News

Digital listening share in the UK has increased to a new record of 56.8%, up from 52.4% in Q3 2018. Listening via DAB grew by 2 million hours (or by 0.5%) year on year to now account for 39.7% of all listening and 70% of digital listening. With 93% of new cars now coming with DAB as standard, the majority of in car growth was to DAB which increased by 13.1 million hours or 15.5%

The last 12 months have been an exciting period for DAB digital radio in Europe and beyond. As Brussels prepares to host the annual WorldDAB General Assembly, WorldDAB president Patrick Hannon touches on some of the most significant updates of the past year and the topics that will be covered over the two-day event.

The plan, which is set to be implemented no earlier than in June 2022, will include national and local frequency allocations, and address the issue of interference with neighbouring countries such as France, Croatia and Greece, amongst others.

Ofcom has today published a consultation on a proposed variation to Talksport’s national analogue radio licence, seeking to reduce its medium wave (AM) coverage across the UK, from 95.4% to 93%. The station would continue to be available to listeners in the relevant areas through DAB digital radio, on television and on the internet.

DAB+ will be available to listeners in Alfeld, in the state of Lower Saxony, starting from 24 October. The new DAB+ transmitter will also supply a number of other locations in the state - namely Delligsen, Coppengrave, Hoyershausen and Duingen.

Global is taking its London rolling news service national and around the clock as it launches LBC News nationwide on DAB+. The UK’s only other rolling news service, News Radio UK, is available on a number of local DAB multiplexes.

Radio broadcasters in Slovenia are increasingly interested in broadcasting on DAB+. One national multiplex is currently in operation in the country, with the launch of another two multiplexes - one national, and one covering the capital of Ljubljana - being considered.

WorldDAB is hosting a session at this year’s TU-Automotive Europe, the automotive event held in Munich. Titled The future of Radio? Will the Connected Car kill the Radio star?, the session will take place on 29 October, and address radio’s role in the increasingly-connected car.

The Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate has launched its consultation for the distribution of temporary DAB+ permits in the Netherlands, with the intention to launch 22 services by 31 August 2022. Interested parties have until 3 December to submit their applications.

According to the latest statistics released in Germany, over 62% of Hamburg's residents now listen to the radio digitally, while 22% of people in Hamburg have access to a DAB+ device.