France’s DAB+ industry association, Ensemble pour le DAB+, has called on the French government to increase financial and political backing for digital terrestrial radio following the appointment of Catherine Pégard as minister of culture.
The association says it “reaffirms the support of radio publishers for the development of DAB+” and intends to continue working with the new minister to promote what it describes as a “modern, sovereign and accessible” terrestrial distribution platform. It frames its appeal within what it calls a broader transformation of the audio sector, marked by changing listening habits and the need to maintain radio distribution “without intermediation from digital platforms.”
According to the association, a national promotional campaign launched Feb. 16 is being broadcast across French radio stations and is expected to reach nearly 35 million listeners. The group says similar efforts in 2025 resulted in a 70% increase in public awareness of DAB+, which it presents as justification for continuing a nationwide communications strategy throughout 2026.
Accelerating DAB+ rollout
Ensemble pour le DAB+ says digital terrestrial coverage in France will soon exceed 50 million people, describing the rollout as accelerating with regulatory support. However, the association notes that publishers are absorbing additional transmission costs during this expansion phase, without detailing the financial impact.
In its statement, the association calls for “an ambitious public policy in favor of radio, and particularly DAB+,” urging the state to strengthen financial and political support in line with what it describes as the level of investment made by publishers. It also stresses the need to reinforce the legal framework protecting radio distribution, particularly in vehicles, and says this issue should be addressed during negotiations surrounding the Digital Networks Act.
The appeal highlights the continued strategic importance of terrestrial radio distribution in France as policymakers assess the future balance between broadcast and platform-based audio delivery.
This story originally appeared in RedTech’s sister publication, La Lettre Pro.
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