News

DAB enables an expanded assortment of broadcast channels, and an additional range of capabilities suited to the new connected listening environment presented by automobiles. What's more, the onset of digital radio has also opened the door to hybrid radio experiences capable of switching between streaming and broadcast sources for the same station.

Touching on the successful launch of regular DAB+ services in Austria, Digitalradio Österreich managing director Matthias Gerwinat highlighted that radio stations opting out of DAB+ should expect to lose market share, as DAB+ radio continues to grow both in Austria and across Europe.

According to the multiplex operator RTG Radio Technikum, all available frequencies for Vienna's second multiplex have been allocated. The multiplex covers the greater Vienna region as well as the northern part of the state of Burgenland in eastern Austria.

Radio experts from several countries across the ASEAN region attended the workshop on digital radio services implementation and business Models which took place on July 24 at Bangkok, Thailand. Speaking via video link, WorldDAB Vice President and CEO of Commercial Radio Australia Joan Warner congratulated Thailand on leading the way in the region following the launch of 20-month trial in Bangkok and the areas surrounding the capital, with a total of 11 stations on air.

Commenting on the Lower Saxony parliament's decision to end support for DAB+, WorldDAB president Patrick Hannon said the decision would have limited effects, if any at all, adding that with over 75 million receivers already sold worldwide, DAB+ has established itself as the central future platform for broadcasting. In Germany, over 12 million DAB+ receivers have already been sold.

The radio market does not have enough economic potential to drive the market penetration of 5G broadcast. Only when the 5G broadcast market for TV is established, there may be theoretical options for radio broadcasting. Consequently, this means even a market success of 5G broadcast for TV does not automatically mean a potential successful use for radio broadcasting.

Radio experts from across ASEAN attended yesterday's workshop on "Digital Radio Services, Implementation and Business Models" organised jointly by the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC), the Royal Thai Army (RTA), the Government Public Relations Department (PRO) and WorldDAB.

The local radio landscape in Wallonia-Brussels Federation is to be enriched by the launch of new a DAB+ community radio network. The broadcaster RCF has announced it has obtained a frequency on the new DAB+ community network to be launched in autumn 2019 covering all of the region.

In another step towards the national rollout of DAB+ in France the CSA has announced it has accepted 68 out of the 105 applications received for further DAB+ stations in Paris, Marseille and Nice. Authorisations will be issued before the end of 2019.

As DAB+ continues to grow across Europe, radio stations across Germany are uniting ahead of IFA Berlin to take part in a DAB+ themed day. As part of the event, broadcasters will be providing information about DAB+, the benefits it presents and the stations on air across the country, as well as organising various Q&As and interviews.