News

Next year, Czechia's public broadcaster Český rozhlas will end a two-year unwanted break in the expansion of its nationwide digital network. Thanks to an increase in radio license fees, it will be able to afford to put new DAB+ repeaters into operation. According to technical director Karel Zýka, the broadcaster wants to focus primarily on tourist centers. This year, Czech Radio's digital network celebrates ten years since it began broadcasting and five years of existence in its current form, divided into Czech and Moravian parts depending on which regional studios are part of the programming offer. České Radiokomunikace (CRA), which technically operates the radio network, has so far launched 51 transmitters and outdoor coverage has reached 96.7% of the population.

The Ministry of Economic Affairs has started consultations on the allocation of residual capacity on local DAB+ networks. Residual capacity will no longer be auctioned, but allocated in order of application. Another new development is that local public broadcasters will be allowed to apply for a second licence. In June last year, the Ministry of Economic Affairs started the first round of allocation of local DAB+ capacity for commercial radio. A total of 815 licences were available, spread over 57 allotments. Many local commercial stations decided not to apply, mainly due to financial uncertainties. There is now more clarity, partly because most networks are now up and running. Some broadcasters are using the NLPO's services for this, while other licence holders are arranging the roll-out themselves.

Danish media group JFM has launched its fourth nationwide radio programme. For the rest of the year, the Christmas station VLR Jul will be broadcast on this channel. VLR is scheduled to go on air nationwide from 1 January. The station started as a local radio station in Vejle, but is now JFM's soft adult contemporary station with a format specially adapted for listening in the workplace. The expansion of VLR is part of JFM's investment in digital audio. ‘The future is digital. Most people choose FM, but there is strong digital growth. In five years, we have gone from zero to 45 per cent digital listening. Behind this development are DAB and listening via apps,’ says Søren Bygbjerg, head of JFM Lyd. VLR Jul is broadcast via the nationwide DAB+ network for commercial radio (DK DAB1).

Arabella Bayern, the nationwide DAB+ format of the successful Munich regional station Arabella München, is now listed as a single station for the first time in the recently published ma 2025 Audio II Update by the Arbeitsgemeinschaft Media-Analyse e.V. (agma). From Monday to Friday, the programme broadcast via DAB+ now reaches 37,000 listeners per average hour. During the week, 136,000 people listen to the station every day, with an average listening time of 116 minutes. With the biggest hits of the 70s, 80s and 90s, the music format perfectly suits the tastes of listeners in Bavaria. ‘The single listing we have now achieved is an important milestone for our team in the still young success story of our nationwide DAB+ programme,’ says Till Coenen, Managing Director of Radio Arabella Studiobetriebsges. mbH.

On 14 October 2025, NBTC Air Chief Marshal Dr. Thanapan Harijaroen presided over the opening ceremony of a workshop titled "Building your own digital broadcasting (DAB+) receiver using a small data processing device and a receiver" at the Pullman Khon Kaen Hotel in Khon Kaen Province. The workshop, organized by the Broadcasting and Television Engineering Standards Certification Office (B.T.S.C.), aimed to enhance the process and expand the reach of the broadcasting system. The focus was on building knowledge and understanding of building your own digital broadcasting receiver. This training reflects the NBTC's role in promoting and supporting the development of the capabilities of technical and engineering personnel.

On 23 October, RAJAR announced 50.1 million adults or 86% of the adult (15+) UK population tuned in to their selected radio stations each week in the third quarter of 2025. The total average number of weekly hours listened to radio for this Quarter is 1.0220 billion hours. In terms of reach 44 million adults aged 15+ are now tuning in to radio via a digitally enabled platform (DAB, DTV, Website/App, or Smart Speaker) each week. 76% of the population tune in to digital radio every week. In an average week, digital listening accounts for 754 million hours; DAB has a 56% share of digital listening hours, Smart speaker 25%, Website/Apps 16%, DTV 3%.

Adam Bowie writes: "There is some new RAJAR data, with much of the listening taking place over the summer months. That does mean that some falls are likely as routines are changed which impacts on how people listen to the radio. All Radio reach is now at 50.1m a week, that’s up 0.3% on last quarter, but down 1.5% on last year. 86% of the population listens to the radio each week. This quarter saw the lowest ever reach for listening to the radio via AM/FM with just 27.1m listening via that platform compared with 35.2m who listen via DAB. It was also the lowest ever number of hours on AM/FM with 268m or just 26.2% of listening hours being via AM/FM."

Despite the growing abundance of content that connected consumers have access to, Gracenote’s 2025 Automotive Infotainment Report says drivers “overwhelmingly” listen to radio the most. “For entertainment lovers, the expanding wealth of media choice now permeates every screen we own, except the ones in our cars,” the report says, underscoring how the vehicle remains one of the last frontiers for integrated digital media. Despite new options, radio’s ease and familiarity continue to make it the most-used in-car audio choice. “About half of the respondents in Gracenote’s in-car infotainment survey enjoy the live and local information they have access to, as well as the human element that the on-air personalities provide,” the report says.

WorldDAB Summit 2025 will convene broadcast leaders and digital radio experts from across the globe in Antwerp on 20 November to explore how DAB+ is powering the business of broadcast. Opening the event, Jacqueline Bierhorst, President of WorldDAB – the global industry forum for DAB+ digital radio – will share insights into the continued global growth of DAB+. In a keynote panel, Jonathan Wall, Director, BBC Sounds and Charles-Emmanuel Bon, Secretary General, Radio France will join journalist and former Arcom board member Hervé Godechot to discuss how major public broadcasters are delivering public value through the launch of new stations on DAB+. The summit will also spotlight commercial DAB+ success stories from around the world. WorldDAB Summit 2025 will be held in-person at DPG Media, in the heart of Antwerp, Belgium. Registration is now open.

The NBTC (National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission) is proceeding with a regional trial of digital audio broadcasting using DAB+ technology on 14 October 2025, the first of its kind in Khon Kaen Province. The trial will cover Khon Kaen, Maha Sarakham, and Roi Et provinces, marking a significant step forward for Thailand in its digital radio development. Air Chief Marshal Thanapan Haricharoen, NBTC official, revealed that this digital audio broadcasting trial and test represents another significant step forward for Thailand in its push towards digital radio. In addition to being the first regional trial, it also involves the development of transmitters and broadcasting network controls entirely by Thais.