News

Factum Radioscape a leader in DAB radio technologies, is proud to announce its support for the FáilteDAB trial in Ireland by providing three OBSERVA Field Monitors for DAB signal decoding and analysis. The compact RF measuring devices will be used by the shareholders to assess and validate the coverage of their services using inbuilt GPS functionality to provide mobile drive surveys across the transmission area. The FáilteDAB trial, set to commence broadcasting imminently, is licensed by COMREG to the engineering company Foothold Communications. The trial aims to deliver a diverse range of content to listeners beyond that already provided by FM broadcasting, with potential expansion beyond the Leinster area during the license period.

Switzerland’s ongoing transition from FM to digital radio reached a key milestone with the switch-off of public broadcaster SRG SSR’s FM transmitters on Dec. 31. Three months on, listening figures show this step triggered significant changes in listening patterns, while the overall radio audience has remained stable. In Q1 2025, daily radio reach in the German-speaking part of Switzerland showed no decline compared to late 2024. Nicola Bomio, head of radio at CH Media, the country’s largest private radio group in the region, said, “The daily reach is still at the same level as in the second half of 2024.”

The media group Londa has agreed with České Radiokomunikace (CRA) to enter its stations into the DAB+ digital broadcasting system. Distribution will begin on Wednesday 23 April at 10am. Londa will distribute all three of its stations on the DAB+ multiplex of CRA nationwide. Apart from Radio Impuls, the analogue distribution of Czech Impuls and Rockzone 105.9 is only regional or local (medium wave, FM in Prague). Technical director Roman Culek confirmed the planned move to MediaGuru.cz. The distribution of all three stations is scheduled to start on Wednesday 23 April at 10 am. The bitrate will have a uniform value of 48 kbps in stereo mode. The only mono station in the CRA network will be Radio Bonton.

Ofcom has today awarded small-scale DAB multiplex licences for three more UK areas. Small-scale DAB is an innovative technology which provides a low-cost way for local commercial, community and specialist music services to take to the digital airwaves. Following a competitive process, where each applicant was judged against specific criteria, multiplex licences have been awarded for the following areas: Carlisle & Penrith: licence awarded to Cumbria Digital; Corby & Kettering: licence awarded to Kettering and Corby Broadcasting Company; East Devon: licence awarded to ExeDAB. Further licence awards for the remaining areas that were advertised in Round 6 will be announced in the coming weeks.

With the launch of 29 additional digital radio stations, the total DAB+ offering in Austria doubled to 60 stations in summer 2024 and can be easily received by 84% of the population via aerial. Four out of five DAB+ users (79%) who have already listened to the new stations consider the increased offering to be a great or very great enrichment. These are the findings of the ‘DAB+ Digital Radio Austria 2025’ study presented on 10 April 2025, which presents the awareness and reach of digital radio services. ‘This year's edition of our study on digital radio DAB+ once again shows a high level of enthusiasm for the advantages and added value of digital radio among all those who are familiar with the service,’ says Wolfgang Struber, Managing Director of RTR Medien.

A recent IPSOS study conducted on behalf of Rundfunk und Telekom Regulierungs-GmbH (RTR) confirms the high level of acceptance of DAB+ radio: 35% of DAB+ users have noticed the new programme diversity and a remarkable 79% of them experience the additional stations as a great or very great enrichment in their radio usage. With the doubling of the DAB+ programme offering to 60 stations in summer 2024, the Austrian radio landscape has changed fundamentally. "The results of the IPSOS study clearly show that the new DAB+ programmes are well received by listeners. Almost 80% see them as a real enrichment - DAB+ simply brings more radio for everyone", explains Roman Gerner, Chairman of the Austrian Digital Radio Association.

UK media regulator Ofcom has today published the provisional conclusions of its assessments of the BBC’s plans to launch four new DAB+ stations and extend the hours of Radio 5 Sports Extra. It said "For the BBC’s planned Radio 1 Dance, Radio 1 Anthems and Radio 3 Unwind stations, we found these stations would have a limited impact on fair and effective competition, which would be justified by the public value of the proposals. Therefore, we provisionally conclude that the BBC could proceed with its plans for these stations." The Corporation also proposed a BBC Radio 2 extension, and to extend the broadcasting hours of Radio 5 Sports Extra; the regulator provisionally concluded that the BBC may not carry out these changes, and will issue its final decisions by 4 July 2025.

On 12 March 2025, the 1000 W “SYES” DAB+ radio transmitter, which has been providing digital radio from the Baku TV Tower Complex since 2019, was replaced with a more modern and powerful 3000 W DAB+ transmitter of the same brand. As part of the implementation of the “Action Plan for the introduction and development of digital radio broadcasting in the territory of the Republic of Azerbaijan”, a 3000 W “SYES” DAB+ transmitter and an antenna-feeder system were installed at the Gulistan Radio and Television Broadcasting Station, and the digital radio network was expanded. In the Central Aran region, Agsu, Shamakhi and Ismayilli districts, as well as in the adjacent territories, uninterrupted reception of 12 radio programs is ensured.

After the NBTC announced criteria for permits to use radio frequencies for temporary testing and experimentation, the NBTC meeting on March 26, 2025 approved two operators to conduct testing for six months, namely: 1. The Dharma Radio Station Group, Block 9A in the Bangkok and surrounding areas. Stations participating include Dharma for the People Station and Santi Radio Station; 2. The Khon Kaen Station Group: block 6C in the areas of Khon Kaen and Maha Sarakham, with stations such as Khon Kaen Mahanakhon Radio Station, Sai Fah Radio Station, Thai Local Radio Station, etc. “The permission to test DAB+ digital radio this time is another step forward in the development of the broadcasting business in Thailand,” said Air Chief Marshal Dr. Thanapan (NBTC).

On Friday, the last day of the call for applications to be one of the 12 radio stations in Luxembourg's DAB+ multiplex, entrusted to BCE, the founder and partner of CBTW and investor in Tera House, Damien Chasseur, submitted an application. The aim is to bring Crooner Radio to Luxembourg. On the final day of the government's call for applications to be one of the twelve radio stations to be included in the Dab+ multiplex, the founder and partner of CBTW finally submitted his application to bring to Luxembourg an FM station that is fairly well known in France: Crooner Radio. "I've always been eclectic. And in applying, I want to bring a new offer to Luxembourg with the DAB+ and not just copy and paste," he explains.