News

The UK media regulator, Ofcom, has published its "Audio listening in the UK" report, primarily focused on findings from its 2026 annual Audio and Podcast Surveys. One section covers how audio listening in cars is changing. "There have also been key changes in how people listen to the radio in-car," it notes, "with latest RAJAR data showing 61% of listening here is through a DAB set compared to 33% through analogue and 7% online. In 2006, the equivalent figures were 20% through DAB, 79% analogue and 1% online." Other findings include that "access to radio in cars is also important to drivers. According to data from IPA TouchPoints, car owners in Great Britain are twice as likely to say they would miss the radio if it weren’t there compared to non-car owners (61% vs 30%)."

Germany’s most-listened-to private radio station is expanding its summer listening experience in northern Italy and can now be received via DAB+ from Bolzano to Venice for the first time. Just in time for the start of the Whitsun holidays, ANTENNE BAYERN is bringing even more of that Bavarian way of life to Italy: in addition to the popular FM coverage around Lake Garda, which listeners have come to expect for decades, the radio station is now also broadcasting via DAB+ across large parts of northern Italy for the first time – from Bolzano to Venice, and from Lake Garda to the Adriatic coast. Particularly relevant for many holidaymakers from Bavaria: ANTENNE BAYERN will now be available digitally along the main roads south.

Arcom’s chairman, Martin Ajdari, presented the regulator’s 2026–2028 strategic plan on Tuesday morning. The regulator states its intention to pursue “a proactive and ambitious strategy” in order to “support the digital transition of radio, guarantee universal access to it and ensure the sustainability of its model”. Arcom also states its intention to work with the association Ensemble pour le DAB+ to strengthen the measurement of ‘DAB+ awareness, equipment, audience figures and broadcasting costs’.

As we were gearing up to move forward with Visionathon, we were met with some unexpected yet welcome news. A new DAB+ licence became available, and after significant work behind the scenes, Vision’s reach in Perth is set to expand through city-wide digital radio coverage. Vision’s journey in Perth dates back to the early 2000s, when a series of low-power FM stations were switched on across individual suburbs. For a city of nearly 2.5 million people, Australia’s fourth largest, the need for a stronger and more unified signal has been clear. Now, through the rollout of DAB+ digital radio, Vision will become accessible across the entire city.

So far, the Media Bohemia group has earned the most from digital broadcasting; according to the latest Radioprojekt results for the last quarter of last year and the first quarter of this year, its new DAB+ programs have attracted 140,000 listeners per day. The latest Radioprojekt report provided the first comprehensive audience figures for new digital radio stations—at least those operated by major media groups. It confirmed the strong position of the public sports station Český rozhlas Radiožurnál Sport, which was tuned in by an average of 72,000 listeners daily between October 1, 2025, and March 31, 2026.

Ireland now has its first terrestrial radio station dedicated entirely to classical music. all Classical Radio has launched online, on smart speakers and on DAB+ in Leinster under a 12 month trial licence from Coimisiún na Meán. The station is broadcasting from studios in Liffey Valley, Dublin, and is operated by RadioHub, the team behind Christmas FM, Rewind Radio and the Exploring Ireland podcast. Content Director Daragh O’Sullivan said: “all Classical Radio brings Ireland a new, uninterrupted home for classical music 24/7.”

Governments, regulatory bodies and the radio industry now have a new guide to assist with the introduction and expansion of digital radio. The global industry forum WorldDAB has published a practical guide entitled “DAB+ Public Policy Toolbox”. The free document is designed to speed up decision-making processes within public administrations and authorities planning to launch or expand DAB+. As FM frequencies are saturated in many areas, the industry regards the digital migration as the only sustainable option for further growth in the radio market.

The digital advertising landscape is expanding to include an innovative channel in consumers’ everyday lives: Excom Media is now taking over the exclusive marketing of Casablanca Advertising AG’s DAB+ in-car display advertising solution. The technology enables advertisers to display visual messages directly via the car’s radio display. The content is delivered via the so-called “Album Cover Service” of DAB+ technology. Originally designed for editorial content, this channel is now being used specifically for advertising messages. The adverts are broadcast every 15 minutes and are visible for three minutes at a time, ensuring regular repetition.

Confindustria Radio Televisioni welcomes the European Commission’s decision to recognise the validity of the Italian legislative initiative requiring all motor vehicles to be fitted with FM and DAB+ radio receivers. This is an important step towards ensuring that citizens have simple, free and immediate access to information, even in emergency situations or where there is no data connection. According to the President of Confindustria Radio Televisioni, Antonio Marano, ‘radio remains an essential safeguard for safety, pluralism and social cohesion. The European endorsement demonstrates that Italy has successfully defended a principle of public interest, even before industrial interests’.

New figures across BBC Radio show how listeners consumed the BBC’s audio content in the first quarter of 2026. According to the latest RAJAR figures for the period (5 January – 5 April 2026), the BBC continues to be the number one radio brand with 31.4m people tuning in each week for live output across BBC’s radio stations, with share up on last quarter at 43.4% and reach at 54%. This quarter is the first where figures are reported for the new brand extensions on DAB+ - Radio 1 Dance, Radio 1 Anthems and Radio 3 Unwind - which have all performed strongly since their launch in September 2025 with an average of 400K listeners each. BBC Radio 1 has a total brand reach of 8m 10+ listeners (7.4m 15+) with new brand extension Radio 1 Anthems reaching 433k 10+ (417k 15+) and Radio 1 Dance reaching 505k 10+ (437k 15+).