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ORS is responsible for the Austria-wide expansion and distribution of digital radio programmes. To this end, ORS operates a nationwide DAB+ multiplex, via which a total of 58 digital radio stations will be broadcast from today, 21 June 2024. With the DAB+ network, ORS reaches around 83% of the Austrian population both nationally and regionally. medianet asked ORS Managing Director Michael Wagenhofer for an interview. "DAB+ is broadcast by the ORS group across Austria from a total of 15 locations," said Wagenhofer. "With the new location at Hauser Kaibling, we are now broadcasting 30 radio programmes nationwide with a population reach of 84 percent. And for the new radio programmes, which are broadcast regionally, the ORS group has established five new coverage areas in recent months. The total number of DAB+ stations we serve will rise to 58 by the end of June."

ANTENNE VORARLBERG, the leading radio station among 14-49-year-old listeners in Vorarlberg, has expanded its digital portfolio by integrating new stations via the digital radio standard DAB+. From 21 June, the channels ANTENNE VORARLBERG Partymix and the newly launched 80s90s MEGAMIX will be available in addition to the main station. Mario Mally, Managing Director of ANTENNE VORARLBERG, emphasises: "Our new DAB+ stations are a direct response to the wishes of our listeners and offer advertisers innovative platforms to reach their target groups effectively. These additional offerings improve our music and information portfolio with great sound quality and confirm our position as a future-orientated station.

7 o'clock sharp in the morning. The very first sounds of ABBA's "Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!", a party atmosphere is created in the brand new broadcasting studio. A disco ball spins on the ceiling - and will do so in future with every ABBA song that comes out of the speakers in the NOSTALGIE studio. The entire team, which has invested a lot of heart and soul and radio expertise in recent months, has come together to celebrate the start of a new era: NOSTALGIE is going on air in Austria, bringing a breath of fresh air to the radio landscape. "NOSTALGIE is modern, international and innovative - a radio programme that sets new standards in Austria. Our unique & innovative programme design, as well as the many great programme ideas, will provide our future listeners with many entertaining hours every day," says Flo Berger, Channel Manager of NOSTALGIE in Austria.

Austria's radio market offers enormous diversity. From tomorrow (21 June), a further 28 private radio stations will be added via DAB+. This will give listeners even more choice than before. There is something for every taste: from pop to classical, from rock to lounge, from pop to dance. Corinna Drumm, Managing Director of the Association of Austrian Private Broadcasters, is celebrating the biggest launch of private radio stations since 1998: "A quarter of a century ago, private radio stations brought diversity and more colour to Austria's radio market and have been continuously expanding their range ever since. Now comes the next really big step: with the 28 new stations, the offering for listeners is being greatly expanded once again. That's great!"

As more than 300 executives from the automotive and broadcasting industries gathered in Prague to discuss the global future of radio in vehicles, WorldDAB President Jacqueline Bierhorst emphasized the “relentless” nature of radio and how it must be preserved. Bierhorst commented, “We all have to pull together to ensure that [radio] remains at the heart of the dashboard, in the best quality possible.” US broadcasters have spent the past year fighting for AM radio in Washington, DC, with those efforts mirrored abroad. While electric vehicle manufacturers efforts to remove over-the-air radio, the medium maintains a significant share of in-car audio consumption, recognized for its reliability and critical role during emergencies.

From 20 June to 1 August 2024, local commercial broadcasters can apply for a licence for local digital radio. There are still 815 licences available for these broadcasters, spread across 57 areas (allotments) throughout the Netherlands. Digital radio is growing rapidly in popularity and offers many opportunities. With a licence for local digital radio, broadcasters can use DAB+ (Digital Audio Broadcasting) and expand their reach. That there is a lot of enthusiasm for local digital radio was shown earlier this year during the application period for local public radio. Indeed, in February, more than 200 local public broadcasters received a licence for DAB+. Local commercial broadcasters can apply for local digital radio (DAB+) licences from 20 June 2024 until 1 August 2024.

This Friday, 28 mostly new radio channels will go on air in Austria. Four of these are new programmes from Kronehit, which are as far removed from the parent programme as possible: "Radio Rot Weiß Rot", for example, is dedicated entirely to Austropop, from Ambros to Wanda, Bilgeri to RAF Camora; "Pirate Radio" alternative rock and pop. The responsible programme director Dani Linzer explains what the audience can expect from Friday. Kronehit will be launching two new national radio programmes and two regional ones for Eastern Austria on Friday, when a total of 28 stations will go on air, most of them new to the DAB+ digital radio standard. The programming is "deliberately more niche", also more niche than competitors, says Linzer.

On 21 June 2024, Austria will see the largest expansion of private radio stations since the start of private broadcasting in 1998. The launch of further DAB+ multiplexes will significantly increase the variety of stations."Here you hear the hits first! Our music editors check the best new releases from the current superstars in the hit universe every day and throw them on air immediately", is how the new station Antenne Hit presents itself in its self-description. The new programme comes from Antenne in Salzburg. Antenne Hit is a 24-hour full programme. The focus is on music in the HOT AC format, which includes modern hits from the genres pop, pop-rock, new rock, dance, RnB as well as current chart music. The programme is characterised by a HOT AC format focussing on current hits and music from the last 20 years, supplemented by top hits from the last five decades.

Play.cz has signed a three-month memorandum of exclusivity for negotiations on the construction and operation of regional networks for terrestrial digital radio broadcasting DAB+ with Czech Radiocommunications (CRA). Play.cz, as one of the eight winners of the auction of frequencies for digital radio broadcasting, has committed not to negotiate with any other potential supplier of broadcasting services until September. Jan John, a member of Play.cz's supervisory board, made the announcement at the DIGIMEDIA 2024 conference last week. The possibility that CRA would operate DAB+ for Play.cz as a service is in play, thus de facto becoming a technical operator, similar to the case of the CRo DAB+ public network operated by Czech Radio.

Colourful Radio is switching to DAB+ on Switch Digital’s London 2 multiplex. Colourful founder and exec producer, Kofi Kusitor MBE says: “We’ve had great relationships with multiplex owners and transmission companies for over 20 years.“And so, it is doubly exciting to agree on a deal that not only provides our legacy radio station a new home with London 2 but also offers the Colourful brand the opportunity to grow our unique and unmatched offering beyond a single service.” For the last four years, London 3 was home to Colourful in traditional DAB. Mr Kusitor adds: “I am thankful to Global and London 3 for their kindness and exceptional service and support over the years.”