extending DAB+ funding, known as the Transformation Incentive Fund (TAF). The TAF supports digital offerings and thus implements a component of the audio strategy adopted by the Media Council at the end of 2023. Funding for simulcast distribution, i.e. distribution via FM and DAB+, is staggered, taking into account the FM costs of each individual programme. Depending on the cost burden in the FM transmitter network, simulcast programmes receive DAB+ funding of between 0 and 50 per cent. This benefits above all broadcasters in rural regions with higher FM network costs.

In a statement on Friday, the association Ensemble pour le DAB+, which works to promote DAB+, a digital radio broadcasting technology, welcomed the creation of a €600,000 grant from the sector, earmarked for the association. Last Wednesday, the National Assembly's Committee on Cultural Affairs and Education approved the creation of this grant to promote DAB+. ‘The amendment received broad cross-party support, notably from the Committee Chair and the rapporteur for the Media, Books and Cultural Industries Mission,’ the association said. DAB+ currently covers two-thirds of the French population and will reach 80% by the end of 2026.

Australia’s audio landscape is entering a new phase of scale and strategy as two of the country’s largest networks unveil ambitious developments. Southern Cross Austereo has introduced a new DAB+ music brand under the Heart banner, while Australian Radio Network has announced that its KIIS and Gold networks will become truly national in 2026. SCA announced the launch of the Heart Network, a new national music brand debuting on DAB+ and via its LiSTNR app platform. The initial offering includes two stations: Heart and Heart Hits. At its first-ever Upfront event on Oct. 29, ARN revealed its 2026 content strategy, announcing that its familiar KIIS and Gold networks will become fully national platforms for advertisers and listeners alike.

Virgin Radio UK is delighted to announce the launch of pop-up station Virgin Radio Christmas. From Saturday 1st November until midnight on Boxing Day, you can listen to non-stop Christmas favourites on the Virgin Radio network’s newest seasonal station. On weekdays in the lead up to 25th December, The Chris Evans Breakfast Show with The National Lottery will be broadcast from 6:30am to 10am, with back-to-back Christmas tunes kicking in straight after. You can listen to Virgin Radio Christmas on DAB Radio in London, on the Virgin Radio app, on your Smart Speaker and online.

The countdown to Christmas in Jersey has begun as Channel 103 joins forces with the island’s ferry operator DFDS to launch the Channel Islands’ first radio station dedicated to non-stop festive favourites. Channel Christmas powered by DFDS, is now live playing the islands’ biggest festive tunes from Slade to Shakin’ Stevens and Mariah Carey to Michael Bublé throughout the day, every day up until December 27th. The Christmas-themed sister station to Channel 103 and Island FM, is broadcasting on DAB+, Radioplayer, app and smart speaker. DFDS Route Director Chris Parker said: “Christmas is a special time for islanders as well as our teams on board and in port so we’re delighted to teaming up with Channel 103 for the perfect Christmas soundtrack.”