News

On 28 July, Radio Prostor appeared in nationwide distribution through all transmitters of the West Bohemian company RTI cz. The operator of Radio Prostor had no other option if it wanted to ensure coverage of the entire Czech Republic, as the key nationwide network of ČRA DAB+ CZ Českých Radiokomunikací is already fully occupied. The last available slot in the ČRA multiplex is reserved for the upcoming Gold Impuls. In addition to Radio Prostor, several other stations are also broadcast nationwide on the RTI cz multiplex, namely DAB Plus Top 40, Fajn rádio, Helax, Hitrádio City, Rádio 7, and Rádio Proglas. Czech Radio uses this network regionally for its North Bohemian and Karlovy Vary studios, effectively complementing its regional offering.

DAB multiplexes in Leeds, Bradford, East Lancashire, Milton Keynes and Halifax have formed a partnership to deliver a streamlined service. A new website has launched offering a single access point for all updates, applications and technical information relating to these areas, replacing the need for separate communications with each operator. The collaboration aims to simplify the process for stations applying for carriage and keeping up to date with multiplex developments. Raj Parmar, a partner in the initiative, said: “It makes sense for our users to have access to a streamlined site offering information and updates. This collaboration is a step toward improving transparency and accessibility in local digital broadcasting.”

Five new areas have been granted a small-scale DAB digital radio multiplex licence today in Ofcom’s round seven. The areas are The Ards Peninsula in Northern Ireland, Bridgewater in Somerset, Exmouth & Dawlish in Devon, Loughborough & Coalville in Leicestershire, and Ringwood, Verwood and Fordingbridge in east Dorset. 18 more licence awards are still to come from round seven.

This is a major first: this summer, DAB+ is making headlines on television. After several radio and poster campaigns, the promotion of DAB+ radio is taking another step forward with a summer television campaign. From 31 July to 17 August, in addition to a new wave of radio advertising, DAB+ will be featured on several television channels (M6, France TV, BFMTV and SECOM).

For the fourth consecutive year, Radio Mont Blanc has recorded an increase in its FM/DAB+ audience, with a 2.4% rise in its broadcast area. At the same time, audio and video streaming has grown by 2.6% over the 2024-2025 season. These are upward indicators in a changing market. According to Médiamétrie's latest EAR Local survey (2023-2025), Radio Mont Blanc continues to grow its traditional audience. Across its FM and DAB+ coverage area, the local station has seen a 2.4% increase in its daily audience. It now attracts 149,800 listeners per week. This listening volume makes it ‘the leading local radio station in its FM broadcast area’. These results are part of a growth trend that began four years ago and has been confirmed again this year in the Annecy DAB+ sector.

The latest results of the 2025_2 radio survey confirm once again that RMS TOP Kombi is the strongest private audio offering in the country and remains the undisputed market leader. The daily number of listeners continues to rise steadily: RMS TOP Kombi reaches more than 2.8 million listeners daily in the total population aged 10 and above, putting it clearly ahead of Ö3. This result demonstrates the growing relevance of private radio stations. For the first time, the results also include DAB+ stations, which launched on MUX III in July 2024. These stations achieve excellent reach overall and strengthen the diversity of the domestic audio landscape.

From 23 July, ZuidWest FM will be available throughout West Brabant and parts of Zeeland via DAB+. The digital reach of the regional broadcaster will double. In addition to Roosendaal, Bergen op Zoom, Tholen and Woensdrecht, the station will also be available digitally in Etten-Leur, Breda, Moerdijk, Halderberge and Zundert. For Streekomroep ZuidWest, this is an important step in the further development of its audio offering. Radio manager Pieter Hendriks considers full coverage via DAB+ to be essential: ‘We want to be accessible on all relevant platforms, and DAB+ is an important part of that.’ According to him, the coverage will soon be up to standard: ‘Local journalism deserves reach. We have now firmly established that digitally as well.’

Since 23 July, various local broadcasters in the province of Utrecht can be listened to via digital radio (DAB+). From Wednesday evening, the radio stations Bingo FM (Utrecht), Roulette FM (De Bilt) and Omroep Lekstroom (Houten region) can be listened to via channel 5A. The commercial Hindustani radio station Radio SBS can also be listened to via this network. On Wednesday, a large number of local broadcasters in the Breda region also started broadcasting via DAB+ on channel 8C. The intention is that all local broadcasters that have applied for a DAB+ licence will have started broadcasting by 1 September.

Broadcast Partners (Radio Netwerk Nederland) launched local allotment 50 today. This is the broadcasting schedule for the Breda region, which stretches from Etten-Leur to Moerdijk. Broadcasts are on channel 8C. The transmitter that went into operation today and the associated antenna installation are located on the Digitenne transmission mast at Het Spinveld in Breda. Earlier, transmitter operator RNN put the adjacent allotment 51 into operation for the Roosendaal and Bergen op Zoom region. The transmission mast in Breda is used to broadcast several public and commercial stations digitally. These are the stations BredaNU, Zuidwest FM, Omroep Drimmelen, Omroep SLOG, ORTS, Radio Rucphen and Radio Muziekstad.

News in Piedmontese DAB+. The super stations Love FM and Ritmo 80 have been connected. The two stations, which are part of the same publishing group, have been included in the CR Dab Piemonte mux. Broadcasting takes place on channel 10B. This is a further step forward for the two stations, which are already present in several Italian regions, both in analogue and digital versions.