News

A significant milestone in the Belgian media landscape has been reached as the new 10D DAB+ radio network officially went on air on May 1st. This cutting-edge platform, now fully operational, was launched with impressive speed and precision, following the unexpected surrender of the licenses of the previous networks. Thanks to close internal coordination and a hands-on mindset, the final phase of the rollout was completed on schedule. With the addition of 28 extra transmitters, the company moves closer to an important milestone: managing 1,000 active transmitters across the Netherlands and Flanders by 2025. A cornerstone of this success has been the close collaboration with DPG and Mediahuis.

From 1 May, the stations Radio 10 Non-Stop and Sky Radio 00's & 10's can also be heard via DAB+. Radio 10 Non-Stop brings the greatest hits of all time 24 hours a day, Sky Radio 00's & 10's plays non-stop the most popular pop music from the 2000s and 2010s. With this, Talpa Network further expands the digital radio landscape and responds to the growing demand for non-stop music channels via DAB+. Both channels have long been available online, where they are among their brands' best-listening theme channels. With the move to DAB+, they now become easily accessible to an even larger group of listeners over the airwaves as well.

The news that Thy, CADA‘s mornings announcer, was an AI voice clone, broke after the GfK Radio 360 Survey 2 measurement period had concluded. None the less I was particularly interested when the survey results came out this morning to see how the station was faring. It was the second best result the station has ever seen in Sydney, with 14,000 additional listeners tuning in largely aged 18-24, exactly who ARN and CADA are targeting. In Melbourne, alongside Gold 104.3 being one of the few top Melbourne stations to attract listeners this survey, ARN’s associated DAB+ station Gold 80s had the largest listenership in the city with SCA‘s DANCE HITS, Coles Radio and smooth relax also seeing gains.

NOVA Entertainment’s streaming station Nova Fresh Country is now being made available on DAB+ digital radio in Brisbane. Nova says that since making its streaming debut on the Nova Player in June 2024, Nova Fresh Country has experienced remarkable growth. Scott Baker-Smith, Head of Music at Nova Network, said: “The response to Nova Fresh Country since its launch has been amazing. Country music has blended into the Nova playlists for some time now, with artists pushing the boundaries and redefining what both pop and country sound like today." It’s the latest in a line of Nova streaming and DAB+ stations including Nova Nation, Nova Throwbacks and Nova 90s.”

The widespread blackout in Spain and other European countries has highlighted the importance of broadcasting as a critical infrastructure. 28 April 2025 will be remembered as the day on which the Iberian peninsula experienced one of the largest power blackouts in its recent history. Spain, Portugal, Andorra and parts of southern France suffered a collapse in electricity supply that paralysed critical infrastructures, directly affecting the daily lives of millions of citizens. For hours, a large part of the population was cut off: digital services and fixed and mobile telephone networks stopped working in a large part of the territory. In this context of uncertainty, a traditional medium once again demonstrated its strength: radio.

In the aftermath of the power outage in Spain and Portugal, radio futurologist James Cridland spoke to Radio 4's PM programme about the medium's importance in an emergency. "Of course, most radio is on DAB now and that means you need to find a wind-up DAB radio," he says. "Radio has always made sure that it is an emergency service... the radio is the one thing that you can pretty well guarantee will work because it's not reliant on cellphone connections and wires."

ExmouthDAB, operated by DevonAir Radio, has submitted its application to run the small-scale DAB multiplex for the Exmouth and Dawlish area. As part of the next phase of small-scale DAB rollout, the proposed multiplex will cover a population of over 70,000 adults. Andy Green, Chair of ExmouthDAB and Station Manager at DevonAir Radio, said: “This application gives us the opportunity to bring DevonAir Radio to even more listeners across Exmouth and Dawlish on DAB. The multiplex will also carry our new station, DevonAir Gold playing music from the 50s,60s and 70s, and we’re delighted that Exeter-based Access All Aerials – a fantastic station championing presenters with disabilities – plans to join the service, helping them reach a wider audience.”

UlsterMUX Ltd has submitted an application to Ofcom to operate a new small-scale DAB multiplex for Enniskillen. The not-for-profit operator wants to build on the launch of its Newry multiplex in 2024 and plans to deliver DAB+ coverage to over 28,000 residents. UlsterMUX is led by a team of engineers, broadcasters, and community radio advocates. It has already secured heads of terms with over a dozen stations, including Panjab Radio, Eirewave, Energy 106, Wild Country, and Blast-branded services. It’s also in discussions with regional broadcasters from the Republic of Ireland, such as Radio Nova and Northern Sound Radio, in anticipation of future changes to allow lawful cross-border carriage.

Community leaders have united behind a campaign to bring digital radio services to Northern Tasmania. The ABC and the Community Broadcasting Association of Australia launched collaborative tests of DAB+ digital radio technology across the Launceston CBD in 2023. Launceston community radio stations City Park Radio, Way FM and Print Radio Tasmania have now joined forces to get an administrative ‘tick of approval’ from the federal communications regulator, so that they can go live with the technology permanently. “Digital radio receivers are standard in over 80% of all new cars sold in Australia,” said City Park Radio Public Officer Chris Ball. “Next year marks our 40th anniversary of community broadcasting here in Launceston, and wouldn’t it be great to give the gift of DAB radio to the north of the state on our 40th anniversary.”

Ards Community SSDAB is applying for the local DAB multiplex to cover the Ards Peninsula in Northern Ireland. The team behind Ards Community SSDAB includes Blast106, Belfast 89 and Sunshine 1049, who have also launched the Lagan small-scale DAB multiplex covering Greater Belfast. Sean Og Mac Braoin, launch coordinator for Ards Community says: “The experience that launching and successfully operating the Greater Belfast DAB multiplexes puts us in an unrivalled position to guarantee the success of a DAB multiplex for the people of the Ards Peninsula including the city of Bangor.”