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The Swedish Media Authority has now published a list of companies that have applied for regional FM licences and DAB+ licences. As regards DAB+, Aftonbladet has applied for one licence, Bauer for three, DB Media for two, Viaplay for twelve, Mad Men for three, Nayomi Elias Bairu for one, NRJ for two, Prodraft for one, Radio Nova for two, Skärgårdsradion for one and Tre 14 Media Group for two. This means a total of 30 applications, which happens to be exactly the number of stations that can be accommodated in the two commercial DAB+ networks. The licences are for the period 1 August 2026-31 July 2034.

The ACMA has released new research highlighting key trends in Australian viewing and listening habits. The research comprises two reports which have been published on the ACMA website: How we watch and listen to content; and Trends and developments in viewing and listening 2024–25. The latter finds that "For the first time since 2017, overall radio ownership rose compared with the previous year, increasing to 43% (from 40% in 2024). Digital radio (DAB+) ownership also grew, reaching 26% (up from 23%) and more devices were capable of running on battery power (55%, up from 49% in 2024). Increases in both overall radio ownership and digital radio ownership were driven by younger Australians. Compared with 2024, more 18–44-year-olds owned a radio (27%, up from 18%) or a digital radio (21%, up from 14%)."

France’s DAB+ industry association, Ensemble pour le DAB+, has called on the French government to increase financial and political backing for digital terrestrial radio following the appointment of Catherine Pégard as minister of culture. The association says it “reaffirms the support of radio publishers for the development of DAB+” and intends to continue working with the new minister to promote what it describes as a “modern, sovereign and accessible” terrestrial distribution platform. It frames its appeal within what it calls a broader transformation of the audio sector, marked by changing listening habits and the need to maintain radio distribution “without intermediation from digital platforms.”

A new small-scale DAB service has gone live across parts of East Devon. ExeDab has extended its Exeter-based multiplex into coastal and market towns including Sidmouth and Honiton, bringing additional digital radio services to the area. To coincide with the expansion, Devon’s three small-scale DAB networks, ExeDab, TorDab and PlymDab, have introduced a spring offer enabling stations to access audiences across the county at a discounted rate. Paul Nero, managing director of Radio Exe, said: “This new investment in East Devon means listeners in growing towns such as Honiton and Sidmouth can now enjoy additional digital radio stations that cover their areas, while opening up new services for advertisers too.”

In 2025, people in Germany consumed media for an average of 10 hours and 53 minutes per day. Of this, 9 hours and 38 minutes were spent on audio and audiovisual content – including radio and television as well as audio and video streaming – equivalent to 88.5% of total media consumption. Compared with the previous year, both overall media consumption and the use of audio and audiovisual content remained stable. These are the key findings of the VAUNET Media Usage Analysis 2025, published on 16 February. Average daily audio consumption in 2025 amounted to 4 hours and 19 minutes, representing an increase of 6 minutes on the previous year (2024: 4 hours and 13 minutes). Of this, 3 hours and 9 minutes – the largest share – continued to be accounted for by weekday radio listening (2024: 3 hours and 3 minutes).

The third digital radio network has begun broadcasting from the Lanová site in Ostrava. Paradoxically, it belongs to the transmitter operator, Broadcast Services. Until now, the operator has covered the Ostrava region from Velký Javorník near Frenštát pod Radhoštěm. Before launching its own broadcasting from Lanová, it secured it for its partners – GG Omikron, which has Broadcast Services provide turnkey operation of its digital radio broadcasting networks, and RTI cz with its nationwide multiplex C. The last to launch from Lanová was its own Regional Network 9, which includes Čas, Čas Rock, Fresh Radio, Astra Radio, and Energic Radio.

ABC Radio Australia is now available on DAB+ digital radio in Australia, making it easier than ever for Pacific communities to connect with trusted news, music, sport and culture from home. Listeners in Australian capital cities, the Gold Coast and Launceston can tune in to ABC Radio Australia on DAB+, bringing the ABC’s international Pacific and Timor-Leste broadcast service to digital radio for the first time in Australia. ABC Radio Australia offers 24-hour programming including Pacific-focused news and current affairs, music, sport and cultural storytelling. The service has long been available internationally, and via the ABC Pacific website and ABC listen app, and its arrival on DAB+ expands access for audiences across Australia.

Radiocentre has announced that commercial radio in the UK achieved its highest-ever advertising revenue in 2025, hitting £747 million and surpassing the previous record of £740 million set in 2022. The record performance was driven largely by continued growth in digital audio revenues underpinned by strong broadcast and branded content revenues. Radiocentre’s CEO Matt Payton said: “Reaching record revenues underlines the strength of UK commercial radio and its evolving multiplatform offer. Advertisers are increasingly embracing the combined power of broadcast and digital audio, where scale, targeting and proven effectiveness drive results.”

During the press conference held on 27 February, on the occasion of the Sanremo Festival – broadcast by Rai1, Rai Radio2, Rai 4K and RaiPlay – Carlo Conti, presenter and artistic director of the event, appealed to car manufacturers: do not remove radios from vehicles. Conti stated: ‘I heard that they want to remove radios from cars: that would be a huge mistake. Radio is essential for me... The greatest satisfaction is driving around after Sanremo and listening to the songs from the Festival on the radio.’ These words are not simply nostalgic statements but reflect a broader concern about a phenomenon currently underway in the automotive sector: the elimination of traditional radio stations from the infotainment systems of new cars.

IB3 Radio will celebrate its 21st anniversary on Sunday, 1 March 2026, with four days of special live programming from the IB3 marquee on Passeig Sagrera in Palma. In addition, on 1 March IB3 will become the first autonomous community radio station in the State to broadcast across its entire territory on DAB+, a milestone that will open a new chapter for the public radio of the Balearic Islands: more modern, more stable and designed to reach the public more effectively. Following the switch-on in Ibiza, held on 30 January, and that of Menorca, carried out on 20 February, the culmination of the rollout will take place in Mallorca on 1 March. And finally, the Day of the Balearic Islands will also be the date on which the IB3 Música project is launched, a DAB+ music channel.