News

The digital radio world in Austria is growing again: according to the latest radio survey, around 1.4 million Austrians regularly listen to private radio stations via DAB+. This growth is mainly due to the new digital offerings from DAB+. For the first time, the radio survey included DAB+ programmes that launched on MUX III in June 2024. They are achieving considerable reach and actively contributing to the growth and diversity of the domestic audio landscape. The recent increase in market share is almost entirely attributable to the new offerings and their DAB+ distribution. The widest audience is thus estimated at 35 per cent (Radio Test in the 14 to 49 age group, supplemented by unrecorded stations and, above all, unrecorded older users).

Commercial Radio & Audio (CRA) has welcomed the latest GfK Survey 5 results, with commercial radio reaching 12.5 million weekly listeners, up 183,000 year-on-year (YOY), powered by strong growth in the 25-64 demographic which increased by 238,000 listeners to 7.8 million. The latest survey reports 6.6 million Australians tune in from their place of work, and 2.1 million listen at home. While in-car listening accelerated with 248,000 additional listeners YOY to reach 10.3 million, meaning 8 out of 10 (83%) commercial radio listeners tune in while driving. "The popularity of in-car listenership demonstrates the importance of the essential news and information services we provide each and every day. This is an extraordinary endorsement coming directly from our listeners," said Lizzie Young, CEO of CRA.

DAB+ listening in GfK Radio 360 Survey 5 saw, mostly, business as normal with CADA most listened to in Sydney, smooth fm No 1 in Adelaide, Brisbane and Perth and smooth relax usurping Coles Radio in Melbourne. There were some additional results that reflected the metro survey. In Sydney the biggest improver was KIIS 90s, with KIIS 1065 and Kyle and Jackie O on breakfast also seeing a spike in listening. By contract 96FM in Perth, which dropped, also saw a 20K cume decrease to their 96FM 80s station. Coles Radio in Melbourne were down 40,000 too, with smooth relax there the only station with more than 100K cume listeners. TikTok Trending performed well in Sydney and Melbourne, so too, in the latter, the ABC stations.

Fresh Radio began broadcasting on Broadcast Services' digital radio network after 9 a.m. In connection with this, it announced its new programming and presenters. Originally an Ostrava metropolitan station, it can now also be heard in South Moravia, the Vysočina region, and Prague, for example. Fresh Radio is broadcast in DAB+ in HE-AAC codec with a data rate of 96 kbit/s. It is the third station in the Broadcast Services network alongside Radio Čas and Radio Čas Rock.

In another of this year's series of short interviews with WorldDAB members exhibiting at IBC2025, George Cernat, Xperi’s senior director of automotive connected media, says it’ll be showcasing DTS AutoStage connected radio platform in a stunning BMW X3. Xperi is redefining the in-car radio experience through its hybrid radio platform, DTS AutoStage, and its broadcaster-focused AIM solutions.

In the latest of this year's series of short interviews with WorldDAB members exhibiting at IBC2025, Jens Schroeder, Managing Director, RFmondial, says its DAB modulator / exciter module LV5e is ready for shipping and has been tested with DAB+ transmitters showing equivalent performance compared to other solutions. RFmondial offers professional products and services for the digital broadcasting industry.

Estonia, in Northern Europe, has just officially launched digital radio. The news was broken at Radiodays Asia by WorldDAB President Jacqueline Bierhorst. Speaking to James Cridland during an interview in the PodcastDay stream of the conference, Bierhorst said DAB+ radio is now in 67 countries, about one third of the world. There are about 150 million receiver devices in the world and almost all new cars across Europe now come with DAB+ as standard. “It’s not about switching off AM or FM, it is more about how much more you can do with DAB+. You can also save money on transmission and that gives the radio industry better ROI. “DAB+ helps grow income and grow radio,” said Bierhorst. “It allows you to grow at very low cost. You can grow your coverage area and the choice of formats to give your listeners.”

With its audience growing, LA GRANDE MUSIQUE, a new classical music radio station that has been broadcasting in Paris for several months, is expanding its programming schedule with new shows. Sixty years after France Musique and forty years after Radio Classique, the new national classical music radio station LA GRANDE MUSIQUE has finally been broadcasting in Paris and the Île-de-France region since March 2025 on a DAB+ terrestrial frequency, a sign of modernity and listening comfort. LA GRANDE MUSIQUE already has a growing audience across its multiple digital channels, with nearly 110,000 monthly digital listeners. LA GRANDE MUSIQUE, the classical music radio station, is available in most cars with DAB+ in Paris, soon also in Nevers, Niort, Châteauroux and Blois.

With its audience growing, PANAME! the quintessentially Parisian French music radio station is expanding its programming schedule with new shows. Médiamétrie shows the French music station, well known to listeners in the capital, now has 136,000 listeners per week in the Ile-de-France region (a 10.6% increase in one year), with a total audience of 366,000 listeners. The PANAME! brand's recognition, which is also growing steadily, now exceeds 22.5% in the Ile-de-France region, representing a 10.5% increase in one year (source: HDE Médiamétrie April-June 2025). PANAME! the radio station for the greater Paris area dedicated to French songs and beautiful songs with lyrics, is available in most cars with DAB+ in Paris, Rouen, and soon in Nevers as well.

Join WorldDAB President Jacqueline Bierhorst in conversation with renowned radio futurologist James Cridland at Radiodays Asia 2025 for an insightful session on how DAB+ is revitalising radio, driving ROI, and expanding the global audio market. Explore how DAB+ enables broadcasters to retain control of their distribution channels and compete on equal terms with global tech platforms for “share of ear.” This session will highlight how DAB+ is empowering radio to thrive in the digital age. Bierhorst will also introduce the latest developments in the DAB+ Automatic Safety Alert (ASA) system - potentially life-saving technology.