OIV's Botica receives 2025 WorldDAB Award for Outstanding Service

19.11.2025 by Will Jackson

This year’s WorldDAB Award for Outstanding Service has been given to Mate Botica, CEO of OIV, the DAB+ network operator in Croatia.

The Award recognises an individual for an exceptional contribution to the roll-out of DAB+ digital radio and is made annually at the WorldDAB General Assembly. It is offered in memory of Per-Erik Selemark of Swedish Radio, former vice president and chair of the Technical Committee, who died in January 1999.

The award was presented at the WorldDAB General Assembly in Antwerp, Belgium on 19 November, in recognition of his work in the development of DAB+ in Croatia.

Mate Botica receives the 2025 award from WorldDAB President, Jacqueline Bierhorst

Presenting the Award, WorldDAB President Jacqueline Bierhorst described Botica as playing “a truly transformative role in bringing digital radio to a new corner of Europe.”

“With a background in telecommunications and a clear vision for innovation, he recognised early on the potential of DAB+ to strengthen national broadcasting and future-proof radio for the digital age,” she said.

“Under his leadership, his organisation created a dedicated DAB+ team and hosted Croatia’s first international symposium on digital radio — opening the door to cross-border collaboration and regional awareness. His strategic engagement with regulators led to test transmissions, and by 2017, his company had launched Croatia’s first DAB+ network — a milestone that placed the country firmly on Europe’s digital radio map.”

“Since then, he has continued to drive progress — from shaping public awareness campaigns and industry partnerships to supporting neighbouring countries embarking on their own DAB+ journeys. His tireless advocacy and commitment to cooperation across the region have been instrumental in turning vision into reality,” Bierhorst said.

Mate Botica, CEO of OIV and recipient of this year's WorldDAB Award for Outstanding Service

Accepting the award, Botica said: “I am very glad and honoured to be among the most recent winners who have left a strong mark in the industry with their involvement, and I am also very happy because it shows that the long-term work and commitment to the improvement of DAB+ on the south side of the European Alps has been internationally recognized. As digitalization has finally reached radio, its progress in Croatia is being taken care of by OIV since November 2017, which is something I am very proud of.”

A full list of winners is available here.