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The ABU Digital Broadcasting Symposium 2025 (DBS) held from 24 to 25 February 2025, showcased the latest advancements in AI-driven media management, digital radio standards, and innovative broadcast solutions. On 24 February 2025, the ABU DBS 2025 Workshops Day took place at the Wyndham Acmar Hotel, Malaysia. The Innovations in Implementing DAB+ workshop, moderated by Dr. Les Sabel (Chair, WorldDAB APAC Technical Group), covered the latest breakthroughs in digital radio. Expert presentations from Bernie O’Neill (Project Director, WorldDAB), Lindsay Cornell (Chair, WorldDAB Technical Committee), and specialists from Paneda, AVT Audio Video Technologies, GatesAir, Aldena, and RFmondial GmbH provided key insights into best practices, infrastructure advancements, and real-world applications.

On Monday 3 March at 10:00, Play.cz launched a new DAB+ multiplex from the first six transmitters covering key areas of the Czech Republic. The network includes transmitters in Prague, Ústí nad Labem, Brno, Ostrava, České Budějovice and Trutnov, each with a power of 10 or 20 kW. Currently, the only programme position in the multiplex is occupied by Radio Relax, which broadcasts at a bitrate of 64 kbps. The launch of this new DAB+ network represents a significant step in the development of digital radio broadcasting in the Czech Republic. The strategic location of the transmitters ensures coverage of major urban areas and important regions, allowing listeners in these locations to access a high-quality digital radio signal.

ZUN radio is expanding its coverage in Prague through the Fiera touch DAB+ multiplex. This decision comes as part of an effort to support the development of digital radio broadcasting in the Czech Republic. The station operator is responding to its good relationship with the multiplex operator while expanding the availability of its programme to listeners in the capital. ZUN radio broadcasts on the Fiera touch multiplex using the same technical parameters as the COLOR DAB+ network. ZUN radio now offers its programming on two DAB+ networks in Prague, significantly expanding the listening options for its fans.

The year 2025 will bring another significant expansion of DAB+ digital radio coverage. RTI cz and Teleko plan to launch new transmitters in five strategic locations. This network expansion will give listeners in other regions access to a wider range of radio stations with higher sound quality. RTI cz plans to launch a total of five new DAB+ transmitters. Three of them will be shared with Teleko - at Suchý vrch near Králíky with a power of 3.2 kW, in Třebíč na Vartemberku with a power of 5 kW and in Znojmo-Kuchařovice with a power of 1 kW for Teleko and 4 kW for RTI cz. The remaining two transmitters are planned by the West Bohemian company separately - in Mariánské Lázně on Dyléni and in Kutná Hora on Vysoká, both with a power of 5 kW.

The party station Radio Bollerwagen is expanding its broadcasting area and will be available via DAB+ in Rhineland-Palatinate from 1 March 2025. Broadcasting will take place via the Bad Kreuznach-Mainz-Bingen multiplex, which is distributed via three transmission towers. The station belongs to the ffn-mediengruppe and offers a music programme with a focus on ‘Xtreme Party Music’. Rhineland-Palatinate is already the eighth federal state in which RADIO BOLLERWAGEN is available via DAB+ after NRW, Hamburg, Hesse, Lower Saxony, Schleswig-Holstein, Saxony and Saarland. In addition to digital broadcasting in Germany, the station has also been available in Austria via DAB+ since 1 September 2024.

An important development for Radio San Marino: as of today, 1 March, the signal will be available in DAB+ in the Lazio Region, thanks to the collaboration with the MediaDAB consortium. This represents the first step towards expanding digital coverage nationwide, with the aim of reaching a wider audience and guaranteeing superior reception quality. This development is part of San Marino RTV's technological renewal plan, promoted by General Director, Roberto Sergio. During a press conference in Rome on 25 February, he emphasised that all the announced goals are taking shape: ‘by the end of the year, it will be possible to listen to Radio San Marino throughout Italy’.

Bauer Media Audio UK is announcing that Absolute Radio, KISS, KISSTORY, and Magic Radio will all make the shift to DAB+, in a move to improve sound quality for its audiences. The stations, which are currently on DAB, will make the switch on 31st March and are starting to communicate the news to listeners this week. UK listeners have been able to enjoy regular services on DAB+ since 2016, with the majority of digital radio devices produced in the last decade being DAB+ enabled. Peter Davies, Chief Operating Officer for Bauer Media Audio UK said: “We continually review how we can improve our audience’s listening experience, and this simple change allows us to deliver higher-quality audio to more of our listeners.”

WorldDAB had a busy week at the ABU Digital Broadcasting Symposium (DBS) 2025, in Klang, Kuala Lumpur. Held every year, the DBS is the premier event that provides a platform for broadcasters and industry leaders in the region to discuss key advancements, challenges, and innovations shaping the broadcast and media landscape. This year’s event had a significant focus on AI in broadcasting and media production, alongside the latest DAB+ developments. WorldDAB Project Director, Bernie O'Neill, looks back at WorldDAB's activities, presentations, and key findings during the event.

The MIDAS Survey is designed to provide context and insight into how, when and where audio content is being consumed in this current liberated environment. MIDAS shows how listeners are embracing the multi-platform and multi-device offering, as well as how audio-on-demand is contributing to listening behaviour. Weekly audio listening in the UK remains strong, albeit varied between age and gender. Listeners spend on average 28.7 hours a week engaging in their favourite audio type. The total number of weekly hours listened to audio is over 1.6 billion; this has increased by 16% since MIDAS Winter 2019. For all adults, the share of ‘live radio’ dominates audio listening (excluding visual) with 65% of their listening hours spent engaging in this audio type.

Radio Proglas is about to take a significant step in its history. At the end of May this year it will switch off its FM transmitter on Jested, which covered the Liberec area. The decision is part of a wider strategy to switch to DAB+ digital broadcasting and other modern technologies. Radio Proglas' strategy also includes expansion into new locations. This year, the station plans to launch broadcasts in five new areas, the closest of which is the launch of a transmitter on Suchý vrch near Králíky. The radio will continue to use DAB+ distribution in the RTI cz and Teleko digital multiplexes, which, according to director Holík, pays off economically. This strategy is made possible thanks to the gradual switching off of FM transmitters.