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WorldDAB, the global industry forum for DAB+ digital radio, has released updated guidelines for automotive manufacturers and broadcasters designed to enhance the in-car digital radio user experience.
The guidelines, first published in 2016, are produced by WorldDAB’s In-car User Experience Group, which brings together carmakers, broadcasters and in-car technology providers. The new version includes updates recommended by the WorldDAB Technical Committee, such as navigation settings ensuring the service list always opens at the current or most recently used station. Service lists should also be ordered alphabetically, then numerically, and finally by punctuation. The document guides handling longer lists as more DAB+ services launch.
The guidelines remain a live document and will be updated further as feedback is received. They are available free from the WorldDAB website, which also hosts a Help Point for automotive queries. For North America, the North American Broadcasters Association has issued similar UX guidance based on an earlier version of the WorldDAB document.
Ensuring collaboration
WorldDAB Automotive Project Manager Rosemary Smith said, “We know listeners love radio, and in-car digital listening continues to grow in markets around the world. The new updates to our guidelines demonstrate our commitment to ensuring collaboration between the broadcasters and the automotive sector to ensure that DAB+ digital radio always offers listeners the best possible user experience, as they tune in to their favourite digital stations.”
The updated guidelines follow the annual WorldDAB Automotive event, held in June in Madrid, Spain, where public and private broadcasters stressed the need for broadcast radio to remain prominent in connected cars.
WorldDAB also publishes research into in-car listening habits. Its “Dashboard Dialogue” study, conducted by Edison Research in 2023 across France, Germany and the U.K., found that 91% of recent and prospective car buyers consider it essential that their current or next vehicle has access to DAB/DAB+ or FM radio.
You can download the free guidelines here.
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