News

The Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) has officially joined WorldDAB, becoming the latest national regulatory body to embrace DAB+ (Digital Audio Broadcasting Plus) technology, a bold step which places Uganda on the global map of countries leading the transition from traditional to digital radio broadcasting. In a statement released on 22 April, UCC expressed pride in joining the WorldDAB community, which includes some of the world’s most advanced regulators. “We are proud to join the global DAB+ community as we work to advance digital radio broadcasting in Uganda,” UCC stated. “This milestone aligns with our commitment to spectrum efficiency and greater access to quality broadcasting services.”

From 28 April, Radio Tonkuhle will start broadcasting via DAB+. The station can now be received digitally and noise-free with the appropriate devices. The signal will be broadcast via the Hanover multiplex on channel 8C, which also means a significant increase in the broadcasting area compared to the FM area on 105.3 Mhz. The DAB+ launch was made possible by the Lower Saxony State Media Authority in cooperation with Milling Broadcast Services and Media Broadcast. Its deputy director, Dr Klaus-Jürgen Buchholz, described the ability to receive community radio stations via DAB+ as an important step towards greater diversity of opinion and media participation.

Hit station 247Spice is back on air a week after losing its FM frequency in Amsterdam. Since Friday afternoon, the station has been broadcasting on DAB+ via the regional network for Noord-Holland and Flevoland (channel 8B). The move to DAB+ means 247Spice can be heard over the airwaves in a considerably larger area. On the old frequency 90.1 FM in Amsterdam, Kiss FM can be heard since Friday afternoon. 247Spice disappeared from FM over a week ago after a business conflict with the licence holder of the FM lot.

ARN and TikTok have announced that TikTok Trending – the DAB+ station for under-30s – will continue to grow in 2025, expanding its reach to Canberra. Described as TikTok for your ears when your eyes are busy, TikTok Trending broadcasts 24/7 on ARN’s iHeart and across DAB+, its eclectic mix of music decided by TikTok users themselves. Now, in addition to its established presence in Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne and Adelaide, TikTok Trending has expanded into Canberra. Corey Layton, ARN’s Head of Digital Audio, says “TikTok Trending has redefined Australian radio, combining the cultural impact of TikTok with the strength of radio’s reach. Its success with younger audiences and recognition as the Most Innovative DAB Format at the 2023 ACRA Awards speaks volumes.”

Radio Vaterland, the commercial successor to Radio Liechtenstein, will also be broadcast on DAB+ from May. Following the end of the public radio station Radio Liechtenstein, a successor is in the starting blocks: as reported, Radio Vaterland has initially been launched as a web radio station. From May, the programme will also be broadcast on DAB+. The organiser is now announcing the imminent digital terrestrial launch on air before the news on the hour. It is still unclear whether the broadcaster will take over Radio Liechtenstein's current broadcasting position in the SMC Mux Eastern Switzerland (SMC D03 O-CH, channel 9B) or whether there will be an alternative solution.

Car audio entertainment systems have come a long way, but there’s still further to go, as Steve Ahern found out when he visited the main players in car dashboard systems at the NABShow in America. "So what’s going on with in-car entertainment systems? There are three main providers proposing solutions in the car entertainment space: Xperi, Radioplayer and Gracenote. Xperi and Radioplayer are radio industry related companies that interface with car manufacturers, while Gracenote is an agnostic data provider that works with TV companies, streamers and car companies, as well as radio. I visited each of them at NAB, and also earlier at Radiodays Europe."

Twenty radio services are now available on DAB+ in Ireland following the launch of FáilteDAB. The latest DAB+ trial across the broader Leinster area includes ten services by Onic, along with services such as Nova Xtra, Classic Hits 80s and 8Radio. There are 19 music stations and one speech service, with Newstalk simulcasting its service on the digital platform. It can be heard in Dublin, Meath, Wicklow, Kildare, Westmeath, Longford, Laois and Wexford. Onic, the new name for News and urbanmedia, has launched 10 music services but has no plans to launch its new talkSPORT Ireland service on DAB+. Radio Nova’s new sister station Nova Xtra will focus on chilled classic rock, playing the more melodic end of the popular guitar-based music featured on Radio Nova and bringing additional content as a supplement to the Radio Nova.

GB News has extended its distribution partnership with Arqiva, in a significant new agreement which will help the People’s Channel meet its aim of reaching every TV and radio device in the UK. The agreement, which spans multiple years, includes Digital Terrestrial Television (Freeview) and Direct To Home satellite TV spectrum, DAB+ radio spectrum, and broadcast connectivity lines. The deal reinforces GB News' dedication to providing free-to-air mass reach linear distribution on TV and Radio. Commenting, Marc Schipper, Chief Operating Officer at GB News, said: “We’re delighted to expand on our relationship with Arqiva, who boast an unrivalled record in service delivery.”

Radio Proglas, currently the most listened to regional station in the Czech Republic, is starting to reduce its analogue network. During May and June it will stop broadcasting on the first four FM frequencies. The move is linked to the long-term transition to digital distribution. This is an important milestone for the Czech radio digitalisation. The exact schedule shows that the first broadcast will end in Žďár nad Sázavou on 31 May at 12:04. On the same day, the transmitter at Jested in Liberec will also go silent, namely at 21:15. This will be followed by switch-off in Písek (30 June at 12:04) and České Budějovice (30 June at 14:00). All of these locations belong to the original FM transmitters of Proglas, of which six areas are to be preserved.

Local public radio stations that do not yet have licenses for DAB+, but still want to get in, have another chance. From Thursday, May 1 through June 11, they can apply for capacity on the local DAB+ networks. Early last year, the first distribution round took place for local public radio stations for a place on the 57 local DAB+ networks. At that time, interest proved high, as more than 90% of all local broadcasters applied and were also granted a licence. The State Digital Infrastructure Inspectorate says in the Government Gazette: ‘Since there is residual space left after the last distribution and there are a number of public broadcasters who do not yet have a digital licence, it has been decided to make it possible for these public calls to still apply for a licence.’