News

České Radiokomunikace (CRA) has started broadcasting its nationwide digital network for commercial radios. It includes six programmes from the Radio United Broadcasting group. Other commercial radios have joined CRA's regional networks in Prague, Pilsen and now also Liberec. Almost half of the Czech Republic's population can tune into another nationwide network for digital radio from today. The CRA-owned Czech Digital Group has put into operation the first 17 transmitters and decoders of multiplex B (referred to as CRA CZ or CRA DAB+ CZ), which includes six programmes from the Radio United Broadcasting group. Three of them were previously broadcast in the competing multiplex C of RTI cz. CRA also launched the first transmitter of Regional Network 4, which is to cover the Liberec, Ústí nad Karlovy Vary regions.

MIX 92.6 has launched on DAB+ in addition to its community radio FM licence in South Hertfordshire. Station Manager Nick Hazell emphasised the strategic importance of this development, stating: “I am really delighted that we’ve been able to take this next big step in growing our local radio station. At a time when others are retrenching and moving away from local radio, this move makes a clear statement about how important we think it is to support and serve our local community.” The station, previously known as Radio Verulam, has been serving the area via various methods since the 1990s.

Südwestrundfunk has detailed its DAB+ expansion plans for 2025. In Baden-Württemberg, the Mosbach-Bismarck Tower and Murrhardt-Auenwald sites will be added alongside Alpirsbach, Bad Wildbad and Langenburg, which were planned last year. Neumagen is among the planned sites in Rhineland-Palatinate, while the Hohe Derst site in South Palatinate remains on hold due to structural issues. The Medienrat der Medienanstalt Berlin-Brandenburg has approved a tender for several private radio DAB+ slots serving the city. Channel 10B has two available capacities, while channels 7B and 12D each have at least one open slot following the withdrawal of rbb’s Cosmo program. Private radio station Antenne Wiesbaden will launch on May 2.

WorldDAB’s work to develop Automatic Safety Alerts (ASA) for DAB+ has been recognised by Paris Radio Show Grand Prix Awards. WorldDAB Project Director Bernie O’Neill said: “This new feature will help broadcasters and regulators to position broadcast radio as an asset in emergency situations given it is a robust and hack-resistant technology - while meeting the objectives of cultural diversity. This helps justify the required investment in the technology.”

Saudi Media Forum, the largest specialized event in the media industry in Saudi Arabia, is set to take place in Riyadh from February 19 to 21. The annual event provides a platform for dialogue to discuss prominent global issues from a media perspective. It offers opportunities for knowledge exchange and collaboration among experts, decision-makers, and practitioners in the media field. The event also provides a unique experience to explore new media spaces, discuss the latest global trends in the sector, and stay updated on the latest technological innovations. WorldDAB President, Jacqueline Bierhorst, will be participating in the Forum.

The CIM Audio Time study has now reached its fourth edition. For this edition, it surveyed a total of 4,009 Belgians aged between 12 and 74 from October to December 2024. The results show which types of audio are most popular, how streaming services, podcasting and DAB evolved, but also which devices people use to listen to audio. Compared to the previous CIM Audio Time study, total audio consumption in Belgium fell slightly by 2%, to 270 minutes per day. As expected, live radio accounts for most listening time (63%). Looking specifically at live listening, it is notable that for the first time, the share of FM radio represents less than half of live consumption (49%). DAB shows a clear increase to 26% (23% last year and 21% two years ago).

On 30 January 2025, it was announced that a new radio station called TÜRK RADYO has been launched on Vienna's local DAB+ multiplex CityMUX Vienna II. The station broadcasts its digital radio signal from DC Tower 1 in Vienna on channel 11C. This means that 13 radio stations and a data channel (EPG) can be received. TÜRK RADYO is aimed at the Turkish community in Austria and offers a varied programme that includes music, news and cultural programmes aimed specifically at Turkish-speaking listeners in Austria. TÜRK RADYO also tried to gain a foothold in Germany in 2019 and applied for DAB+ capacities in Augsburg and Nuremberg. In addition to the local DAB+ multiplex in Vienna, there are two nationwide and five regional multiplexes in Austria.

Since 5 October 2011, ANTENNE MAINZ has been broadcasting a 24-hour local radio programme on VHF 106.6 MHz for Mainz and Wiesbaden and the Rheinhessen region. This year, the state capital of Hesse is getting its own radio station: antenne WIESBADEN. In an interview with RADIOSZENE, Managing Director Vittorio Nobile reveals more about the new radio project. "We will start on 2 May 2025 via the DAB+ multiplex for southern Hesse with a technical reach of over 7 million listeners and, of course, the Internet. The Hesse multiplex is perfect for a station in the state capital and does not immediately break up in the car if you leave the city limits. You can reach Koblenz, Aschaffenburg or Mannheim this way without having to change the transmitter in the car."

Kink 90s' distribution on DAB+ is coming to an end. From Saturday (1 February), Kink Distortion will take over the spot on channel 9C, expanding its coverage considerably. Kink 90s will continue to broadcast via the internet, however. Kink 90s has been available on DAB+ since late 2023, taking over from classic rock znder K-Rock at the time. Kink Distortion has been available on DAB+ via MTVNL's network (7D) since November 2022. However, this network has a smaller reach than 9C. From Saturday, Kink Distortion can be heard on DAB+ in almost the whole of the Netherlands. For a fortnight, the metal station can be heard via both 9C and 7D. After that, broadcasts via MTVNL will cease. This spot will most likely be taken by the new radio station Cream.

RadioBus from French-speaking Switzerland is increasing its reach and is now broadcasting via DAB+ on the Romandie Médias SA (RMS) mux. The school programme, which is supported by various cantons, can now be heard on DAB+ channel 10B (French-speaking Switzerland) with the identifier ‘RadioBusRomandie’. This was reported by the industry service DAB Swiss. Until now, the programme has been broadcast on the digris DAB areas of Lausanne (channel 8C), Neuchâtel-Yverdon (channel 10A) and Lower Valais (channel 10D).