National German Radio and network operator Antenne Deutschland announced in early July the allocation of 14 channels on the national commercial DAB+ multiplex slated to launch in October.
The platform now consists of six Antenne Deutschland stations along with eight stations from other broadcasters. These are: Antenna Bayern; Drivers Classic by WIM; a second program format by the ENERGY group in Germany; Joke FM; Profi Radio, RTL; Rock Antenne; and Toggo Radio. Offering 16 spaces in total, the multiplex will launch with the first 14 new services in October. National German Radio said it expects all 16 stations to be on air by the end of the year.
“The resulting range of stations already provides an excellent blend of established brands and new players. They combine attractive content with solid economic backing. National radio in Germany was long overdue and is now a reality,” said Erwin Linnenbach, National German Radio CEO. “Nearly four decades after the start of commercial radio, there are now radio companies, national radio brands, and a powerful, market-driven audio marketer in Germany, too.”
In February, Antenne Deutschland appointed National German Radio GmbH to allocate the available slots on the first and only national commercial DAB+ platform, the “2nd DAB+ Bundesmux.” The organizations expect to fill the remaining two slots to be filled by the end of the year.
According National German Radio, the first phase of Antenne Deutschland’s national DAB+ platform will allow approximately 67 million people to be able to listen to the new stations.