News

Slovak Television and Radio continues to systematically develop digital radio broadcasting in the DAB+ standard. From 1 July 2025, the Banská Bystrica Suchá Hora transmitter will go into full commercial operation with an increased radiated ERP power of 15 kW. This is three times the original power, which will contribute to better mobile reception in the mountainous region of central Slovakia, as well as to improving the quality of indoor reception in the towns of Banská Bystrica, Zvolen and their surroundings. The T-DAB+ digital radio signal currently covers up to 66 % of the Slovak Republic thanks to 15 active transmitters, including increased power at the Suchá Hora transmitter. For the first time ever, coverage of the population has exceeded 75%, despite the fact that motorway and expressway coverage remains a priority.

As of 30 June 2025 at 16:00, egoFM has completely ceased its FM broadcasting operations in all Bavarian cities and also in Stuttgart. The station states that it considers FM to be ‘too unreliable, too weak and too expensive’. Less than half of listeners still use FM at all. The majority listen to the station digitally, even when travelling in the car. To continue listening to egoFM, a radio that supports DAB+ is recommended. These are now available everywhere, in a wide range of models and in all price categories. egoFM is advertising a prize draw in which egoFM digital radios can be won during the main radio programme from 06:00 to 20:00. Anyone with a DAB+ radio can simply start the automatic station search and select egoFM.

Media Broadcast is continuing the expansion of the transmitter network for the first nationwide digital radio programme package in 2025. This year's expansion begins with today's commissioning of the Bredstedt and Garding sites in Schleswig-Holstein. The Itzehoe site will follow in the next few days. A total of seven more stations in five federal states will be added over the course of the year. Listeners will enjoy improved reception of Deutschlandfunk, Deutschlandfunk Kultur and Deutschlandfunk Nova as well as nine other private programmes in the respective reception areas. By the end of 2025, the transmitter network of the first national DAB+ platform will grow to 182 locations throughout Germany.

CRA has sold out its nationwide DAB+ network. Four new stations from the MEDIA BOHEMIA group have joined the network: Rádio Blaník, Český Blaník, Hitrádio 90, and Rock rádio. They will begin broadcasting on 1 July. The CRA network covers more than four-fifths of the Czech population with its signal and enables regionalised broadcasting. All major media groups (Radio United Broadcasting, Active Radio, Londa, MEDIA BOHEMIA) are now broadcasting on the CRA's nationwide DAB+ network, which means that its capacity has been fully utilised. The network is therefore currently sold out. The only remaining free capacity for new stations in digital radio broadcasting in the CRA is in the regional network for Prague, Liberec, Karlovy Vary and Ústí nad Labem.

Two new DAB+ stations were launched in Austria on 1 July. They are broadcast via the Lower Austria Mux. The two new stations are called Antenne Wien and Antenne Niederösterreich. The two new programmes will be broadcast via ‘DAB Mux 2-NOE’, as it is officially called, on channel 10B. The Lower Austria mux will be broadcast via five locations. Three of these are located in Vienna. Specifically, these are the Kahlenberg (11 kW ERP), Vienna Liesing (10 kW ERP) and DC Tower (7 kW ERP) sites. This covers Vienna, the east of Lower Austria and the north of Burgenland. Two further locations in Lower Austria complete the transmitter network. These are a transmitter at Semmering for the south-east of the province and the Jauerling transmitter for the centre of Lower Austria. Both operate with 5.6 kW ERP each.

It's getting loud in Saarland: ROCK FM, the radio station for 80s and 90s rock, launches its programme in Saarland on 1 July - right in the heart of one of the liveliest music regions in Germany. With its passion for handmade rock music, legendary bands and a strong community, ROCK FM sees itself as a new and active component of the Saarland music scene. ROCK FM is now broadcasting on DAB+ channel 9c in Saarland and can be received via web, app and smart speaker. ROCK FM is the station for 80s and 90s rock in the south-west: it can be heard via DAB+ in Saarland and Baden-Württemberg. The core target group is people aged between 30 and 59 with an affinity for rock.

Ofcom has today published its final decisions on the BBC’s plans to launch four new DAB+ stations and extend the hours of Radio 5 Sports Extra. The UK media regulator says: "Following a consultation on our provisional conclusions, we have today published our final decisions. In summary: Radio 1 Dance, Radio 1 Anthems and Radio 3 Unwind can proceed. We found these stations would have a limited impact on fair and effective competition, which would be justified by the public value of the proposals. The BBC Radio 2 extension, which would broadcast music and archive content from the 50s, 60s and 70s, cannot go ahead. The BBC’s plans to extend the broadcasting hours of Radio 5 Sports Extra may not proceed."

Angel Radio is back on the Bournemouth DAB multiplex from today, bringing its nostalgic mix of music and conversation to digital radio listeners across Dorset. The station targets older listeners with specialist programming that blends music, memories and advice. Ash, Digital Development Manager at Angel Radio, added: “The expansion to DAB in Dorset is an obvious next step for Angel Radio. We need to be where our listeners are, whatever the platform. Having previously built up a following in Dorset, our return will be a huge boost for us and our audience.” Angel Radio already broadcasts in Portsmouth, Havant and Chichester on FM, and is also available on DAB in South Hampshire, Surrey and South London, as well as in several cities via small-scale multiplexes.

The importance of the car as a core location for broadcast radio listening has been highlighted by new research revealed at WorldDAB Automotive 2025 in Madrid on 19 June. Nearly 200 senior executives gathered at the annual event organised by WorldDAB, the global industry forum for DAB+ digital radio. It opened with public and private broadcasters joining forces to deliver a unified message to the automotive sector: broadcast radio must remain prominent in the evolving in-car environment. Edison Research’s Megan Lazovick unveiled new consumer data about in-car listening, including the latest Infinite Dial Australia survey. “DAB+ leads the way,” she said.

‘DISCOFOX ANTENNE, the first radio station for millions of Discofox fans, has gone on air under the motto ’Deutschland tanzt! It is broadcast in Berlin via aerial from the television tower. The station can be received on the new DAB+ radio standard and on the Internet throughout Germany. DISCOFOX ANTENNE broadcasts danceable German and international hits non-stop around the clock. DISCOFOX ANTENNE can be received in Berlin via DAB+ on channel 7B and throughout Germany via online stream, app and smart speaker. DISCOFOX ANTENNE is a programme of radio B2 GmbH, which also operates Schlager radio.