News

WorldDAB will be taking part in BroadcastAsia 2026 in Singapore, joining industry leaders to discuss the future of digital and hybrid radio. Bernie O’Neill, Project Director at WorldDAB, will join Nick Piggott, Project Director at RadioDNS, for the panel discussion: “Digital and Hybrid Radio for Future Audio Experience”, moderated by Amal Punchihewa, Distinguished Lecturer, IEEE-BTS. The session will explore how broadcast and IP technologies together can deliver richer, more resilient and more inclusive audio experiences, from hybrid radio and enhanced listener engagement to the growing importance of resilience and Automatic Safety Alerts (ASA) for emergency warning systems.

With the broadcast and automotive sectors undergoing rapid transformation, WorldDAB will bring industry leaders together in Frankfurt on 11 June for WorldDAB Automotive 2026. Taking place at a pivotal moment for radio’s position in the connected car, the event will feature the first presentation of significant new international research into in-car radio listening. The 2026 multi market Car Buyer’s Research, conducted by Fifty5Blue (formerly Kantar), provides a detailed look at how drivers use audio in the car, what they expect from radio, and how prominence, defaults and user experience shape listening behaviour. The findings offer robust evidence to support decision making across the automotive, broadcast and regulatory communities.

BBC Radio 4’s Long Wave (LW) service will close on 27 June 2026. The BBC says: "We will broadcast daily on-air reminders to help everyone switch to other ways of listening. The company that owns and operates the LW broadcast equipment has confirmed that the system is reaching the end of its life. As LW is an older broadcasting technology, recent years have seen a decline in listener numbers, with the majority now opting for FM and DAB digital platforms. Given these factors, investing in upgrading the LW equipment is not considered a cost-effective solution for licence fee-funded services. To facilitate this transition away from LW and ensure it is as smooth as possible, we will be producing comprehensive guidance on alternative ways to listen."

The global growth of DAB+ means more markets are now exploring how to launch broadcast digital radio, and seeking examples of successful policies. To support this, WorldDAB is launching its DAB+ Public Policy Toolbox. It focuses on the regulatory aspects that drive two key elements of the implementation of DAB+: broadcasters' commitment and listeners' uptake, delivering clearer policy choices, faster rollout, and reduced risk. We’re launching the Public Policy Toolbox on Tuesday 19 May with the author of the Toolbox, David Fernández Quijada, Research Director of South 180, and WorldDAB President, Jacqueline Bierhorst, in a special webinar edition of The Media Club, hosted by media commentator and DAB+ multiplex operator, Matt Deegan. Register now for free to join us.

As DAB+ technology continues to gain ground in new markets, consistent and recognisable design and marketing communication becomes increasingly important. The DAB+ styleguide was developed by ARD for the German market, and given the international relevance of coherent DAB+ design and marketing, it is made available free of charge from the WorldDAB website and may be adopted as a reference framework by organisations and partners worldwide. The latest update builds on the DAB+ design styleguide established in 2017. The updated guidelines now cover all media, including online applications, social media, moving image formats and radio, and define minimum requirements for wording and verbal brand communication.

Following an in-depth review of the applications, the Media Council of the Bavarian Regulatory Authority for New Media (BLM) today decided who will be awarded the DAB capacity in the contiguous digital terrestrial coverage area of Upper Bavaria-Swabia, Middle Franconia and Upper Franconia, which was put out to tender at the end of last year: The licence has been awarded to CHILLOUT ANTENNE. Dr Thorsten Schmiege, President of the BLM: “What the BLM predicted in its audio strategy became reality last year: by 2025, daily usage of digital reception channels will be on a par with FM for the first time. With today’s decision, DAB+ is receiving a further boost directly from Antenne Bayern. I welcome that.”

For listeners in the coverage area of the Oberammergau/Laber transmitter, the FM frequencies for five BR radio stations will change from 19 May: Bayern 1, Bayern 2, Bayern 3, BR Klassik and BR24. From the Oberammergau/Laber site, the BR will in future broadcast these programmes exclusively via DAB+. You will still be able to receive them via FM on the frequencies of the Grünten or Hühnerberg transmitters. This may require a new station search on your FM radio. This is due to the closure of the Oberammergau/Laber FM transmitter for economic reasons and to improve energy efficiency in broadcasting.

The radio station Ráádio Presstón is expanding significantly and broadening its reach via DAB+. The station is now part of the Play.cz network, which was officially taken over by České Radiokomunikace this past April. The new distribution is being broadcast from Ústí nad Labem – Buková hora on channel 10C and Trutnov – Černá hora on block 10B. The capital is covered by the Prague – Žižkov transmitter on channel 8B, which has a power output of nearly 20 kW. In northern Moravia, signal distribution is provided by Ostrava – Hošťálkovice on block 5A, while southern Bohemia is covered by České Budějovice – Kleť. Other key points in the network include Brno – Kojál on block 7A and the northern Bohemian peak of Liberec – Ještěd within block 10C.

South Africa’s main commercial radio body has become the first African organisation to join the Radio Ready connected car campaign. Founded by Bauer Media Group, European Broadcasting Union, BBC and several European broadcasters and radio groups, now the National Association of Broadcasters South Africa has joined the industry initiative. This extends Radio Ready’s reach beyond Europe and Australia as connected car distribution becomes a bigger priority for broadcasters worldwide. More than 23 broadcasters, industry groups and associations are now involved in the campaign, which launched in summer last year to support radio’s visibility and accessibility in connected vehicles. WorldDAB is part of Radio Ready and the initiative will be featured at WorldDAB Automotive next month.

Following the successful 2025 launch on the Fáilte DAB trial in Leinster, Onic is pleased to announce a significant geographical expansion of its DAB+ portfolio to a wider Irish audience. As part of the expanded trial, Onic launches Onic Hits, Onic 80s, Onic 90s, Onic Country & Onic Irish. This strategy is driven by insights from the group's proprietary research project “Sound Affects 4 - The Power of Connection” The research highlighted the impact that Onic DAB+ stations are already having with 62% of those respondents aware of Failte DAB in Leinster saying they’d listened to an Onic station.