WorldDAB showcases broadcast radio's moment at IBC2026

12.08.2026 by Will Jackson

Popular Sunday afternoon DAB+ conference session returns to international event

“Broadcast radio's moment: resilient, relevant, irreplaceable” is the title of this year’s conference session at IBC2026 from WorldDAB, the global industry forum for DAB+ digital radio.

Taking place on the Sunday afternoon of the international media and entertainment event in Amsterdam, and supported by Broadcast Networks Europe, the expert‑led programme brings together senior figures from across Europe to examine the developments shaping the future of DAB+ digital radio - from EU legislation and spectrum protection to emergency alerting, small‑scale innovation and new market deployment. 

Led by WorldDAB Project Director Bernie O’Neill, the session provides a strategic overview of why broadcast radio remains essential in an increasingly connected media landscape, and why 2026 represents a pivotal year for policy, automotive integration and digital migration.

WorldDAB Project Director Bernie O'Neill on stage at IBC2025

DAB+ growth and the Digital Networks Act (DNA)

Opening the session, WorldDAB President and Project Director of Digital Radio Netherlands Jacqueline Bierhorst will highlight the global momentum behind DAB+, incorporating new consumer research on in-car listening that makes the case for broadcast radio in vehicles, and explain why the Digital Networks Act (DNA) represents such an important legislative moment for broadcast radio.

The public broadcaster perspective will be presented by Vincent Sneed, Senior EU Policy Advisor at the EBU. The organisation is pressing EU lawmakers to guarantee broadcast radio in every new vehicle and protect spectrum access as the Digital Networks Act moves through negotiation. Drawing on lessons from the 2025 Iberian blackouts, this session sets out why public broadcasters see this as a defining legislative moment.

Building the case: WorldDAB’s Public Policy Toolbox

Published earlier this year, WorldDAB's Public Policy Toolbox gives markets the arguments and evidence to accelerate DAB+ adoption. Its author David Fernández Quijada, Co-Founder, Research Director, South 180, will explore how it is being applied in practice and how the framework informs engagement with legislators when the stakes for broadcast radio's future in vehicles are at their highest.

Automatic Safety Alerts: from testing to deployment

The past year has seen the DAB+ Automatic Safety Alert (ASA) system move from testing to reality. With certified consumer devices now in the market and Germany's national Warning Day just days before this session, the Chair of WorldDAB’s Technical Committee, Lindsay Cornell will provide a timely update on the DAB+ emergency alert deployment, and what it means for broadcasters and regulators beyond Germany.

Five years into licensing in the UK, “small-scale DAB”, has opened the door to new entrants, local services and innovation. WorldDAB Vice-President Nick Piggott, who manages several of these multiplexes, will look at why successful digital migration brings broadcasters of every scale along together - national, regional, and local - and how small-scale and larger-scale networks each have a role to play depending on coverage need and use case.

A dedicated segment will focus on emerging DAB+ markets, including Türkiye, with perspectives on what it takes to get DAB+ off the ground in a new market. Expert speakers will outline the policy steps, the infrastructure challenges, and what success looks like.

Expert Q&A and networking opportunities

The conference session concludes with an open Q&A, giving attendees the chance to engage directly with expert speakers and explore implications for their own markets. A networking session immediately follows, offering further opportunities for discussion and collaboration.

The WorldDAB conference session is free to attend for IBC2026 visitors and takes place on Sunday 13 September from 14:30 to 16:00 in Room E102, close to Hall 8, with refreshments available afterwards.

Throughout IBC2026, the WorldDAB Project Office will be present in Hall 8, stand 8.A54, featuring live demonstrations of DAB+ Automatic Safety Alerts and providing expert guidance on digital radio deployment. Contact us to book a meeting.

Read more about WorldDAB at IBC2026, including a map of member stands.