News

According to Aeranti-Corallo, the association representing Italy’s local broadcasters, the country’s communications regulator, Agcom, has called on the government to revise current legislation requiring digital radio receivers in new vehicles. Agcom warns that recent changes in automotive infotainment design are undermining the rollout of DAB+. The regulator issued a formal advisory (Resolution No. 316/24/CONS) following a market investigation into the development of terrestrial digital radio. The advisory highlights a growing loophole in the 2020 law mandating the inclusion of DAB+ receivers in vehicles equipped with traditional car radios.

Radio Bianconera has been connected on DAB+ in Piedmont. The broadcaster that follows Juventus, with various specialist programmes, now extends its ways of being heard. Already present in streaming via website and app, as well as in a visual version also via Samsung TV Plus, it is now present over the air in Turin and a good part of the region. It is broadcast via CR Dab Piemonte on channel 10B.

All Slovak Radio stations now offer unified additional services such as song titles, album artwork or the station logo in DAB+ digital broadcasting. The aim of STVR and the DAB+ digital radio broadcasting provider Towercom, which has been preparing and developing the additional content services for several months, was to enable uniform functionality. As a result, both DL (Dynamic label) and SLS (slide show) type of additional content services are currently displayed. It enriches the broadcast content, it inherently belongs to the DAB+ standard of digital radio broadcasting and we at STVR believe that our listeners will appreciate it with their support.

On Thursday, as part of the Assises de la radio conference, ARCOM President Martin Ajdari gave an overview of the medium now listened to by nearly 39 million listeners every day, including 10 million for local radio stations. The President of ARCOM called for the modernisation of broadcasting in the face of increased competition from digital platforms in the battle for attention, and pointed to the need to roll out DAB+ with the aim of not only increasing supply in a context of saturation of the FM band, but also guaranteeing universality, free access, control of distribution and quality of service. The President of ARCOM has therefore announced the creation of a working group to follow up the Radio White Paper, with the DGMIC and ‘Ensemble pour le DAB+’, the first meeting of which will be held before the summer.

A new temporary radio station has been launched by Fun Kids to help children understand and celebrate the Windrush Generation and its legacy. Fun Kids Windrush is now live on DAB+ in London and the south-east and online. The station includes content created in collaboration with London youth groups. Children who took part in radio workshops helped produce short features that will be aired across the schedule. Lloydie James Lloyd, Content Controller at Fun Kids, said: “We’re excited to have created something unique that will reflect the Windrush story for a new generation.” The project is funded by a Windrush Day 2025 Grant awarded to Inspiring Audio by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.

Media Bohemia Group enters DAB+ digital radio broadcasting DAB+. The company has applied for licences for eight stations, including all Hitradio stations. A test broadcast is scheduled for July. Media Bohemia has submitted eight applications split between two multiplexes. Four programmes should be included in the Czech Radiocommunications network, while the remaining four should be included in the RTI cz network. RTI cz was chosen for its ability to precisely target regions where local content is essential. It was according to the regional key that the company distributed its stations among the multiplexes. The first phase of broadcasting is scheduled to begin in mid-July in test mode, with full operation of all programmes planned from January 2026.

DAB+ digital radio broadcasting will continue to expand in 2025. Operators, it was said at the Digimedia conference, are planning new transmitters and new stations are heading to multiplexes. A significant step will be taken by the Media Bohemia group, which will add new programmes alongside existing stations. At the same time, investments by Czech Radio Communications, Teleko digital, Digital Broadcasting and pHmedia are continuing. According to Marcel Procházka from Czech Radio Communications, the network is being thickened mainly according to the needs of broadcasters. "We want to improve coverage in the tunnels, including Blanka, but also in other regions. DAB+ needs new digital stations and, above all, exclusive content, otherwise people will not be motivated to buy DAB+ receivers," he said.

Martin Ajdari, President of Arcom, at the Assises de la radio conference: "The first is the modernisation of broadcasting, i.e. the continued roll-out of DAB+. Your efforts in this direction are bearing fruit: almost 65% of the French population (and around 17,000 municipalities) are covered by at least one DAB+ multiplex. The proportion is similar for motorways (7,000 km out of a total of 11,700 km). DAB+ is spreading, gaining ground and making progress... To improve the management of these two projects (broadcasting and equipment) and to have a say in the public debate, we are going to set up a Radio White Paper monitoring group, with the DGMIC and ‘Ensemble pour le DAB+’, whose first meeting will be held before the summer."

Exactly one year after its launch on digital TV channel 92, Radio Firenze Viola continues to grow and innovate, bringing its voice over the airwaves. Now, in fact, the broadcaster is available on DAB+ in most of Tuscany. A novelty that will allow all Fiorentina fans and loyal listeners to find RFV even in the latest generation of cars, simply by selecting the digital frequency from the vehicle's infotainment system. To tune in, simply access the digital radio list within the CR Dab Toscana mux. 'A natural step for a radio that, over time, has been able to build a lively, passionate and always up-to-date community on the events of Fiorentina and Italian football.

Virgin Radio Pride UK is back for summer 2025, broadcasting from 1 June to 31 August across DAB in London and Scotland. Now in its fifth year, the LGBTQ+ pop-up station will again feature a full schedule of presenters, interviews, themed shows and documentaries focused on celebrating Pride and addressing community issues. New content for this year includes a run of documentaries every Sunday at 7pm. These will explore themes such as loneliness within the queer community, a retrospective on the Scissor Sisters’ debut album, and a re-airing of The George Michael Story. Dennie Morris, Director of Audio at News Broadcasting, said: “The award-winning Virgin Radio Pride has really become an appointment-to-listen pop up, year after year.”