News

The Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union (ABU) has announced the first line-up of speakers for the 22nd ABU Digital Broadcasting Symposium (DBS 2026), to be held from 30 March to 2 April 2026 at the Berjaya Times Square Hotel, Kuala Lumpur. DBS 2026 will bring together more than 1,200 participants for four days of conference sessions, exhibitions, workshops, and masterclasses. This year’s theme,“The Rising Synthetic Era”, will examine how artificial intelligence is shaping broadcasting, from programme making to content sharing and audience connection. The first confirmed speakers for DBS 2026 include: Lindsay Cornell, Principal Systems Architect, BBC and Chair, WorldDAB Technical Committee; and Dr. Les Sabel, Chair, WorldDAB APAC Technical Group.

The countdown is over and Scotland’s new national radio station is finally here. At 08:00 on 6 January 2026, legendary radio duo Ewen Cameron and Cat Harvey officially launched STV Radio live from the station’s shiny new studio in Glasgow’s Pacific Quay. The first song played on STV Radio was a special acoustic version of Simple Minds’ 1982 hit, Promised You a Miracle, featuring KT Tunstall – chosen for its hopeful, uplifting lyrics and to reflect the fact that STV Radio will be distinctively Scottish while also offering something fresh and unique to listeners across the country. STV Radio is available across Scotland on DAB, STV Player, stvradio.co.uk and on your smart speaker.

The Agency for Communication Networks and Services of the Republic of Slovenia has launched a new website, dab.si, which contains all information about digital radio in the Republic of Slovenia. The first DAB network was established in 2016. Today, 59 programs are already being broadcast via this platform. The number of these will soon be even higher, as the deadline for applications for the public tender for the distribution of radio programs using digital broadcasting technology on DAB networks has recently expired. The tender has not yet been completed, but 20 timely bids have been received, 14 for national coverage and six for the Ljubljana area.

Following its recent return to Lombardy, Romantica Radio has taken another step forward in its territorial expansion. The station can now also be received in Piedmont, on channel 8C of the Media Dab multiplex. This development represents an important consolidation of Romantica Radio's digital presence in Northern Italy, strengthening the station's ability to reach a wider audience with its distinctive music and content. The return to Lombardy's DAB+ in recent weeks was already a significant milestone for the radio station, which continues to grow and is attentive to the opportunities offered by digital transmission technologies.

U.DAB, North London’s new multiplex and the largest “Small Scale” DAB multiplex in the UK, launches on 5 January 2026, with 26 stations on board. The multiplex has previously been operating in Trial form with three transmitters. The newly launched, fully licensed multiplex, now has double the number of transmitters, covering four million adults across North and Central London. The resulting improved coverage, and increased audience, will provide a far better listening experience for the wide range of radio stations carried on it. Martin Spencer, founder of U.DAB Ltd said: “We can now look forward to an exciting future with a fantastic spectrum of community and independent local commercial stations on U.DAB.”

On December 24, 2025, the NBTC (National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission) approved Standard Operation Procedures (SOPs) for disaster and emergency warnings in broadcasting. This mandates that all licensed radio stations must follow these guidelines and procedures. The aim is to expand the channels for public disaster and emergency warnings through radio networks, in addition to cell broadcasts and digital terrestrial television. Air Vice Marshal Thanaphan Hraicharoen, an NBTC commissioner, stated: "Thailand should have a digital DAB+ radio network with disaster warning functionality that meets international standards.”

Astra Radio has been available via Broadcast Services' DAB+ multiplex since Monday, December 22, marking a significant step in expanding its coverage in the Czech Republic. This new channel distributes Astra Radio's signal to areas where it was not previously available. The station now reaches Central Bohemia, the Pardubice Region, Vysočina, and Moravia. Astra Radio was previously available in Prague, Plzeň, České Budějovice, and Karlovy Vary via the COLOR DAB+ multiplex. Expansion into another network allows the station to reach listeners in other regions. Astra Radio complements Fresh Radio, Energic, Čas, and Čas Rock in this network, which are broadcast with a uniform data rate of 96 kbps. Astra Radio is the first to have a value of 64 kbps.

On 1 January 2026, Vatican Radio officially became part of the Dab Italia multiplex. The station had been broadcasting digitally for years via EuroDab Italia. A few weeks ago, it was activated as a “test” channel on Dab Italia. At the turn of the year from 2025 to 2026, the change of multiplex became official and Vatican Radio can now only be heard on Dab Italia.

The new Radio Bruno Latina has launched in Tuscany. The station, which began broadcasting in mid-December, plays reggaeton, salsa, baciata and dembow music. It can be heard on channel 6B of Media Dab Toscana.

Since 1 January 2026, the radio station has also been available in North Rhine-Westphalia via DAB+. In North Rhine-Westphalia, the nationwide information and discussion programme is broadcast on channel 9D of the state-wide multiplex, replacing the OLDIE ANTENNE programme that was previously broadcast there.