On January 28, 2025, the Paris Radio Show, France’s only trade event dedicated to the radio industry, will open its doors to industry players. Among the participants will again be WorldDAB, the international organization dedicated to developing and promoting DAB+, the digital standard for broadcasting gaining momentum worldwide. The Paris Radio Show raises significant issues for the future development of radio. France is at a critical stage in the deployment of DAB+. WorldDAB offers an opportunity to discuss the trends shaping the future of digital broadcasting and share best practices in deploying DAB+.
DAB+ represents the future of broadcasting. It is known for offering superior sound quality, extended coverage, improved spectral efficiency and associated data (such as song titles, program information, slideshows and emergency alerts).
DAB+ trends to track for radio industry players
At the Paris Radio Show 2025, WorldDAB will highlight the latest advances in DAB+ and its deployment. DAB+ is expanding rapidly worldwide. While several European countries, such as Norway, Germany, Switzerland, the UK and the Netherlands, have already made this standard the backbone of radio broadcasting, other regions, such as Asia and Africa, are also starting to adopt the technology.
France, under the drive of all publishers, Arcom (Autorité de Régulation de la Communication Audiovisuelle et Numérique) and public authorities, has taken several steps in 2024. French Radio has 40 million listeners every day. More than 900 programs, including 800 local ones, are broadcast nationwide. DAB+ was launched just over 10 years ago. More than 10 million receivers have been sold, 98% of new vehicles are equipped, and 24% of the population has access to a DAB+ receiver. Nearly 70% of the population receives at least one DAB+ multiplex.
Arcom’s Radio White Paper addresses the challenges facing radio in France, with a particular focus on digital transformation. It covers the transition to DAB+, regulation, content diversification, business models, audience and competition. Arcom stresses the need for a 10-year timetable to achieve 100% digital broadcasting. The planning of DAB+ will have to be reviewed to bring it closer to that of FM. Awareness of DAB+ needs to be substantially raised, as the Ensemble pour le DAB+ association is working to do. The equipment penetration must improve. Public authorities are expected to provide support.
A year of crucial technological evolution
The Paris Radio Show is renowned for bringing together radio professionals, broadcast technologies and innovative companies with a common goal: to advance the radio industry. The event attracts a wide range of participants, from traditional broadcasters to start-ups, content creators and experts.
WorldDAB’s presence at the event is a unique opportunity to learn about best practices in DAB+ implementation. This year’s focus is on the latest technical innovation in DAB+: Automatic Safety Alert (ASA)
ASA is designed to guarantee safety and deliver emergency information via DAB+. In a world where extreme weather events, crises or public safety alerts are increasing rapidly, this mechanism integrated into the DAB+ standard in 2024 enables automatic transmission of alerts directly to compatible DAB+ receivers. ASA is activated in the event of an emergency, whether the listener is listening to the radio or the receiver is on standby. ASA ensures fast, local and reliable communication, particularly when other communication channels are disrupted. This system reinforces the central role of radio as a public safety tool.
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ASA will be presented exclusively on the WorldDAB stand. For this function, WorldDAB has also been nominated for the “Best Tech Innovation” award. One of the three finalists will receive this prize at the Paris Radio Show on Jan. 29, 2025, at 3:30 p.m. WorldDAB’s nomination demonstrates the relevance and timeliness of this technology.
Get your badge for the Paris Radio Show 2025, a must-attend event for radio professionals. DAB+ is not just a technical standard; it’s a strategic enabler for the future of radio. WorldDAB’s presence at the Paris Radio Show 2025 will help radio professionals understand why DAB+ broadcasting further consolidates radio as the medium of the future.
The author is Program Manager – France, for WorldDAB. He has been involved in digital audio broadcasting since 2009 with Frontier Silicon, focusing on the automotive sector. Since 2012, he has been the world representative in France, working with the industry to promote the adoption of DAB+.
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Paris Radio Show 2025 is set for Jan. 28–29
