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Radio continues to play a vital role in the European media landscape. But how are people tuning in today, and how has that changed over time? The EBU's new Radio Trends Report explores 5 years of radio listening habits across Europe, with an in-depth analysis of radio consumption by age group. Key insights include: Daily radio listening time stood at 2h 14m in 2024; Radio reaches 73% of young Europeans every week; 58% of PSM main radio stations are the top station in their market.

The results of the Media Analyse Audio (ma 2025 Audio II) published on 16 July 2025 attest to strong gains for radio broadcasters that transmit their programmes exclusively or also via DAB+ digital radio. More than 75 per cent of the German population (75.1 per cent) listen to the radio on an average working day (Monday to Friday). The ma 2025 Audio II figures show a further continuous increase in digital radio usage, particularly in the DAB+ sector. This distribution channel now accounts for almost half of all radio consumption. Providers that broadcast their programmes mainly or exclusively digitally are benefiting from this in particular - they are recording significant growth.

The UK’s first radio station for builders Fix is now turning over up to £8m in revenue, according to CEO Louis Timpany. He said the station has seen a five-fold increase in revenue since 2022 when it gained a licence to broadcast nationally on DAB. The station was previously only available in London. The station claims to average 724,856 listeners per week, citing Nielsen figures Timpany also said that although Fix limits its target audience to tradespeople, having a specific target had benefits. “Radio is… all about community. We are embracing that and we’re seeing that it’s being successful. Now although we are a national product, because we are so heavily targeted towards a specific community, they can get that sense of community through us”.

On 14 July 2025, at the Crni Vrh broadcasting location near Jagodina, the tenth transmitter in the experimental network for broadcasting radio programs in the digital DAB+ format was put into operation. This successfully expanded the existing network from 6 to 10 broadcasting stations from which digital radio is broadcast. 4 new broadcasting stations were also put into operation: Kopaonik-Gobelja, Crni Vrh near Pirot, Besna Kobila near Vranje and Crni Vrh near Jagodina. The population coverage with digital radio signal has reached almost 90%; all highways in Serbia are now covered by the signal of Radio Belgrade and national radio stations and that radio programs can be followed in cars without any interruptions along their entire length.

Programme diversity for the radio markets in Munich and Nuremberg: Digital Classix, an offer from Digitalradio Classix Rock be4 GmbH, will receive the DAB capacity put out to tender for the Munich broadcasting area, and MEIN LIEBLINGSRADIO, an offer from Funkhaus Nürnberg Studiobetriebs-GmbH, will receive the DAB capacity put out to tender for the Nuremberg broadcasting area. This was decided by the Media Council of the Bavarian Regulatory Authority for New Media (BLM) - awarding the contract to the bidders who already had the capacity. Dr Thorsten Schmiege, President of the BLM: "The Media Council was impressed by the existing providers in Munich and Nuremberg: Digital Classix, a rock channel with a strong local focus, and MEIN LIEBLINGSRADIO, a pop station with a local spirit."

The rollout of the joint DAB+ network for local broadcasters - in Layer 6 - is gaining momentum. Now that implementation has been awarded to Broadcast Partners and Radio Netwerk Nederland (RNN), and all allotments have received their offers, all parties are also working hard during the summer to get the collective networks up and running. The ambition is clear: before the RDI deadline of 1 September 2025, all participating allotments should be ‘on air’. With the collective approach of this project, NLPO ensures that local broadcasters are ready for digital distribution via DAB+. This makes them more findable for listeners and strengthens their position in the media landscape. This development is in line with the government's policy of moving from analogue FM broadcasting to digital radio.

Shortly after the SRG switched off FM, radio usage via FM has already declined significantly across Switzerland and now accounts for only 13% of total radio usage. Radio is now mainly consumed digitally in all regions of Switzerland, with 87% of all radio usage now via digital reception. Digital radio is particularly the norm at home, but digital distribution now also dominates in cars: although FM is still used by around a third of listeners, digital reception clearly predominates here too. Only 7% of the population now listen to radio exclusively via FM. The data shows that digital radio use has not only become established but has stabilised at a high level. With the increasing spread of DAB+-enabled devices – especially in new cars – this trend is set to continue in the future.

Kutná Hora and its surroundings have seen the expansion of the digital radio broadcasting offer in the DAB+ system. Listeners can now tune in to Fajn rádio, Helax, Hitrádio City, Rádio Proglas and Rádio 7. The signal is distributed from the transmitter at Vysoká, with a power of 5 kW on channel 8D. The signal covers not only the city itself, but also adjacent villages and regions, increasing the availability of modern digital radio. To receive it, you need a DAB+ receiver, which allows you to tune in to a total of six stations: the DAB Plus TOP40, Fajn rádio, Helax, Hitrádio City, Rádio 7 and Rádio Proglas. This network is operated by RTI cz within the RTI cz STC multiplex (Central Bohemia) with transmitter identification TII 0107.

České Radiokomunikace (CRa) has launched a new advertising spot on its TV channel "Tune in to digital broadcasting of ČRA" with the presenter Tomáš Pancíř from Czech Radio, which focuses on the promotion of the advantages of DAB+ digital radio designed especially for drivers. Pancíř mentions listening to the popular station Radiožurnál Sport as one of the options. In the new spot, he presents the concrete benefits of DAB+ for motorists, especially the stable reception and wide range of stations even when driving outside the city. The spot replaces the previous generic promo loop and targets the specific needs of drivers to motivate them to switch to digital reception.

The traditional professional conference MEDIA AND TECHNOLOGY (formerly Radiokomunikace) will be held in autumn on Tuesday and Wednesday 14 and 15 October 2025 at the Floret Hotel, Prague Průhonice. Automatic Safety Alert (ASA) will be premiered in the Czech Republic. One of the most important aspects of the new alerting system is the routing of these messages only to receivers in designated or specified areas.