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The regional programmes of Czech Radio for Hradec Králové, North Bohemia and the Karlovy Vary Region will be distributed for at least another year via DAB+ multiplexes of the operators RTI cz and Teleko digital. Karel Zýka, technical director of the public broadcaster, said this at the Media and Technology 2024 industry conference in Pardubice on Tuesday. Further development depends on the construction of commercial networks that will enable regionalisation. Czech Radio Karlovy Vary is currently a part of the DAB+ multiplex network of the West Bohemian company RTI cz, while the Hradec Králové and Sever circuits are part of the Teleko digital programming offer. Future solutions will affect the development of regionalisable radio multiplexes.

2023 was a record year for radio: After a slight decline in daily radio usage in Austria from 2019, 2023 marked a 10-year high in usage: Austrians listened to the radio for 202 minutes last year. The last time radio usage reached this level was in 2008. Private radio stations have increasingly benefited from this in recent years. The introduction of the new DAB+ digital broadcasting standard has led to a veritable explosion of new radio stations: Thanks to DAB+, this summer saw the largest expansion of stations since the start of private radio broadcasting in 1998. There are now almost 60 DAB+ stations in Austria. 83 per cent of Austrians can already receive DAB+, many of them without even knowing it. This is because digital terrestrial radio has been mandatory in cars since December 2020 according to an EU regulation. Since then, more than 700,000 new cars have been registered. Of those listeners, 60 per cent use DAB+ in their cars. In total, more than one million people in Austria already listen to the radio via DAB+ several times a month.

The Pilsen-based company RTI cz is able to retune five more transmitters of its temporary network for digital radios to the final frequencies and has received authorization for two new transmitters. After Karlovy Vary, Klínovec and Třebouňský vrch, RTI cz can also switch its network for digital broadcasting of commercial radios to final frequencies at Domažlice Čerchov, Klatovy Doubrava, Českobudějovice Kluk, Plzeň Sylvan and Javorník u Kašperských horů. The Czech Telecommunications Office (CTU) has issued the operator with a licence for these four transmitters to use the frequencies of the nationwide multiplex C, which RTI cz acquired in an auction at the turn of the year.

On 31 December 2024, the FM transmitters of the entire SSR will cease broadcasting. This includes the FM frequencies used by RTS Première, RTS Espace 2, RTS Couleur 3 and RTS Option Musique. The switch-off of FM transmitters is a decision taken by the Swiss Confederation, which will eventually affect all Swiss radio stations. Most listeners already listen to radio on digital platforms, primarily DAB+, which is the designated successor to FM, but also IP streaming (internet, smartphone app, webradio, etc.). FM listening is becoming less and less popular and is decreasing year by year. The shutdown of analogue FM transmitters is therefore inevitable. It allows for significant savings in terms of broadcasting costs, a gain in reliability and greater durability. It is also easier to use and offers a wider range of channels – up to 160 channels depending on the location. The Confederation chose the deadline for the shutdown of FM, in agreement with public and private radio stations. Eventually, all Swiss radio stations will switch to DAB+.

Lyca Radio Network has expanded its reach with the launch of Lyca Radio in Leicester on DAB. The new station is a local variant of its flagship service, which went live on Friday, 11th October, just ahead of the Hindu festival of Dussehra. This new addition marks the fourth station in the Lyca Radio Network, joining Lyca Radio – Greater London, Lyca Gold – Greater London, and the newly rebranded Lyca Radio – Greater Manchester, previously known as Asian Sound Radio. Raj Baddhan, CEO of Lyca Radio Network, told RadioToday: “We’re thrilled to have launched Lyca Radio – Leicester today, following the successful debut of Lyca Radio – Greater Manchester last year. Lyca Radio – Leicester will offer tailor-made content for our Leicestershire listeners, and we have a fantastic experience lined up for our new audience in the Midlands market.

‘Ensemble pour le DAB+’ announces the appointment of Maëlo Seuret as Executive Director of the association. His role will be to structure the association's development and support the growth and communication of DAB+. The ‘Ensemble pour le DAB+’ association was created in 2022 on the initiative of the Bureau de la Radio, Radio France and SIRTI, with the support of the French Ministry of Culture.

Former Radio Luxembourg DJ Mark Wesley is joining Radio Caroline’s offshore broadcast team on board the station’s radio ship Ross Revenge this weekend as a guest presenter. Radio Caroline is also now broadcasting on DAB in Northern Ireland via the Lagan small-scale multiplex. Sean Og Mac Braoin from Lagan small-scale DAB said: “We are absolutely delighted to be bringing Radio Caroline to the listeners across Greater Belfast. Northern Ireland has a long history of what were at the time pirate radio stations and indeed Radio Caroline was launched from Greenore just across the border, so it’s great that that tradition remains to this day. Even if everything is now legal and above board, the spirit of the pirates live on and we know that the people of Greater Belfast will embrace Radio Caroline being available on their airwaves.”

The 41st week of 2024 is marked by big news on the eastern Bohemian peak Černá hora. After the operator Fiera Touch launched its DAB+ multiplex from here and started to distribute its partner programmes Color Music Radio and Radio Hey, the company Teleko digital from Příbram has also arrived. The long-awaited change of broadcasting parameters on Černá hora and Stěžere will take place on Thursday, 10 October. On Thursday, 10 October, between 10:00 and 13:00, there will be a maintenance break on the Trutnov - Černá hora transmitter in the case of the Teleko digital operator. The Příbram company will retune the existing multiplex from channel 5D to the new frequency block 7C. At the same time, the radiated power will be increased from the current 1 kW to 7 kW, the vertical polarization will be maintained.

From Thursday, 10 October, Czech Radio Hradec Králové will offer its listeners a significant improvement in digital signal coverage. Owners of DAB+ radios can look forward to an increase in the power of the Trutnov - Černá hora and Hradec Králové - Stěžery transmitters. The changes will be preceded by a several-hour maintenance break on both towers, after which it will be necessary to retune the receivers. The power of the DAB+ transmitter Černá hora will be increased from the current 1 kW to 7 kW during Thursday 10 October. In practice, this means that the important peak of the Hradec Králové Region will reach a larger area with its signal. In places where the signal of Czech Radio Hradec Králové could already be tuned in DAB+, it should be strengthened. The quality of reception will be better inside buildings and in places where reception has been marginal.

Twice a year, the members of the Digitalradio Deutschland association run a joint campaign during campaign periods to promote the digital terrestrial radio standard. All market partners are invited to take part. The cross-media campaign elements used during the campaign period include TV spots on ARD television programmes, radio spots and programme trailers. Print adverts and articles in specialist publications as well as newsletters and an accompanying social media campaign complement the activities. An accompanying ARD decision-maker campaign under the motto ‘The best for everyone with DAB+!’ is running in two waves. The adverts will be published in various daily newspapers, weekly and monthly publications.