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On 31 March, TDF is bringing nearly fifty DAB+ transmitters into service to ensure the digital broadcast of national radio stations (the M1 and M2 multiplexes). This new phase of large-scale roll-out enhances coverage along major motorways and in many neighbouring urban areas, with a particularly marked increase in coverage in the South-West. Nearly 30 transmitters have now been activated in Nouvelle-Aquitaine and Occitanie. Further roll-outs are also taking place in Grand-Est, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, Brittany, Normandy, Pays de la Loire and Hauts-de-France. This new phase of deployment relies in particular on several of TDF’s flagship sites. These are all landmark sites that embody the reliability and national sovereignty of the TDF network.

Boom Radio spin-of station, Boom Rock is to broadcast on three DAB multiplex networks covering London. The station launched two years ago online, and is one of three stations in the Boom portfolio, alongside the main Boom Radio station along with the 50s and easy listening service, Boom Light. Boom chief executive Phil Riley commented: “The response to Boom Rock has indicated the scope for the station. “Having rolled out Boom Radio nationally on DAB – and Boom Light in many cities, it’s great to be in a position to expose Boom Rock now to a wider audience”. The London launch for Boom Rock will be on Thursday, 2nd April.

WDR intends to strategically reposition its youth radio stations in order to specifically target younger people, particularly those with international backgrounds. WDR’s statutory remit stipulates that one of its programmes must continue to focus on intercultural coexistence. Alongside the well-known youth channel 1LIVE, the existing COSMO is to be developed into a channel for the culturally diverse and urban community, in which hip-hop – the world’s largest and most unifying youth culture – plays a central role. The new third channel, which, as before, can be accessed online and via DAB+ as 1LIVE DIGGI, is intended to target the growing group of young people who, in a digitally overstimulated media world, long for peace, security and a calm media environment.

Last year, several radio stations in Schleswig-Holstein switched their broadcasts from FM to DAB+ digital radio, including RADIO BOB! rockt Schleswig-Holstein, Deutschlandfunk and Deutschlandfunk Kultur. The latest ma 2026 Audio I study provides insights into audience reach trends in Germany’s northernmost state as well as at national level. Among other things, it contains data on how many listeners tuned in to each programme within the so-called widest audience reach (WHK) over the past four weeks. This figure indicates how well-known a radio brand is and how many people it reaches. Deutschlandfunk was able to significantly increase its reach in the WHK by 8.7 per cent (previous year: 401,000 listeners).

For more than a decade, Jean-Baptiste Tuzet has been building Crooner Radio as a deliberately alternative radio project, combining musical elegance, technological innovation and editorial independence. Launched in France, Crooner Radio is a niche, premium music broadcaster built around jazz, swing and crooner-style repertoire, distributed via DAB+, online streaming and visual-enhanced digital channels. After more than 10 years of advocating for DAB+, Tuzet says the technology has finally become a credible driver of modernization and reach. With the majority of new cars in Europe now equipped with DAB+ receivers, he argues that the platform allows Crooner Radio to reach a mobile, high-value audience.

No need to panic for RCF listeners in the Belfort region – the station isn’t going anywhere. RCF Besançon-Montbéliard-Belfort will continue to broadcast its programmes. However, for financial reasons, broadcasting on 88.4 FM will cease when the contract with the operator TowerCast expires on 31 May 2026. The transmitter located at Les Glacis will no longer broadcast the station’s programmes, which are now focused on digital terrestrial broadcasting, commonly known as DAB+. The station has decided to divest itself of its Belfort transmitter, which is more expensive than the others. Annually, for the regional broadcaster, “it comes to just over €10,000. That’s a significant amount for us,” explains Pierre Arnaud, president of RCF Besançon.

In the week after Australia’s first radio survey this year, focus has turned to the growing audience and increasing number of stations on DAB+. The fourth profile in this series is Jacqueline Bierhorst, currently President of WorldDAB. She advocates internationally to keep radio a resilient and universally accessible medium. The series, Wisdom of Women in Media explores the career and personal journeys of women in the audio media industry. The aim of the series is to reflect on the wisdom they have gained, to mentor and to share their hopes for the industry. "I serve as President of WorldDAB, a global industry forum representing over 120 member organisations across more than 40 countries," says Bierhorst.

Isle of Wight Radio will expand onto small scale DAB with a new retro service this April. The new station, Isle of Wight Radio Retro, will broadcast on the Island’s small scale DAB multiplex, marking a new move for the long-running commercial station. The launch also forms part of the wider rollout of small scale DAB locally, increasing digital listening options for those on the Island. Claire John, Managing Director of Isle of Wight Radio, said: “We’re absolutely delighted to be helping bring small scale DAB radio to the Isle of Wight. As well as being able to listen to our main station on DAB, Retro will offer something a little different — a fresh but familiar sound for the Island.”

There was a session dedicated to the importance of DAB+, facilitated by Bernie O’Neil (Project Office Director) and Jacqueline Bierhorst (President) from WorldDAB. Australia and parts of Asia are seen as the leaders in digital radio. Some European countries’ digital migration is complete and, with Estonia’s highest point just 300 metres, the ability to capture large areas with ease, straightforward. But some countries, like Ireland and Portugal for example, are still just trialling DAB+. In these troubled times Jacqueline and Bernie said wherever DAB+ is implemented it can support national, regional and local audiences. It protects language, culture and freedom. A healthy broadcast radio industry should be able to incorporate traditional linear radio, internet streaming and digital broadcasting.

The Berlin-Brandenburg Media Authority (mabb) is paving the way for a radical overhaul of digital radio broadcasting in the capital region. The tender for DAB+ transmission capacity, approved by the Media Council on 3 March 2026, marks the start of a multi-stage transformation process that will fundamentally alter the existing structure and, from September 2028, transition to a new, regionally differentiated system. The focus is on moving away from the previous nationwide multiplex structures towards a more regionalised model. “We want to make the entire DAB+ landscape future-proof,” emphasises mabb Deputy Director Dr Marco Holtz to RADIOSZENE. The reorganisation is intended to take into account the differing needs of both nationwide and locally operating broadcasters.