News

U.DAB, North London’s new multiplex and the largest “Small Scale” DAB multiplex in the UK, launches on 5 January 2026, with 26 stations on board. The multiplex has previously been operating in Trial form with three transmitters. The newly launched, fully licensed multiplex, now has double the number of transmitters, covering four million adults across North and Central London. The resulting improved coverage, and increased audience, will provide a far better listening experience for the wide range of radio stations carried on it. Martin Spencer, founder of U.DAB Ltd said: “We can now look forward to an exciting future with a fantastic spectrum of community and independent local commercial stations on U.DAB.”

On December 24, 2025, the NBTC (National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission) approved Standard Operation Procedures (SOPs) for disaster and emergency warnings in broadcasting. This mandates that all licensed radio stations must follow these guidelines and procedures. The aim is to expand the channels for public disaster and emergency warnings through radio networks, in addition to cell broadcasts and digital terrestrial television. Air Vice Marshal Thanaphan Hraicharoen, an NBTC commissioner, stated: "Thailand should have a digital DAB+ radio network with disaster warning functionality that meets international standards.”

Tunisian Radio and Algerian Radio have signed a twinning and cooperation agreement aimed at achieving integration and enhancing the competitiveness of public media in the two brotherly countries, based on the strong historical and cultural ties between them and their shared desire to develop audio media and its role in preserving memory and strengthening shared identity. Among the most important provisions of this agreement concluded today between the two parties is focusing on the exchange of experiences in the field of transition from analogue to digital broadcasting (DAB+). This agreement was signed between Tunisian Radio and Algerian Radio within the framework of the 23rd session of the Tunisian-Algerian Joint High Commission held in Tunis.

Astra Radio has been available via Broadcast Services' DAB+ multiplex since Monday, December 22, marking a significant step in expanding its coverage in the Czech Republic. This new channel distributes Astra Radio's signal to areas where it was not previously available. The station now reaches Central Bohemia, the Pardubice Region, Vysočina, and Moravia. Astra Radio was previously available in Prague, Plzeň, České Budějovice, and Karlovy Vary via the COLOR DAB+ multiplex. Expansion into another network allows the station to reach listeners in other regions. Astra Radio complements Fresh Radio, Energic, Čas, and Čas Rock in this network, which are broadcast with a uniform data rate of 96 kbps. Astra Radio is the first to have a value of 64 kbps.

On 1 January 2026, Vatican Radio officially became part of the Dab Italia multiplex. The station had been broadcasting digitally for years via EuroDab Italia. A few weeks ago, it was activated as a “test” channel on Dab Italia. At the turn of the year from 2025 to 2026, the change of multiplex became official and Vatican Radio can now only be heard on Dab Italia.

The new Radio Bruno Latina has launched in Tuscany. The station, which began broadcasting in mid-December, plays reggaeton, salsa, baciata and dembow music. It can be heard on channel 6B of Media Dab Toscana.

Since 1 January 2026, the radio station has also been available in North Rhine-Westphalia via DAB+. In North Rhine-Westphalia, the nationwide information and discussion programme is broadcast on channel 9D of the state-wide multiplex, replacing the OLDIE ANTENNE programme that was previously broadcast there.

News for Radio Alfa Lombardia. The station, based in Castel Goffredo (Mn) and broadcasting on FM at 88.8 MHz, now has new DAB+ coverage. A few days ago, it was connected to channel 6A of Lombardia Dab, for the provinces of Brescia and Mantua. For Radio Alfa Lombardia, therefore, this is a “digital” territory that has to do with its own area of relevance.

Coverage for Rai networks' DAB+ is growing significantly. This was announced by RaiWay. The 12 broadcasters belonging to the mux achieved 56% coverage in May 2025 with 62 operational systems. To date (end of 2025), the number of transmitters has risen to 179, with coverage exceeding 70%, but that's not all. In the coming year, the number of installations is expected to reach 275, which will bring coverage to over 85% by the end of 2026. This significant expansion will therefore enable the overwhelming majority of Italians to enjoy DAB+ signals, with the entire digital offering of Rai Radio.

Europe’s most listened-to artist on radio in 2025 was Ed Sheeran while Alex Warren's hit song “Ordinary” emerged as the most listened-to song across European radio. The results are published as part of Radioplayer’s annual overview of actual radio listening. Unlike traditional radio charts, which measure what is broadcast, RADIO PLAYED 2025 reveals what listeners actually chose to listen to across platforms, countries and moments, and is based on aggregated listening data from the Radioplayer platform. Beyond music, RADIO PLAYED 2025 also reflects how radio is used across Europe. Paris recorded the longest average listening sessions of any city, while 27 November became the single biggest radio day of the year, driven by an intense international news cycle that brought audiences back to live radio at scale.