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From 5 September, Bayerischer Rundfunk will also broadcast its DAB+ service from the Burgwindheim transmitter site in Upper Franconia. The new location will significantly improve DAB+ reception in the northern Steigerwald region and in Neustadt an der Aisch. DAB+ allows listeners to receive popular radio stations such as Bayern 1, Bayern 2, Bayern 3, BR-Klassik and BR24, as well as all purely digital BR programmes such as BR Heimat and BR Schlager, and many private stations in excellent digital quality. With the commissioning of the new transmitter site, BR's DAB+ transmitter network throughout Bavaria has expanded to 92 locations. In indoor spaces, 97.8 per cent of people in Bavaria can now listen to DAB+ radio (indoor reception).

After four years, Oldies Radio is returning to traditional radio broadcasting, replacing its former Prague and Tábor frequencies with nationwide DAB+ distribution starting in September. The station is currently available online in pilot mode. The music program and operations are handled by the team that was behind the launch of Radio Olympic and its subsequent transformation into Oldies Radio in 2007. For now, it is broadcasting without any hosts. The exact date of the launch of DAB+ distribution is not yet known to the public, but according to available information, it is unlikely to start on September 1. A more realistic date would be week 37, i.e. from September 8 onwards. Oldies Radio will be broadcast digitally via RTI cz's nationwide C network.

WorldDAB, the association that promotes the development of DAB digital radio, is among the presenters at this year’s IBC Show in Amsterdam. Radio World offers a sampling of what radio-interested attendees can expect. On Sunday, Sept. 14, WorldDAB President Jacqueline Bierhorst will open the association’s annual IBC Show session, which is themed “Shaping the Future of Broadcast Radio.” Bierhorst is no stranger to the IBC Show or commercial radio, having been involved in the industry since 1987. Her career includes launching and developing successful commercial radio and TV channels in her native Netherlands and Belgium. Bierhorst gave us insight into how she plans to take advantage of the three-day IBC Show.

RedTech talks to Nicola Bomio of CH Media. RedTech: "What surprises or challenges emerged during the FM-to-DAB+ transition, and how do the results compare to expectations?" Bomio: "In Switzerland, the complete FM switch-off is planned for the end of 2026. Preparations have been underway for 10 years. During this transition phase, it was a major surprise how quickly listeners adapted, especially in urban areas. Technically, the infrastructure rollout went smoothly, but educating the public required more effort than expected. Overall, early results exceeded expectations in terms of reach and engagement. It confirmed that, with the right communication, even big changes can be accepted by the public."

Pure Dance, the 2000s dance music station, is set to relaunch this September on small-scale DAB in Milton Keynes and Loughborough. The station first launched in 2004 and quickly became a central part of UK club culture, reaching close to a million monthly listeners while supporting music launches and campaigns with major labels. It was home to well-known DJs including Stu Allan, Slipmatt, Lisa Lashes and Matt Darey before going off air in 2006. Station founder Alex Kinch said: “The end of Pure Dance always felt like unfinished business. What started as us uploading archive shows turned into a full rebuild. Dance music deserves specialist radio made by people who live and breathe it – that’s what we’re bringing back.”

The Federal Council is turning a deaf ear to the National Council's Transport and Telecommunications Committee. On 1 July, the committee submitted a motion asking the government to abandon plans to switch off FM radio on 31 December 2026 and instead extend the current licences or even launch a new call for tenders for 2027. Bern has just responded with a resounding ‘no’. It points out that the industry itself is behind the planned end of FM. " More than ten years ago, private radio stations agreed on a migration plan with the SSR and decided to abandon FM by the end of 2024 at the latest,‘ it points out. It emphasises that it has already extended FM until the end of 2026. ’Between now and then, broadcasters have the opportunity to find individual solutions to successfully migrate to digital."

The Metro Group has launched Power Rock Radio, a new radio station dedicated exclusively to rock music. The station broadcasts around the clock and focuses on rock tracks from the 1990s to the present day. The focus is on well-known bands such as Foo Fighters, Linkin Park, Nickelback, Muse, Audioslave, Paramore, Kings of Leon and Green Day. Yvonne Stikbakke, managing director of the Metro Group, explains that Power Rock Radio was created in response to demand for a pure rock station in Norway. The aim is to offer uninterrupted music that focuses exclusively on rock. Power Rock Radio can be received via DAB+ in parts of eastern and southern Norway.

FD Mediagroep will broadcast the radio station BNR Business Beats nationwide via DAB+ from 1 September 2025. This has been confirmed by Marc Adriani, editor-in-chief of BNR. BNR Business Beats has been operating as an online radio station since 5 September 2024 and broadcasts non-stop pop, soul and funk, aimed at listeners at work. Like BNR Nieuwsradio, BNR Business Beats focuses on well-educated working professionals in the B2B, AB1 and HBO+ groups. BNR Business Beats contains advertising and will also broadcast the ANP radio news every hour from 1 September 2025.

WorldDAB, the global industry forum for DAB+ digital radio, has published updated guidelines for automotive manufacturers and broadcasters, aimed at ensuring the best possible in-car digital radio user experience (UX). The new version builds on extensive research and collaboration across the digital radio ecosystem. Produced by WorldDAB’s In-car User Experience Group, the guidelines provide essential recommendations on how digital radio should be presented and accessed in vehicles. Formed in 2016, the group brings together leading car manufacturers, broadcasters, and in-car technology providers with a shared goal: to place the user at the centre of digital radio design in the car.

In the first of this year's series of short interviews with WorldDAB members exhibiting at IBC2025, Ulrike Lauterbach, Sales Director, AVT Audio Video Technologies GmbH says the company's main focus for the Show is solutions for emergency warnings via DAB+ networks. AVT is a leading manufacturer of professional audio equipment for radio and television broadcasters.