News

International broadcasters are among those looking to enter the upcoming commercial DAB+ multiplexes. Marcel Procházka, director of the legal and regulatory department of Czech Radiocommunications, confirmed this to Czech Radio's Digital Radio portal. The CRA board member also said that some radios are already in the process of signing contracts with the operator. "There is a lot of interest in joining our DAB+ multiplexes, whether it is the whole network or regions, and there are also important companies from abroad that are not in analogue FM broadcasting," Procházka told Digital Radio. The operator does not want to specify at the moment which entities are involved. The company is likely to be more specific during the summer.

The handover from Virage Radio to Virgin Radio took place on 15 April at 4pm. This is the first stage in Espace Group's strategy to relaunch the brand in France. On FM, of course, but also on DAB, where Virgin Radio, 'THE rock station', is hoping to establish itself rapidly. Virgin Radio is taking over the FM and DAB+ broadcasts of Virage Radio, an Espace Group station already firmly established with a rock programme in over 30 French cities. Virgin Radio has been broadcasting its programmes on FM (Lyon, Grenoble, Chambéry, etc.) and DAB+ in France's main cities (Paris, Marseille, Bordeaux, Nantes, Nice, Lille, Strasbourg, etc.).

Media Broadcast is expanding the DAB+ transmitter network in Saarland and is putting another transmitter site into operation with the Merchingen transmitter. Merchingen is the third transmitter for the state-wide private DAB+ multiplex with 15 private radio programmes. The two existing transmitters Saarbrücken-Schoksberg and Spiesen will receive a power increase at the end of April. The new transmitter site in Merchingen in Saarland is now in operation and provides listeners in the north-west of the federal state with the attractive programme package of the state-wide DAB+ multiplex. The transmitter reaches in particular the region around the district town of Merzig and covers the A8 motorway.

After many years of planning and negotiations, RAS received the final allocation of the two transmission blocks 10B and 10D for the broadcasting of DAB+ digital radio programmes in South Tyrol from the Ministry. RAS has been waiting a long time for these licences. Until now, the Ministry had only issued provisional licences. Thanks to the good cooperation with the Communications Guarantee Authority AGCOM and the Ministry, two DAB blocks were made available for the public broadcasting service of the province of South Tyrol RAS in the final frequency planning for 2022. With the final allocation of frequencies, RAS now has long-term planning security and can guarantee the service for the next 20 years.

On 16 April, NDR put the DAB+ transmitter Karenz in the district of Ludwigslust-Parchim in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern into operation. This can be received on channel 12B (225.648 MHz). The transmitter covers the region between Ludwigslust and Elbe. Radio listeners there can now benefit not only from the improved sound quality and stability of DAB+ reception, but also from the much-requested coverage of NDR 1 Radio MV. Indoor reception is possible in Eldena, Malliß, Neu Kaliß and Dömitz. NDR's DAB+ programme offering includes the NDR 1, NDR 2, NDR Kultur, NDR Info and N-JOY programmes, all of which can still be received via FM. Radio listeners can also tune in to NDR Schlager, NDR Blue and NDR Info Spezial exclusively on digital radio.

Radio Exe has launched an all speech radio station for Devon on DAB digital radio called Devoncast Radio. It features sport, talk, arts and culture, with podcasts produced in or about the county across much of the south of Devon, together with local news and what’s on guides. Station manager Brad Hardware says: “Audiences for podcasts are growing, and radio is an ideal way to reach a larger audience, especially people who don’t search out or download content. Devoncast Radio means people can now listen on digital radio, at home or in the car, and hear a broad range of content.”

The BBC is consulting on proposals to evolve BBC Radio’s portfolio to suit the needs of modern audiences with plans to launch four new, distinctive, digital music stations on DAB+ as well as proposals to extend the broadcasting hours of Radio 5 Sports Extra. They will give more choice to those currently underserved by the BBC, and whom Ofcom have challenged the BBC to do more for. The consultations will run for six weeks from 14 February 2024 to 27 March 2024. The music stations – extensions to BBC Radio 1, BBC Radio 2 and BBC Radio 3 - look to delve deeper into specific genres and periods of music with context, curation and storytelling.

Australia's media regulator ACMA has published a report revealing that since 2017 the number of weekly AM listeners has declined 33% (now at 23%); weekly FM listeners have declined 25% (now at 56%); radio over the internet has dropped from 12% to 9% and DAB has remained steady.

After two years at the helm of Commercial Radio & Audio, Ford Ennals has resigned, with Jo Dick, CRA chief commercial officer, taking on the CEO role while the board undertakes a search for a new CEO. “I’ve had the privilege to successfully guide the CRA through a key period of transition. I extend my gratitude to the CRA team and our members,” stated Ennals. “I am confident that the commercial radio and audio sector is well-positioned for future growth and success.” Ciaran Davis, chair of the CRA Board, thanked Ennals for his leadership of CRA, stating “Ford has made some great contributions during his tenure with CRA. We wish him well for his future role.”

Mallorca Radio Group now has four new DAB radio stations on air since 27 February. The new stations are aimed at German and English tourists who are already familiar with DAB in their home countries, and know about its ability to offer more choice to the listener. Mallorca Radio Group's DAB Project Manager, Mateo Zanoguera Alfaro, said they realised they needed to enhance their offer after being contacted by listeners asking for the opportunity to listen to their own radio stations.