MADRID — WorldDAB Automotive 2025 took place in Madrid on June 19. Organizers said the choice of the host city reflects Spain’s role as the second-largest car manufacturer in Europe and the country’s growing digital radio market, with public service broadcaster RTVE leading the DAB+ movement.
In his keynote session, Matías González Martín, Spain’s secretary general for telecommunications, said, “We are fully aware of the value of DAB+ digital radio and we support it.” He confirmed that in recent months, the country has experienced growing interest in digital radio, particularly from the public service broadcaster. He said public regulators are analyzing possible ways to move forward with digital radio deployment, based on the assumption that digital and analog broadcasts will have to coexist for several years.
“We started talking to all the radio industry stakeholders. We are getting their feedback, and in the coming weeks, we will decide about the regulatory measures we will take to promote movement to DAB+,” he concluded. Javier Sánchez, director of RTVE’s audiovisual policy and public service department, confirmed the industry’s expectations for issuing a regulatory statement were “before going on holiday, maybe at the end of this month.” Sánchez confirmed RTVE’s complete willingness to lead the rollout of digital radio in Spain and stressed the need to ensure long-term access to DAB+ through 2040 and beyond.
Radio’s essential role
In a powerful opening session moderated by WorldDAB President Jacqueline Bierhorst, leaders from major European organisations highlighted the essential role of radio in the car. Edita Kudláčová, head of radio at the European Broadcasting Union, said, “Radio has always been there for us in our cars, a much-loved and greatly trusted companion. I can’t imagine what could fill the gap if it were ever to disappear from the dashboard. We must continue to innovate — together! — to ensure that radio distribution is fit for our increasingly connected world.”
Tobias Nielsen, senior vice president of digital at Bauer Media Group, stated, “It is essential for Bauer Media to ensure that radio remains accessible, prominent, and easily discoverable in cars in the future.” Stefan Möller, president of the Association of European Radios, added, “We need to work together as an industry and collaborate with the car industry to maintain radio in the car; this is also important from a safety point of view.”
If radio disappears from vehicles, radio will likely disappear altogether
Javier Sánchez, director of RTVE’s audiovisual policy
Bierhorst summarized the session, saying, “It’s clear that a hybrid approach, combining DAB+, FM and IP, is essential to ensuring radio retains control over its own distribution. This is key to levelling the playing field with digital tech giants in the dashboard. I’m proud that public and private broadcasters are united in this clear message and have come together today to engage openly with our partners in the automotive sector.”
A single voice
Following repeated calls from industry leaders for a unified approach to dealing with car manufacturers and tech companies, Nielson and Tomas Granryd, head of digital partnerships at Sveriges Radio and vice chair of the digital committee at the European Broadcasting Union presented the ‘Radio Ready for Connected Cars’ initiative on behalf of a wider group of industry stakeholders. The initiative aims to secure listener access to broadcast radio and radio’s prominence in connected cars.
In addition to the EBU and Bauer Media, several major players have joined the Radio Ready initiative, including the Association of European Radios, BBC, Global, NRJ, RTL, Radio France, Sveriges Radio, Commercial Radio & Audio Australia, Antenna Group and Radio Hamburg. The working group invites other broadcasters and trade bodies to join and support the initiative.
Sánchez called for prioritizing radio’s position in cars, saying, “If the prominence of broadcast linear radio in vehicles is not ensured, radio will probably disappear from vehicles. If radio disappears from vehicles, radio will likely disappear altogether.”
WorldDAB Project Director Bernie O’Neill announced that the organization’s flagship Summit event will be held on Thursday, Nov. 20, in the DPG Media building in Antwerp, Belgium.
