News

Radio Altstadtwelle, which has so far only broadcast on the internet, will also go on air via DAB+ at the beginning of 2026. The responsible state media authority in Düsseldorf has granted the programme a licence. The technical launch still depends on the completion of the transmission sites by the network operator Media Broadcast. Radio Altstadtwelle has been operating as an internet radio station since 2009 and specialises in music in the Cologne and Rhineland dialects. In addition to well-known groups such as Höhner, Brings and Paveier, up-and-coming bands and artists will also be featured regularly. Among other things, the station supports the ‘Kölschen-Musik-Bandkontest’ (Cologne Music Band Contest), which provides a stage for young talent.

Studio Alphen can now be listened to via DAB+ on channel 8A. The local broadcaster in Alphen aan den Rijn will continue to broadcast via the familiar FM frequencies in the coming years. In September 2024, the Dutch Local Public Broadcasting Foundation (NLPO) began rolling out a collective DAB+ network for local broadcasters. Studio Alphen is also affiliated with this collective. 'We are delighted that we have succeeded in offering Studio Alphen's signal via DAB+ in addition to FM and online. It is a great step forward in terms of professionalisation, improving sound quality and preparing for the future,' says chief engineer Marcel Hijnen. 'It's new and exciting for us too,' he continues. 'We will therefore be using the coming period to continue tweaking the signal to get it as good as possible.'

The DAB+ digital radio platform expanded on 1 September to include Oldies Radio, Rock Radio Stage, and regionally structured Hitrádia stations. All stations are broadcast on the nationwide C network with a uniform data stream of 64 kbps. Hitrádia will appear in the multiplex according to individual regions and will replace the existing universal distribution of Prague's Hitrádio City. The regional division of Hitrádio will follow the existing regionalization of the RTI cz multiplex, which is divided into nine areas and allows for targeted distribution of content without the need for a universal Prague/Central Bohemia version.

DAB+ digital radio can save lives: Automatic Safety Alert is a new, globally certified feature for DAB+ radios that automatically broadcasts safety messages. Radio stations, network operators and device manufacturers are currently preparing for the upcoming nationwide warning day on 11 September, when ASA system components will be tested again. At IFA 2025, chip manufacturer Frontier Smart Technologies will present the next step in the development of ASA technology. For the first time, the new software and hardware is capable of displaying safety messages on the colour displays of DAB+ digital radios. In addition to acoustic warnings, visual information such as graphics and warning areas can now also be transmitted – a significant contribution to civil protection.

With only 115 days to go until the big day, Magic Radio is officially declaring the festive season open with today’s launch of brand-new digital station – Magic Christmas. Especially for those who brought their Christmas cards in the January sales, started their present shopping in June and have already planned and ordered their Christmas dinner – the station will be playing The Best Variety of Christmas Favourites. Magic Radio Content Director Paul Sylvester said: ‘Summer’s almost over and so for many people, the countdown to Christmas is on. That’s why we’ve unveiled our latest addition to the Magic Radio family.’ Magic Christmas is available online, on DAB and on the Rayo app.

In the next of this year's series of short interviews with WorldDAB members exhibiting at IBC2025, Hermann Zensen, European Sales Manager for NAUTEL-DIGIDIA says they will be presenting a very compact DAB head-end with RF output. Nautel has earned a reputation as a world leader in the design, manufacture, sales and support of high-power, solid-state RF products for radio broadcast, navigation, sonar, and industrial applications.

Starting Monday, September 1, DAB+ digital radio transmitters will officially begin broadcasting in Tallinn, Tartu, Pärnu, Koeru and Valgjärve. Listeners will be able to access a total of 23 different radio stations. All existing FM transmitters will continue to operate alongside the new digital service. “Since the DAB+ test network is being switched off and replaced with the permanent transmitter network, digital radio will be off-air from midnight until approximately 6 a.m. on Monday, September 1,” explained Indrek Lepp, Member of the Management Board and Director of Media Services at Levira. “In October, additional transmitters will be launched in Haapsalu, Kohtla-Nõmme in Ida-Virumaa, Orissaare in Saaremaa, and Pehka in Lääne-Virumaa,” Lepp added.

The company behind the Dutch-language radio station RADIONL has announced the allocation of FM and DAB+ airwaves after 1 September. RADIONL remains the most important radio brand. The station can be listened to via DAB+ throughout almost the whole of the Netherlands. The radio station uses airwaves acquired at the frequency auction itself. A production agreement has also been concluded with other licence holders for some regions. In parts of the Netherlands, RADIONL will also remain available via FM. However, this will be in fewer regions than is currently the case. The radio station points out that more people now listen digitally – online and via DAB+ – than via FM.

From 5 September, Bayerischer Rundfunk will also broadcast its DAB+ service from the Burgwindheim transmitter site in Upper Franconia. The new location will significantly improve DAB+ reception in the northern Steigerwald region and in Neustadt an der Aisch. DAB+ allows listeners to receive popular radio stations such as Bayern 1, Bayern 2, Bayern 3, BR-Klassik and BR24, as well as all purely digital BR programmes such as BR Heimat and BR Schlager, and many private stations in excellent digital quality. With the commissioning of the new transmitter site, BR's DAB+ transmitter network throughout Bavaria has expanded to 92 locations. In indoor spaces, 97.8 per cent of people in Bavaria can now listen to DAB+ radio (indoor reception).

After four years, Oldies Radio is returning to traditional radio broadcasting, replacing its former Prague and Tábor frequencies with nationwide DAB+ distribution starting in September. The station is currently available online in pilot mode. The music program and operations are handled by the team that was behind the launch of Radio Olympic and its subsequent transformation into Oldies Radio in 2007. For now, it is broadcasting without any hosts. The exact date of the launch of DAB+ distribution is not yet known to the public, but according to available information, it is unlikely to start on September 1. A more realistic date would be week 37, i.e. from September 8 onwards. Oldies Radio will be broadcast digitally via RTI cz's nationwide C network.