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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.

The Ministry of Business and Made in Italy (MIMIT) has awarded Digital Radio Group Scarl Consortium usage rights for local DAB+ network operations. This assignment represents a significant step in local broadcasting, and is a prelude to the assignment of remaining areas, filling the gap between national and local operators.

The radio industry is calling for fast action to ensure smart technology does not stop Australians from easily accessing local radio content. Commercial Radio & Audio (CRA) has welcomed the recommendation made by the Senate Environment and Communications Legislation Committee, following the inquiry into the Communications Legislation Amendment (Prominence and Anti-siphoning) Bill 2023, that priority is given to the implementation of radio prominence on devices such as smart speakers. “We are pleased that the Committee has recognised that radio prominence on devices such as smart speakers needs to be a priority, but we need reassurance that connected cars will be included in any consultation,” said CRA Chairman and ARN Chief Executive, Ciaran Davis.

RADIO BOB! rockt Schleswig-Holstein can now also be received via DAB+ in Hamburg. The station has been activated on the 1st private DAB+ mux (channel 10D) for Hamburg. In addition to analogue broadcasting via FM in Hamburg and reception via the internet, fans of the station in the Hanseatic city can now also enjoy the programme in digital quality terrestrially via antenna.

Flash FM is 21 years old and began with a computer on a chair. From this small community radio station in Limoges in Haute-Vienne, a commercial medium emerged, with five FM frequencies, two DAB frequencies and 75,000 listeners per week in four regions in west-central France. Like many radio stations, Flash FM’s future lies in DAB+. Flash FM Managing Director Pascal Thomas sets out his strategy: “We’ll be able to communicate that we’re finally a regional radio station for the whole of Limousin. It’s a real satisfaction to be on FM throughout the region and to be developing DAB+ in the extended Limoges area, which represents coverage of Haute-Vienne and Corrèze. Plus, our arrival in Poitiers on DAB+, something that wouldn’t have been possible with FM.” Thomas adds that he would like to launch his station in the Charente region, in Angoulême and Cognac. “That’s the whole point of DAB technology; it’s a real objective.”

Virgin Radio, "THE rock station", is coming to France on FM and DAB+. Launched by Espace Group, a major player in media and digital audio, Virgin Radio will be on air on Monday 15 April at 4pm, with a special live broadcast featuring its entire team. 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 more than 30 French cities. Virgin Radio will broadcast its programmes on DAB+ in France's main cities (Paris, Marseille, Bordeaux, Nantes, Nice, Lille, Strasbourg, etc.) "Virgin Radio promises to broadcast the best in rock music in France's biggest cities on FM and DAB+, while remaining close to its listeners through the rock concerts it will offer them," Julien Fregonara, Managing Director of Espace Group, told La Lettre Pro de la Radio.

The Děvín water tower will be used in the future by Fiera Touch to distribute its radio multiplex, which will operate on channel 5C. From the same location, the company of entrepreneur Pavel Hajek plans to launch the television multiplex Regional Network 11 within a few weeks. "We are just about to complete the TV transmitter. We are waiting for the technology to be installed, the connectivity and the connection to electricity," Pavel Hájek, who is behind pHmedia, the operator of i-Vysočina.cz and KladNO.1, and Fiera Touch, one of the successful bidders for the future private DAB+ network, told the Digital Radio portal. For the territory of the capital city, the operator acquired channel 5C, on which the DR Deutschland network has been broadcasting in Germany for 13 years.