News

Divergence FM, Montpellier's flagship community radio station since it was founded in 1987, has taken a decision that marks a turning point in the history of the media: to be the first to leave FM and devote itself entirely to digital broadcasting. The move, seen as bold and surprising, raises questions about the future of local radio and the challenges of digital broadcasting.

ARD, Deutschlandradio, private broadcasters, manufacturers and other members of Digitalradio Deutschland e.V. are once again calling for a joint nationwide campaign period between 11 November and 1 December, during which the focus will be on DAB+ digital radio and the joy of listening to the radio. Twice a year, the members of the Digitalradio Deutschland association run a joint promotion campaign in support of the digital terrestrial radio standard. All market partners are invited to take part. The cross-media campaign elements used during the campaign period include TV commercials on ARD television programmes as well as radio spots and programme trailers. Print adverts and articles in specialist publications as well as newsletters and an accompanying social media campaign complement the activities.

The latest UK ‘MIDAS’ Audio Survey for Summer 2024 has been released by RAJAR. The MIDAS Survey is designed to provide context and insight into how, when and where audio content is being consumed in this current liberated environment. The Summer 2024 wave of MIDAS finds that the weekly reach for audio consumption that is solely listened to and not viewed, remains very high with 56 million adults or 96% of UK the population (adults 15+) doing so in a week. DAB dominates live radio listening with a 45% share, more than double that of AM/FM at 21%, and voice-activated speaker at 14%.

Fix Radio now attracts over 500,000 trade listeners each week according to the latest research from Nielsen. The station has quickly grown since its launch on the national Sound Digital DAB multiplex in 2022. Fix Radio Programme Director Sean Gerard Coleman said: “We’re always looking to strengthen our on air offering for Britain’s hard working tradespeople – and it’s clear they’re not only turning us on in droves, but spending much longer periods listening. Whether it’s waking up the trade with The Bald Builders Breakfast, or having their back on the important industry issues with The Clive Holland Show, they know every single show and every song we play is designed and built just for them – which is how we’ve reached this milestone.”

Slovak Television and Radio reports that in September reconstruction works on the main FM transmitter of the Slovak Radio network in the Banská Bystrica region - on Sucha Hora - were successfully completed. To support the reception of radio programmes, the T-DAB+ Suchá Hora digital transmitter was also launched during this period, providing alternative reception options. The reconstruction involved the complete replacement of the steel anchor ropes on the 300-metre high mast structure. During the works, which lasted five months, the negative impact on the transmitter's range was minimised thanks to the close cooperation between STVR, Towercom and the contractor.

DAB+ digital radio is taking a significant step towards greater safety for the public. The new Automatic Safety Alert system (ASA), formerly known as EWS (Emergency Warning System), was officially launched in August. RTR (Rundfunk und Telekom Regulierungs-GmbH) will provide detailed information on the new ASA alert system in a workshop entitled ‘Radio and mobile communications - a strong duo for digital disaster control’ on 23 October 2024 as part of its convergent competence centre. The speakers will be Roman Bayer from the Ministry of the Interior and Hermann Bühler, who are both involved in the current ‘AT-Alert’ warning system project. In addition, Olaf Korte (Fraunhofer Institute) will be on site to give a presentation as an expert on the DAB+ standard and the current ASA extension in particular.

One of the big success stories of GfK radio ratings Survey 6, 2024 has to be Nova Entertainment’s Smooth FM. It’s now just over 12 years since Nova Entertainment’s programmer Paul Jackson and former marketing guru Tony Thomas launched the Smooth brand. This week Smooth FM continued its strong ratings run. Along the journey the brand has often been a market leader in Sydney and Melbourne. It’s done a pretty good job on a national rollout too via DAB+. Smooth FM Adelaide is the most popular DAB+ radio station with 44,000 listeners (cume), an increase of 8,000 listeners; Smooth FM Perth is the most popular DAB+ station in Perth with 81,000 listeners (cume); Smooth FM Brisbane is second the most popular DAB+ station in Brisbane with 65,000 listeners.

On 15 April 2024, Division IX of the DGTEL of the Ministry of Enterprise and Industry issued the first definitive rights of use, for a maximum duration of 20 years, of the frequencies for the terrestrial digital radio broadcasting service referred to in the PNAF-DAB. The first regions involved were Emilia Romagna, Marche, Sardinia and the Autonomous Province of Bolzano. In this context, on 1 October, Emilia Romagna DAB, which was already broadcasting in the experimental phase, and Radio digitale Emilia Romagna, at its first site, activated their DAB+ broadcasting systems at the Bologna Castel Maggiore location on block 9D for Emilia Romagna DAB and on block 12A for Radio digitale Emilia Romagna. In total, the two muxes host 40 radio stations.

Nation Broadcasting has added a new classic hits service to its Nation Player app. Nation Classic Hits says it plays the Best Variety of Classic Hits from the 60s, 70s, 80s and 90s and launched on 1 October. Nation Founder Jason Bryant said; “Informed by the success of Dragon Radio, our classic hits station for Wales, and our popular decades services of the 60s, 70s, 80s and 90s, Nation Classic Hits will be an upbeat, nationally targeted oldies service delivered with contemporary production." Nation Classic Hits will sit alongside Nation’s decades stations of the 60s, 70s, 80s and 90s, and is also on DAB digital radio in Tynemouth.

DAB+ Austria was once again a resounding success at this year's Electronics Retailer Days in Linz. In over 300 intensive discussions, the team informed the specialist retailers about the latest developments in DAB+. At the hama stand, the DAB+ Austria team presented the latest DAB+-capable devices together with the manufacturers hama, TechniSat, pure and Albrecht. The great interest shown by over 1,900 visitors emphasised the growing importance of digital radio in Austria. ‘DAB+ is more than just radio. It is an innovative product that offers our customers real added value’ says Michael Hofer - Managing Director of ElectronicPartner Austria. The Austrian Digital Radio Association will continue to work actively on the expansion of DAB+ in Austria. DAB+ already plays an important role in the Austrian radio market and will continue to do so in the future.