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Radio reception will change in the coverage area of BR station Ludwigsstadt from 22 July 2025. In future, Bayerischer Rundfunk will broadcast its programmes from there exclusively via DAB+; FM broadcasting will be discontinued. All BR programmes can still be received in the region via DAB+. Alternatively, FM reception from the Ochsenkopf transmitter will be possible for Bayern 1, Bayern 2 and Bayern 3. The Ludwigsstadt transmitter serves the town of Ludwigsstadt and the districts of Ebersdorf, Lauenhain, Lauenstein, Ottendorf and Steinbach an der Haide. FM broadcasting is being decommissioned for reasons of economy and energy efficiency.

The pace of digital adoption in radio and television is, without a doubt, vastly different. While DTT (Digital Terrestrial Television) has completely replaced analogue television in a large number of countries and its reach is practically global, the scenario for radio is quite different. But this situation appears to be changing, and digital radio is gaining ground in a growing number of countries. “Just in the last six months, we’ve seen the launch of DAB+ in Turkey and the announcement of a nationwide rollout in Greece, as well as new trials in countries as diverse as Ireland, Bosnia & Herzegovina, and Thailand. This comes alongside sustained growth in established markets,” explains to TM BROADCAST Jacqueline Bierhorst, President of WorldDAB and Project Director of Digital Radio NL.

Commercial Radio & Audio (CRA) has welcomed the latest GfK Survey 4 results, with commercial radio audiences reaching 12.5 million weekly listeners, up 111,000 year-on-year (YOY). In-car listening continues its growth momentum, up 191,000 YOY to 10.4 million weekly listeners, reaching 83% of radio’s total weekly audience. “Commercial radio now reaches 6.2 million Australians aged 25–54, up 123,000 compared to the same period last year. For advertisers targeting this valuable demographic, this growth reaffirms radio’s unmatched ability to deliver both the scale and engaged attention needed to drive real brand impact,” said Lizzie Young, CEO of CRA.

GfK Radio 360 Survey 4 of DAB+ listening featured some new stations and tweaks to existing across the five metros surveyed. CADA was clear No 1 in Sydney, Coles Radio ruled in Melbourne and smooth topped Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth. In Perth the Capital Radio Network saw Forever Classic 70s join its Forever Classic 60s DAB+ station. It picked up 7000 listeners in its first survey and provides some healthy competition to smooth fm Perth for those scanning the dial in the city. In Adelaide the Nova Network switched Nova Throwbacks for a new RnB and hip hop station called Nova Jamz at the start of June. This isn’t just a rebranding as Nova Throwbacks still featured in Brisbane. Sydney and Melbourne only get Nova Nation, the dance and club hits station, surveyed.

More and more countries in Europe are turning to DAB+ and starting to roll out new digital programmes. Where DAB+ is already established, the variety of programmes has increased significantly in recent months. For listeners, this means more variety and clearer digital reception. Radio broadcasts via DAB and/or DAB+ are currently available in 33 European countries, DAB+ has already been tested in others and the start of regular operation is being planned. DAB+ programmes are combined in so-called multiplexes (mux). These are programme platforms that combine up to 16 stations on one frequency and are therefore more energy and resource efficient than FM broadcasting.

Saudi Arabia’s DAB+ network is expanding to nine more cities this year, coupled with five projects now underway to cover major highways with DAB+ digital radio. Speaking in a session on 16 July at the ABU-ASBU-WorldDAB Technical Workshop, Eng. Bander Alrasheedi, General Manager of Radio Projects, Saudi Broadcasting Authority, revealed the significant enhancements were expected to be completed by the end of 2025. “Currently, the network is expanding to nine more cities: Abha, Makkah, Taif, Al-Baha, Jazan, Sakaka, Arar, Najran, and Tabuk,” Alrasheedi said. “Following directives from His Royal Highness Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, five projects are also underway to cover Saudi Arabia’s major highways with DAB+ digital radio,” he added.

Digital radio reception in eastern Belgium has been further improved with the commissioning of an additional DAB+ transmitter. The multiplex for the region has recently started broadcasting from the Recht site near Sankt Vith. The new transmitter broadcasts on channel 8A and has a transmission power of 200 watts. This expansion addresses previously existing reception problems in and around the Recht region. This further optimises the core supply in the German-speaking part of Belgium. The multiplex contains six radio stations targeting eastern Belgium: BRF 1, BRF 2, Radio Contact Ostbelgien Now, Radio 700, Radio Sunshine and 100'5 Das Hitradio.

Spain’s Ministry of Digital Transformation has launched a public consultation as a first step toward drafting a decree aimed at boosting terrestrial digital radio broadcasting. The proposed decree, currently in development, would rely on DAB+ technology to revitalise a sector that has seen limited uptake in the country, despite commitments dating back more than two decades. The consultation is being held under Article 133.1 of Spain’s Law 39/2015 on public administration procedures. Its goal is to gather input from stakeholders on the relevance, challenges and objectives of the future legislation. Authorities say the decree would address the limited penetration of DAB+ in Spain, significantly lower than in many other European countries.

This year's Tilburg Fair can also be followed extensively live on Kermis FM. The broadcasts will last until 27 July. This year, the studio from where the 121 hours of live broadcasts come from is at a new location on the Schouwburgring. From 18 to 27 July, the broadcasts can be followed nationwide on DAB+. The packed programme features many well-known names who could be heard on Kermis FM at the start of their media careers. And there is a lot of new talent to be heard.

In the U.K., radio listenership remains strong. Mark Pearson, Ofcom UK’s senior analyst of research and intelligence, made that clear during his talk at WorldDAB Automotive 2025. “Although people in the U.K. have a wider choice than ever of audio content, radio reach and consumption continues to be resilient with 87 percent of adults listening to live radio at least weekly and with over a billion minutes of weekly listening in Q1 2025,” Pearson told the WorldDAB audience. Pearson stated that DAB has helped the UK’s commercial sector grow. “It has allowed for the launch of new independent broadcasters as well as the launch of digital-only extensions, and brands which similarly broadcast on analog and digital platforms,” he said.