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More people are listening to digital radios in the home than ever, statistics show, as digital overtakes analogue for the first time. More than 46 per cent of people who listen to the radio at home now do so on digital sets, compared with 45.6 per cent on analogue, in what will be seen as something of a milestone for the industry.

Ford Ennals, CEO of Digital Radio UK, says: “The shift to digital listening continues, with digital listening in home now overtaking analogue listening, and DAB is leading the way. The fact that over 25% of radio listening is now on DAB and the success of the national commercial stations on the Digital One DAB network strongly makes the case for the benefits of the launch of D2 – the second national DAB network.”

A quarter of all listening to the radio is now being done on a DAB radio set, according to the latest RAJAR results for Q4, 2014. DAB listening in car grew by 29% year on year and total digital reach in car is now 7.6 million people per week. Almost 50 per cent of the population or 26 million adults now have access to a DAB digital radio, up 7% year on year.

In Trentino-Alto Adige, outside coverage reaches 98% of the population and Bolzano can receive ninety programs. In Trento, 20% of households now have a digital receiver. Around 160 car models come with DAB digital radio as standard.

A recent survey shows that DAB+ radio is now finding it's way into more car brands over the past year.

One of Britain’s most loved Asian stations, Panjab Radio, is returning to DAB digital radio in Bradford and Huddersfield from Monday 9th February 2015. Panjab Radio has also confirmed that it will be one of the 18 service providers that will launch nationally if Listen2Digital’s bid for the second DAB national multiplex is successful.

DAB coverage in Brussels and surrounding areas will be a priority this spring as Norkring Belgium, the DAB licensee in the region, moves to expand coverage in the country.

2014 has been a year of firsts. Amongst the list of achievements: a new Metro survey provider with GfK including new Gold Standard software, New Regional Radio Survey methodology introduced, and we have seen some big increases with Digital Radio listening. But it's not all smooth sailing either, a few challenges lay ahead, be it internet streaming or the rollout of DAB+ to regional markets.

Over the past two years there has been an increase in the number of DAB radios in the home, with the 67-79 year olds increasingly making up a significant proportion of digital radio listeners.

According to Tel Tarif, state media authorities want to explore the potential of DAB+ for broadcasters by putting it to the test.