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The Spanish Government has launched a "Public Consultation on the Draft Standard for the Promotion of Digital Terrestrial Audio Broadcasting with DAB+ Technology". It says: "the Secretary of State for Telecommunications and Digital Infrastructure (SETELECO) is analysing the possibility of initiating and processing a regulatory initiative aimed at adopting measures to promote the terrestrial digital audio broadcasting audiovisual communication service through the introduction and extension of DAB+ technology... this public consultation seeks the opinion of the subjects and the most representative organisations potentially affected by the future regulation. The deadline for submission is 28 July 2025.

Don’t count broadcast radio out yet. When it comes to in-car entertainment, radio’s live and local nature means that it’s still “made for the drive.” This good news was delivered by Frank Nowack of Ford Motor Company at WorldDAB Automotive 2025. WorldDAB, the international association promoting the DAB/DAB+ digital radio transmission standard globally, held the event on June 19 at the Palacio Neptuno hotel in Madrid, Spain. Nowack is Ford’s function owner of broadcast radio. Speaking during the session, “Broadcast radio: live, local and made for the drive,” he reinforced the idea that radio’s linear, local and live strengths power compelling drive time content that is tailor-made for today’s in-car listeners.

The Media Bohemia radio group plans to launch three more music stations this summer - the dance music-focused Radio Helax, Rock Radio Stage, which will focus on the rock festival scene, and Oldies Radio, which will offer a selection of classic hits from past decades. The station will appear in the full coverage DAB+ multiplex C of RTI CZ. The regional Hitradio stations will also get their own DAB+ version from September and will be gradually connected to the digital multiplexes. "Entering DAB+ digital broadcasting is a strategic step for us, which will allow us to reach new listeners and offer them quality content in a modern format. We are ready to invest in technology and programme innovation to strengthen our position in the market," announced Media Bohemia owner Daniel Sedláček.

Mario Frühauf, Managing Director of kronehit and Chairman of the Private Broadcasters Association (VÖP): "With the DAB+ stations, we have succeeded in switching from a single-brand to a multi-brand strategy. This was very important in order to put our company on a broader footing and to have the opportunity to address new target groups. The stations are positioned in such a way that they a) do not cannibalise our main channel kronehit and b) represent music clusters that are in high demand on the listener market. We did a lot of research beforehand and are more than satisfied with the launch. With Radio Rot-Weiss-Rot and Super 80s, we have already caught up with the reach of the established DAB+ stations within six months - a huge success."

Gorka Zumeta writes: "if radio has a future, it is in DAB+, whether Spanish private broadcasters like it or not. In fact, public and private, in the eyes of the administration, are condemned to understand each other. And the best thing is for them to start as soon as possible, and not wait for the European Union, under pressure from Belgians and Germans, to decide to publish a Directive obliging all member states to establish DAB+ by, say, 2035, the year in which FM would also be switched off. Before then, inevitably, there would be a switch-off of AM, which no longer makes sense in a network hyper-diversified in channels (AM, FM, DAB, DAB+, DTT, App, Webs). The most important reason for this decision would focus on the energy aspect and on the high level of pollution caused by AM and FM.

Ofcom has approved a request from Radio Ceredigion Limited to switch off two of its FM transmitters in west Wales. This means Nation Radio Wales will stop broadcasting on 97.4 FM (Lampeter) and 96.6 FM (Cardigan), continuing only on 103.3 FM from Blaenplwyf. The licensee explained that FM listening in the area has been falling, while digital platforms including DAB, online streaming and the Nation Player app have grown. Nation Radio Wales is available on four DAB multiplexes across Wales and online via nationplayer.com. Radio Ceredigion Limited also said the cost of maintaining three FM sites in sparsely populated areas had become unsustainable. Transmission costs have risen, local advertising revenue has declined, and ageing equipment would need replacement.

DAB+, the radio standard of today and digital successor to FM, will continue to be the most important driver of the digitalisation of radio broadcasting in 2025. As ‘ma Audio 2025 I’ shows, DAB+ is listened to by 30.3 per cent of the ‘widest audience’ (WHK) (ma 2024 Audio II: 29.1 per cent) and is used disproportionately in the target group of 30 to 59-year-olds in particular (WHK: 36.4 per cent - ma 2024 Audio II: 34.4 per cent). According to Funkanalyse Hörfunk Bayern 2025 (FAB), the daily use of digital reception channels is on a par with FM for the first time. DAB+ is the driving force here. 34 per cent of the population listen to radio via DAB+ on weekdays, which corresponds to 44 per cent of all radio listeners.

DABCOM's experimental DAB+ multiplex in Szczecin has suspended broadcasting. Henryk Bukowiec, president of the operator, says that work is underway to restore the broadcast. In addition, DABCOM wants to launch test MUXes in further Polish cities. "We are currently awaiting a new broadcasting permit in Szczecin. Ultimately, its content will be the same as before, but in the near future we should expect an expansion of the programme offer of this and other DABCOM multiplexes. We are also planning to launch multiplexes in other cities," Henryk Bukowiec, president of DABCOM tells Wirtualnemedia.pl. "The spread of this technology, which is a complement to analogue broadcasting and streaming, is evidenced by its development in our neighbours (Germany, the Czech Republic)," he adds.

A community radio station is expanding its reach and upgrading its broadcast facilities. Unity 101 in Southampton is now broadcasting on DAB digital radio across Hampshire and parts of Dorset following a ten-year extension to its broadcasting licence from Ofcom. The station, which first went on air in 2005, is run entirely by volunteers and serves as a voice for Asian and ethnic communities in the region. Programming is offered in multiple languages, including Hindi, Urdu, Punjabi, Polish, Mandarin, Tamil, and English.Ram Kalyan "Kelly," station manager and founder, said: "The new studio brings us into the next phase of community broadcasting – and with DAB, we can now reach audiences across a wider regional area. We’re still the same trusted voice, just on a bigger stage."

The Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union (ABU) has published its latest Future of News report, highlighting DAB+ Automatic Safety Alerts (ASA). "The second edition of Future of News Report on INNOVATIONS IN NEWS examines how AI and new technologies improve efficiency, personalize content, and enhance storytelling," the ABU says. The report features "Saving lives with DAB+ Automatic Safety Alerts," an update from Lindsay Cornell, Chair of WorldDAB's Technical Committee. "New technology means we now have a solution to the problem of mobile phone networks failing or being shut down during times of disaster or when terrorists strike," Cornell writes. "Called Automatic Safety Alerts, or ASA, this technology can protect the public during emergencies."