News

2wcom’s products for DAB network distribution now support EDI over SRT (Secure Reliable Transport). This innovative feature is set to revolutionize the industry by providing a reliable backup for transmitter feeds and enabling the flexible establishment of new transmitter sites. The innovation is incorporated into 2wcom’s renowned products, the DAB-4c (EDI gateway at the headend) and the DAB-4s (EDI receiver at the transmitter sites), ensuring a seamless and uninterrupted operation of DAB broadcast networks. The EDI over SRT technology offers a dependable backup solution for satellite feeds, which are often the primary source for DAB transmissions. The EDI over SRT technology offers a dependable backup solution for satellite feeds, which are often the primary source for DAB transmissions.

Dębica, Ropczyce and Sędziszów Małopolski, all located in the Podkarpackie Voivodship, are the latest cities in Poland where reception of the Polish Radio's DAB+ multiplex has improved in the last six months. This is a result of the launch of the penultimate of the transmitters announced in last year's tender - in Głobikowa on channel 11A. According to Emitel, the transmitter was launched on 16 April at 17:35. The ERP power is 5 kW. Within the Podkarpackie version of the multiplex, it is possible to receive Jedynka, Dwójka, Trójka, Czwórka, Polskie Radio 24, Polskie Radio Kierowców, Polskie Radio Dzieciom, Polskie Radio Chopin, Radio Poland, Polskie Radio dla Ukrainy and Radio Rzeszów. The last of the planned locations is Żelazno near Choczew in Pomerania. This transmitter is not expected to be launched until next month at the earliest.

The operator Towercom has put into operation the twelfth DAB+ transmitter, at Banská Bystrica - Suchá hora. This will significantly improve coverage in the wider surroundings of the towns of Zvolen and Banská Bystrica. According to Towercom, the current total coverage of the population with digital radio signal is over 70%. In addition, there are plans to launch three more transmitters this year, provisionally in July 2024. "We have planned the placement of the transmitting antennas to a height of nearly 300m on the mast. We had to dismantle the original, no longer in use, antenna system and, after structural modifications to the mast, install a multi-storey antenna system with vertical polarisation, suitable for T-DAB+ broadcasting. Our priority is to ensure reliable coverage and high quality of service for our customers and to the satisfaction of radio listeners," said Zsolt Nagy, Towercom's Director of Technical Development.

During the "DAB+ Digital Radio" conference organised by RTVE and WorldDAB, national and international experts agreed that Spain urgently needs a new Digital Radio Technical Plan that takes into account the reality of Spanish legal radio, that guarantees its stability, its legal security and allows its future evolution, so that the sector can start the DAB+ deployment in the shortest possible time, as it happens in the rest of Europe. The event, held in Prado del Rey, was inaugurated by Concepción Cascajosa, acting president of RTVE, who pointed out that Spain is at a key moment to give a boost to this format. "Radio is not only a means of communication, it is a social reality, a service in which we are framed as a public service to guarantee the right to information", she said. Jacqueline Bierhorst, President of WorldDAB, then addressed the current European situation and future plans, radio services and audience data, and the effect of digitalisation on the radio business. In her opinion, "it is very important to work together, commercial radio and public radio" and she stressed the need for a technical plan for the launch of DAB+ in Spain, preferably within a year.

Applications are now welcome with Ofcom for Round Six of the small-scale DAB digital radio licensing process. There are 27 areas on the list, and four other areas (Swansea, Warminster, Wigan and and an amended Wetherby) will also be re-advertised after multiplexes failed to materialise in those areas. The closing date is 5pm on Thursday 18th July 2024. Ofcom is currently looking at the applications for Round 5 and the awards are expected soon.

Audio advertising has increased by 13.1% so far this year. This is according to recent figures from the Norwegian Association of Media Agencies. All other media categories are falling. The media barometer for March shows audio advertising has increased by 13.1%. Radio itself has an increase of 7% and accounts for about 8 million of the 16. "It's great to see that audio, as the only channel so far this year, continues its rise. This is according to Harald Eide-Fredriksen, Director of Negotiations for dentsu, in a press release from the Norwegian Association of Media Agencies. "Digital development has ensured that they are going the opposite way of TV, and can offer increased potential weekly coverage in all age groups," says Eide-Fredriksen.

In Saarland, the third transmitter site for the state-wide private DAB+ multiplex with 16 radio programmes was put into operation last week in Merchingen. The additional site improves reception in northern Saarland, particularly in the Merzig-Wadern district. In addition, the output of the two transmitter stations Schoksberg and Spiesen, which have already been in operation since the end of 2021, will be increased from 23 April 2024. This will result in a total coverage of around 82% of the area of Saarland. "With these measures, together with the platform operator Media Broadcast, we have already achieved our goal of also supplying the greater Merzig area with digital private radio programmes two years earlier than originally planned," says Ruth Meyer, Director of the Saarland State Media Authority.

The conference takes place in the RTVE Corporation Assembly Hall on April 18, coinciding with the day RTVE begins broadcasts on DAB+ in Pamplona. The day's programme includes sessions not only aimed at analyzing the effects that the arrival of DAB+ has had for public radio, but also for private radio. interim President of RTVE, Concepción Cascajosa will inaugurate the day's proceedings. Delegates will hear from broadcasters in The Netherlands, France, Germany Norway and Italy who join the conference to share why DAB+ has been essential for radio's success in their country.

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.).