Absolut Radio AI to go live via DAB+

 AI (Artificial Intelligence) is currently the hot topic in the tech world, in society and in companies. Media companies move between rejection and innovation. Antenne Deutschland took a courageous step very early on and launched a fully AI-moderated station and put it online. The success now calls for the next logical step. Absolut Radio is going into terrestrial broadcasting in the Braunschweig area via DAB+. "The somewhat unexpected great success of Absolut Radio AI has virtually forced us to take this step," says Mirko Drenger, CEO of Antenne Deutschland. "AI presenter kAI has generated an enormous number of fans in just a few weeks. The streaming numbers are increasing daily. Braunschweig is a start. The sustainable success of DAB+ in Germany means that there are few free capacities. Of course, we do not rule out national distribution in the future," Drenger continues

German-speaking Belgium gets green light for DAB+

 The Belgian German-speaking Community’s Medienrat (Media Council) has given the go-ahead for private radio stations to enter the pilot project for the recently started DAB+ mux 8A operated by public broadcaster Belgischer Rundfunk (BRF). With no initiatives taken in Eastern Belgium, BRF decided to take the lead and set up a DAB+ network. The German-speaking Community — one of the three federal communities of Belgium — lies on the country’s eastern border with Germany.

F.WDAB

New radio station for NRW: bigFM to broadcast via DAB+ from 1 September

 A new radio station will be launched in North Rhine-Westphalia via DAB+ on 1 September with the national media brand bigFM. "We are delighted that bigFM with Germany's biggest beats will finally be heard on the radio throughout North Rhine-Westphalia," says bigFM Programme Director Patrick Morgan. "The whole team around the morning show presenters Kristina Fixemer and Rolf Vogel have been waiting for this for a long time.

F.WDab

Australian DAB+ listening up 14.2% at breakfast

 Australians are listening to 23 minutes more commercial radio year on year, underpinned by a love of breakfast radio, 2.8 million people aged 10-24 listening, and commercial radio’s ability to be with people wherever they are, the latest GfK Radio Survey 5 has revealed. Commercial DAB+ listening is up 5.3% to 2.7 million people from the same period last year. Breakfast DAB+ listening was up 14.2%. “Commercial radio listening remains strong across the board, with over 12.1 million people tuning in. Underlying this strength is the continued powerhouse of breakfast radio,” Ford Ennals, CEO of CRA said

F.WDAB

Public radio stations get even better reception via DAB+

 Public radio stations can be received even better via DAB+ from 1 September. Fifteen DAB+ transmission locations will be added, improving reception on the Wadden Islands, the South Holland islands and the neighbouring Zeeland islands, among others. Broadcast Partners will become the supplier of NPO's DAB+ network on 1 September. From that date, the station park for NPO will be expanded to a total of 61 transmitter locations. "As a public broadcaster, we want to be there for everyone," says Jurre Bosman, director of Audio NPO. "DAB+ has the big advantage that we can distribute more stations, such as NPO Radio 5, NPO FunX, NPO Soul & Jazz and NPO Sterren NL."

F.WDAB

House Party Radio expands from Blackpool to Warrington

 House Party Radio has launched on the small-scale DAB multiplex in Warrington, Widnes and Runcorn. The digital service started three years ago by Station Director John Beddows, also known as Johnny Bee, who has been hosting a radio show of the same name for over 15 years. John commented: “We are extremely excited to bring House Party Radio to DAB across Warrington, Widnes and Runcorn from the 18th August. With thanks to David Duffy and the team.” The station says Warrington is just the second small-scale DAB+ multiplex it is planning to appear on in the Northwest, after launching in Blackpool in December last year.

F.WDAB

MIMAS DX