News

At its meeting on 15 December, the Media Authority of Hesse decided to allocate the requested DAB+ transmission capacities to VIUS SE & Co. KGaA for the distribution of the nationwide radio programme ‘NIUS – Das Radio’ in Hesse. The allocation is for the period from 1 January 2026 to 31 December 2035. ‘NIUS – Das Radio’ has a nationwide licence from the Berlin-Brandenburg Media Authority (mabb). ‘NIUS – Das Radio’ is already broadcast via various DAB+ multiplexes in the federal states of Berlin-Brandenburg, Hamburg, Lower Saxony, Saarland, Schleswig-Holstein and Thuringia. In Hesse, the programme will in future be broadcast via the DAB+ multiplex 6A ‘Hessen Nord’ and the DAB+ multiplex 12C ‘Hessen Süd’.

The decision on platform operation in the sixth and final region for regionalised DAB+ distribution in North Rhine-Westphalia has been made. At its meeting last Friday, the Media Commission of the State Media Authority of North Rhine-Westphalia decided to award the tendered DAB+ transmission capacities for the Münsterland region to Media Broadcast GmbH as platform operator. The allocation was preceded by a tender by the State Media Authority. Media Broadcast had previously been awarded platform operation for the first five regions in North Rhine-Westphalia. This makes the company the platform operator for all six regions in Germany's most populous state.

The German radio landscape is undergoing an interesting development in the national DAB+ sector: Radio Schlagerparadies, Germany's most successful private Schlager station, is joining Ballermann® Radio as a shareholder. The investment will take place on 1 January 2026. Radio Schlagerparadies, together with BR Beteiligungs GmbH, which is backed by Teutocast among others, will become the largest shareholder in Ballermann® Radio. Ballermann® Radio, considered the fastest-growing newcomer among national DAB programmes, already achieves well over one million streaming sessions per month, according to MA IP Audio.

In the UK, the RAJAR Audio Survey ‘MIDAS’ for Autumn 2025 has been published. The MIDAS Survey is designed to provide context and insight into how, when and where audio content is being consumed. Weekly audio listening in the UK remains strong, albeit varied between age and gender. For all adults, the share of ‘live radio’ dominates audio listening (excluding visual) with 63% of their listening hours spent engaging in this audio type. This is followed by on demand music streaming (19%), podcasts (8%), owned music (5%), audiobooks (3%) and catch-up radio (3%). 62% of listening hours are consumed by traditional FM or DAB radio sets.

After intensive discussion of the applications, the Media Council of the BLM today decided who will receive the Bavaria-wide DAB capacity advertised in the summer: The contract was awarded to egoFM – a key factor in this decision was the station's exceptional music programme, which differs from the classic radio format. Dr Thorsten Schmiege, President of the BLM: "The large number of applications makes it clear: the industry believes in radio and DAB+. Terrestrial digital radio has become a driving force for diversity and radio usage in Bavaria. As already predicted by the BLM in its audio strategy, daily usage of digital reception channels will be on a par with FM for the first time in 2025. The high relevance of DAB+ is also reflected in the high demand for the current tender."

Following the National Council, the Council of States also decided last Tuesday to maintain FM broadcasting in Switzerland. The framework conditions on the basis of which the SSR had planned to abandon FM at the end of 2024 have therefore changed. The media company considers this a mandate to restore the broadcasting of its radio programmes on FM waves. Furthermore, digital transformation is inevitable in the field of radio broadcasting as well. Already today, nine out of ten minutes of radio listening are via a digital medium. This is why the SSR will continue to be present mainly on digital channels and via DAB+ – especially for the large proportion of listeners who have already made the switch.

Ofcom has awarded small-scale DAB multiplex licences for four more areas across the UK. Small-scale DAB is an innovative technology which provides a low-cost way for local commercial, community and specialist music services to take to the digital airwaves. So far, 82 multiplexes have launched broadcasting to listeners across all four nations of the UK. In total, the small-scale DAB programme will enable the launch of over 100 multiplexes. Following a competitive process, where each applicant was judged against specific criteria, multiplex licences have been awarded for the following areas: Ely & March, Market Harborough, Wakefield and Castleford, and Wellingborough.

Lincolnshire is to get more commercial radio services in 2026 as plans are announced by Magna Radio. It launches alongside a sister service, Magna Mix, which plays music from the sixties to the eighties. The stations will be available on DAB and online, supported by the message Love Music, Love Lincolnshire. They’ve been created by former Lincs FM broadcaster Tom Priestley and is based at the University of Lincoln with support from Dom McOmish. The launch comes six months after another new commercial radio service for the area, Lincs Sound, launched on DAB with a host of local presenters, in reaction to long-established Lincs FM becoming part of the Hits Radio Network in April 2024.

FM channels will be able to continue operating after 2026. On Tuesday, the Council of States narrowly supported a motion from the National Council calling on the Federal Council to abandon the planned deactivation. The National Council motion calls on the Federal Council to extend the current FM licences or to launch a new tender for the allocation of FM licences from 1 January 2027. The deadline for deactivation should be postponed until at least the end of 2031 and set in consultation with private radio stations. Extending FM temporarily does not prevent the gradual migration to DAB+, Isabelle Chassot (Centre/FR) pointed out. In the vote, the Chamber made its decision by 21 votes to 18, with 5 abstentions.

Subject to the necessary approval procedures, NDR plans to further expand DAB+ in the following regions: Spring 2026 - Borkum, Region Fehmarn, Region Mirow-Canow; Summer 2026 - Region Sternberg-Brüel, Region Melle-Buer, Region Osterode-Gittelde Sieber (Harz). Minor modifications to the DAB+ transmitter network are still being planned for 2027.