News

Norddeutscher Rundfunk has improved DAB+ reception around Bad Oldesloe. The new Meddewade site broadcasts the Norderstedt ensemble (NDR SH NOR) on channel 10C. The transmission power is 200 watts. Also new on air is the Demmin site for the Greifswald ensemble in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania (Mux NDR MV HGW - channel 8B, 200 watts). The Torfhaus/Harz-West site for the Braunschweig ensemble (NDR NDS BS - channel 6C, 4.4 kW) is still planned for 2024. There are also already announcements for 2025. According to the Federal Network Agency, the Niebüll site with a capacity of 1.6 kW will be coordinated for the Flensburg ensemble in Schleswig-Holstein NDR SH FL - channel 12B).

Fiera Touch's radio network has expanded to another area after the capital. The DAB+ multiplex is now also available from the eastern Bohemian region of Montenegro. The owner of the company, Pavel Hajek, confirmed this directly to the Digital Radio portal, adding that the antennas are located on the building of the upper station of the cable car. Channel 7D is currently broadcasting with a reduced power of 2 kW, the final plan is 10 kW. According to Hájek, the transmitter is currently in test operation. "We are waiting for the delivery of technology from abroad, we are currently working on a temporary solution. I expect that we will increase the power to 10 kW by the end of this year or early next year," Hájek explained.

On 1 October, FG launched FG DANCE, the new Dance/EDM radio station to replace DanceOne. The station will be broadcast in four DAB+ areas: Paris-IDF, Marseille-Aix-en Provence, Nice-Cannes, and Bordeaux-Bassin d'Arcachon. Maison FG offers a radio bouquet of 4 programmes on DAB+: - RADIO FG, present in almost 120 towns and cities, in addition to its network of 35 FM frequencies; FG CHIC, the lounge and nu disco radio station, present in Paris, Monaco, Nice, Berlin, Hamburg and Ibiza (FM & DAB); MAXXIMUM, the radio of electronic discovery, broadcast in Paris and the Ile-de-France region; and FG DANCE, with a Dance/EDM format.

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.