What's New
BY Sarah Patterson April 23, 2024
What's New October 6, 2020
75% of new cars are now sold with DAB+ radios in Australia
The latest market report from WorldDAB shows some promising growth for DAB+.
The global industry association said that by the end of June 2020, over 93 million consumer and automotive DAB/DAB+ receivers had been sold in Europe and Asia Pacific.
That number is up from 82 million a year earlier, according to new data from WorldDAB.
The report covers Australia, Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Switzerland and the UK.
WorldDAB President Patrick Hannon said that in spite of the pandemic, 2020 has been a strong year for DAB+ radio globally, with emerging markets also showing positive growth.
“The EECC takes effect from the end of this year, and interest in DAB+ is growing beyond the borders of Europe, including parts of Africa and the Middle East,” Hannon said.
“Most recently, Switzerland revealed its plan for the phase-off of FM services. Germany is launching its second national multiplex today, and France will be launching national DAB+ services in 2021.”
In Australia, 75% of new cars are now sold with DAB+, up from 60% in 2018.
The report also reveals that 6,033,000 digital receivers have now been sold in Australia – including those fitted in vehicles – covering 51% of households in the territory.
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What's New
BY Sarah Patterson April 23, 2024
Now if only the operators and CRA would actually tell people about DAB+ and actually promote it!! 9 out of 10 people you ask in the street wouldn’t know what it is!! And that’s not an exaggeration. It’s been an epic fail by the industry and a lost opportunity to keep people listening to radio rather than Spotify.
Why do I need to invest in a DAB radio? I can quite happily get what I want with an AM / FM radio or stream it online using iHeartRadio or another app. What am I missing out on? I dont feel or see the need for one.
@Jase it’s the additional station choice. If you can find all the variety you need on AM and FM then great. But it doesn’t give me anywhere near the music choices I want! DAB is easier to use in the car than streaming and doesn’t chew up data. Just like changing stations normally without having to fiddle with your phone or an interface.
Also another advantage is actually being able to receive AM stations without all the distortion and crackle you get in metro areas. I find AM unlistenable for the most part in the car in Brisbane. You lose it altogether in the city centre. DAB is clear. Also when you’re stuck with only AM music stations catering to your taste – like 4KQ and 4BH – then DAB is a welcome upgrade on sound quality from AM. I can’t be bothered streaming KQ on iHeart or any other method, I’d rather just have it on DAB, especially in the car.
I live to have dab+ in the car but my car don’t have it only at home I have digital radio
Pity that the reception in Perth is so incredibly poor. I love Dab+ radio – when it works! The dropout periods are longer thsn those of actual reception. Not acceptable in a capital city in Australia.
No dab in the country.
How many of those in car DAB+ radios are in places like the Gold Coast? Australia’s 6th largest city doesn’t yet have stations broadcasting on DAB. It’s about time digital radio was available in more parts of Australia.
@Waldo. Yes agree!! Gold Coast and Newcastle should have DAB+ now! Apparently there is some disagreement between operators on the Gold Coast regarding overspill of the DAB+ signal from Brisbane. The ACMA has completely failed to sort this out in a timely manner. It’s a complete joke. The media regulator in this country is hopeless. This should be something that is sorted out in a matter of months, not YEARS! Come on ACMA pull your finger out. Places like the Gold Coast and Newcastle should have had DAB+ at the same time it was rolled out in Canberra and Hobart.