Unlock the full potential of digital radio with Media Broadcast's national and regional DAB+ broadcast networks. Our advanced network solutions provide extensive coverage, reliability, and flexibility for broadcasters. Be part of the future of broadcasting and enhance your audience reach today. With our extensive expertise, we are well positioned to support the implementation of the entire range of DAB+ services.
www.media-broadcast.com/dab
Welcome
Dear colleagues,
I am pleased to welcome you to WorldDAB Automotive 2025 in Madrid. As always, we have so many expert speakers for you to hear, in a fantastic venue in this beautiful city.
Collaboration remains key to the continued success of digital radio, so I am excited that once again WorldDAB can bring together the automotive and broadcast sectors for this unique annual event.
Just over a year ago, I was honoured to be part of the launch by Spain’s public broadcaster RTVE of its DAB+ transmissions in Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia, Seville, Murcia and Bilbao. It is a testament to their commitment to DAB+ digital radio that it is now available in fifteen cities across the country, and an estimated 4 million cars have DAB radios. I am delighted that we have been able to bring the 2025 edition of our event to the Spanish capital and support the momentum behind DAB+ both here and around the world, as we will hear today.
Already in 2025, we have seen the launch of DAB+ in Turkey and the announcement of a nationwide rollout in Greece, as well as new trials in Ireland and Thailand. Alongside this, FM switch-off has been completed by SRG SSR in Switzerland and is underway in the German state of Schleswig-Holstein. Meanwhile, our updated infographic highlighted that nearly 150 million DAB receivers have now been sold around the world, including in-car.
These developments bring significant benefits for the broadcasting and automotive industries, and of course listeners and wider society. They clearly demonstrate once again the importance of working together to ensure DAB+ broadcast radio remains prominent and easy to find, offering the best possible user experience, at the heart of the dashboard.
I want to take this opportunity to thank our many expert speakers from the automotive and broadcast sectors who are sharing their knowledge, and to all those who have travelled from around the world to join us today.
Thank you also to the WorldDAB Project Office team, and to our local colleagues at RTVE, and the venues. We greatly appreciate the effort they put into making these events so special.
Enjoy the day!
Jacky
Registration and networking breakfast 09:00 - 09:30 CEST
Session 1 09:30 - 10:30 CEST
Moderator - Ana Belén Roy
Journalist and News Anchor, Radio Televisión Española (RTVE)
Ana Belén Roy currently presents news on Canal24h. She has presented various programs and news programs on TVE and RNE and been associated with public radio and television since 2005. She has received the Antena de Oro Award from the Spanish Radio and Television Federation.
Opening keynote: Shaping Spain’s digital future
Matías González Martín, Secretary General for Telecommunications and Regulation of Audiovisual Communication Services, Government of Spain shares his strategic vision for digital infrastructure and audiovisual regulation.
WorldDAB perspective - Broadcast first
Championing a “broadcast first” approach highlighting radio’s resilience, seamless integration, and futureproof role in connected cars.
Speakers: Jacqueline Bierhorst, Project Director, Digital Radio NL and President, WorldDAB and Bernie O’Neill, Project Director, WorldDAB
Ana Belén Roy
Journalist and News Anchor, Radio Televisión Española (RTVE)
Matías González Martín Secretary General for Telecommunications and Regulation of Audiovisual Communication Services, Government of Spain
Jacqueline Bierhorst Project Director, Digital Radio NL and President, WorldDAB
Bernie O’Neill Project Director, WorldDAB
Radio’s relevance in the car of the future
Public and commercial radio industry leaders have one message to the automotive industry which is to emphasise broadcast radio’s role in ensuring radio’s prominence and accessibility in a digital-first future.
Edita Kudlacova, Head of Radio, European Broadcasting Union (EBU)
Tobias Nielsen, Senior Vice President Digital, Bauer Media Group
Stefan Möller, President, Association Of European Radios - AER
Session moderator: Jacqueline Bierhorst, Project Director, Digital Radio NL and President, WorldDAB
The value and volume of radio listening
The latest data reveals just how much radio is consumed in-car, emphasising broadcast radio’s continued dominance and relevance in today’s connected vehicle landscape.
Speaker: Megan Lazovick, Vice President, Edison Research
Q&A
10:30 - 11:00 CEST Coffee
Edita Kudlacova Head of Radio, European Broadcasting Union - EBU
Tobias Nielsen Senior Vice President Digital, Bauer Media Group
Stefan Möller President, Association Of European Radios - AER
Megan Lazovick Vice President, Edison Research
Programme
Session 2 11:00 - 12:00 CEST
The push for DAB+ in Spain: progress and challenges
Spain is accelerating DAB+ expansion - a focus on recent progress, industry collaboration and what to expect over the coming months.
Speakers: Javier Sanchez, Director of Audiovisual Policy and Public Service, RTVE and Jaume Pujol, Strategic Growth Opportunities, Cellnex Telecom
German radio’s growth engine: DAB+
DAB+ is driving significant growth for commercial radio in Germany, expanding reach, boosting competition, and unlocking new opportunities for broadcasters and advertisers alike.
Speaker: Martin Hülsmann, Managing Director, RADIO BOB!
Driving digital: French-speaking markets lead the way
Switzerland, Belgium, and France are preparing the automotive sector
Javier Sanchez Director of Audiovisual Policy and Public Service, RTVE
Jean-Marc Dubreuil Country Manager - France, WorldDAB
for digital radio. Hear lessons learned, strategic collaborations, and actionable recommendations for other markets.
Moderator: Jean-Marc Dubreuil, Country Manager - France, WorldDAB
Speakers: Charles-Emmanuel Bon, Secretary General, Radio France, Eric Adelbrecht, CEO, maRadio.be and Adriano Pitteri, Strategic Service Manager, SRG SSR
Driving digital radio forward: global trends and local impact
Connected cars are playing a crucial role in the adoption and success of DAB+ across Europe, offering valuable insights into the evolving digital radio landscape. From the broadcast studio to the connected car, the future of the radio industry hinges on creating a sustainable and viable ecosystem.
CharlesEmmanuel Bon Secretary General, Radio France
Eric Adelbrecht CEO,
maRadio.be
Adriano Pitteri
Strategic Service Manager, SRG SSR
Gereon Joachim Vice President, Automotive Sales & Strategy, EMEA, Xperi
EasyDAB
A complete DAB multiplex with audio and data in one box with live RF output The perfect tool for receiver and module testing
DAB+ Headends
DSP based, reliable, made in Germany
ENCODERS
• DSP-based DAB+ Audio Encoder
• Up to 14 encoders in a 19“ x 1 U system
• PAD inserter for DLS & SLS
MULTIPLEXERS
• DSP- or Server-PC-based Multiplexer
• Support of almost all features contained in the DAB standard
• Multiple redundancy
• Monitoring Decoder & Analyzer
• Switch & Converter
• Tunnel Break-In Rebroadcast System
Programme
Session 3 13:00 - 14:00 CEST
Australia: keeping audio free, local and accessible
Australian audio is thriving, but evolving technology threatens broadcasters’ ability to deliver the content audiences want – where, when and how they want it. This session is a rallying call from Down Under for global platforms and automakers to collaborate, ensuring radio remains a free, trusted and essential service for communities everywhere.
Speaker: Lizzie Young, CEO, Commercial Radio & Audio, Australia
DAB+ driving the UK radio and audio market
DAB radio listening in cars continues to grow in the United Kingdom. Explore the UK radio market with the latest audience data and in-car audio research.
Speaker: Mark Pearson, Senior Analyst, Research and Intelligence, Ofcom UK
Lizzie Young
CEO, Commercial Radio & Audio, Australia
Mark
Pearson Senior Analyst, Research and Intelligence, Ofcom UK
Tomas Granryd Coordinator,
The EBU Connected Car Playbook
The EBU playbook: guiding radio’s digital future
As the automotive industry shifts towards more integrated and connected systems, there’s a risk that traditional broadcast radio could be marginalised. The Playbook advocates for radio to remain a central feature in the car’s infotainment system, emphasising user-friendly access and seamless integration.
Speaker: Tomas Granryd, Coordinator, The EBU Connected Car Playbook and Tobias Nielsen, Senior Vice President Digital, Bauer Media Group
Seamless listening: bridging broadcast and apps
Broadcasters are creating smooth transitions between DAB+ and app-based listening, designing driver-friendly experiences, and shaping the future of hybrid radio.
Tobias Nielsen Senior Vice President Digital, Bauer Media Group
Laurence Harrison Chief Partnerships Officer, Radioplayer
Sonia Domarco
Radioplayer Spain
Programme
Session 4 14:30 - 15:30 CEST
Broadcast radio: live, local, and made for the drive
Radio’s linear, local, and live strengths power compelling drivetime contentfrom morning shows to real-time traffic updates - designed for today’s in-car listeners.
Speaker: Frank Nowack, Feature Owner Broadcast Radio, EU Model e–Connected Vehicle Software, Ford Motor Company
Effective interventions - practical actions to fix systemic problems
WorldDAB collaborates with other organisations to aid the growth of digital radio, to identify obstacles and to enable the best experience for listeners. This session looks at where we can take practical steps that help the entire ecosystem for example, how do I fix the wrong station logo displaying in my car?
Speaker: Nick Piggott, Project Director, RadioDNS, Vice President, WorldDAB
Frank Nowack Feature Owner
Broadcast Radio, EU
Model e–Connected Vehicle Software, Ford Motor Company
Nick Piggott Project Director, RadioDNS, Vice President, WorldDAB
Hanns Wolter Technical Director, DAB Italia and Chair, WorldDAB Spectrum and Network Implementation Committee
WorldDAB Automotive Help Desk hot topics: logos, lists and linking Speakers: Hanns Wolter, Technical Director, DAB Italia and Chair, WorldDAB Spectrum and Network Implementation Committee, Lizzie Young, CEO, Commercial Radio & Audio, Australia and Javier Sanchez, Director of Audiovisual Policy and Public Service, RTVE
Closing comments
Bernie O’Neill, Project Director, WorldDAB
Q&A
15:30 CEST Close
Lizzie Young CEO, Commercial Radio & Audio, Australia
Javier Sanchez Director of Audiovisual Policy and Public Service, RTVE
AVT Audio Video Technologies was founded in 1996 in Nuremberg as a manufacturer for professional audio equipment.
Today, AVT is a leading manufacturer of DAB technology offering reliable hardware and software solutions for small, cost effective setups as well as scalable, fully redundant headends.
By tailoring individual solutions aimed at the changing requirements of a developing market, AVT equips its partners with the technology necessary to shape the media landscape of tomorrow. While steadily developing new systems to connect digital infrastructure and broadcast, we also make sure to continuously improve our existing products by implementing new features to enable sustained use. All our hardware systems are DSP based to offer highest reliability for a prolonged lifecycle.
AVT has more than two decades of comprehensive audio knowledge and offers more than just DAB products. As one of the leading manufacturers of telephone hybrid systems and audio codecs, we are also able to realize crosssystem integrations. The AVT systems, which are developed and manufactured in Germany, are deployed worldwide via national distributors. This gives us the opportunity to monitor global developments in broadcast and provide comprehensive solutions.
www.avt-nbg.de
DIGIDIA
DIGIDIA provides end-to-end DAB & DAB+ solutions for broadcast and test applications. The broadcast transmission range encompasses multiplexers, content servers, IP gateways for EDI & ETI, and road tunnel transmission/break-in products. The monitoring range includes professional RF receivers and EDI/ETI/ RF monitoring platforms. All products are provided for both virtual and physical server platforms - Software and hardware designs are 100% done in house. Since 2021 DIGIDIA is part of the NAUTEL group.
www.nautel.com/products/digital-radio/dab/
Factum Radioscape
Based in London, Factum Radioscape is a leading provider of innovative radio broadcast technology and services to broadcasters, regulators, and network operators worldwide. With over two decades of experience in the industry, we specialize in delivering high-quality radio solutions, including broadcast monitoring, measurement, and analysis services, to ensure seamless and reliable transmission of radio signals. Factum Radioscape have installed many DAB systems worldwide, providing clients with cutting-edge products that meet their specific needs and requirements.
www.factumradioscape.com
GatesAir
For over 100 years, GatesAir (a Thomson Broadcast subsidiary) has been an industry leader in over-the-air transmission solutions for radio and television broadcasters around the world. Our cutting-edge technology helps broadcasters increase efficiency, reliability, and flexibility in their workflows for a profitable and competitive edge.
GatesAir’s Maxiva line offers the industry’s most agile and efficient UHF/VHF transmitters and is globally recognized as the premier choice for DAB/DAB+ deployment. Designed for optimized power usage, maintenance, scalability, and connectivity, Maxiva transmitters are the backbone of digital radio and TV broadcasting worldwide.
Our Flexiva FM transmitters offer a wide range of power options, from costeffective, low-power units to high-efficiency, high-power models. For analog or digital usage, stations across the globe rely on these renowned solutions. For reliable AoIP/VoIP distribution, our Intraplex STL codecs are the industry standard. Our award-winning IP and 950MHz codecs provide rock-solid, always-on assurance with advanced analytics and control.
www.gatesair.com/dab
Inntot Technologies
Inntot Technologies is a Forbes India Select 200 Deep Tech company with prime focus on enabling cost effective next generation digital media receivers.
Inntot’s Software Defined Radio solutions have been deployed in more than 1.2 million vehicles.
Inntot’s field proven SDR based DAB/DAB+ Receiver solution including Data Services has been ported to various hardware platforms integrated with different Automotive grade tuners. Inntot is engaged with car OEMs and Automotive Tier1s for providing SDR based DAB receiver solutions to various markets such as Europe, GCC, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa.
Inntot is also working towards developing Audio processing components to enhance and enrich the user experience in vehicles. Audio processing components include Loudness Control, DRC, Spatial Enhancement, Mixers, Equalizer, Limiter, Volume Control, and Echo Cancellation and Noise Reduction (ECNR).
Inntot Technologies is the winner of several prestigious awards including NASSCOM League of 10 - Emerge 50 2023, National Technology Awards 2021 of TDB, Government of India, Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya Telecom Skill Excellence Awards 2022 of Government of India, NXP Tech Startup Challenge 2022, Industrial Innovation Awards 2017 of Confederation of Indian Industries (CII) - for the Best Service Startup and Top 10 Promising Startups of India, ASSOCHAM 4th ICT Awards 2020, DRM Enterprise Award 2019 instituted by Digital Radio Mondiale Consortium.
www.inntot.com
ITEL Elettronica e Telecomunicazioni
ITEL Elettronica e Telecomunicazioni is a company specializing in audio processing and headend systems for the radio and television telecommunications market. Based in Perugia, Italy, ITEL designs and manufactures all of its products locally. Founded in 2007, ITEL quickly gained a strong reputation in the Italian market for the quality and innovation of its products. It was the first company to implement the recoding of alternative frequencies in RDS systems for FM radio and the first globally to integrate audio processing systems within DAB+ headend technology. Today, ITEL’s distribution network spans over 100 countries, and the company collaborates with major government organizations worldwide to advance DAB+ radio development.
www.itel.it/en
Innovationszentrum für Telekommunikationstechnik GmbH IZT
Since 1997, the Innovationszentrum für Telekommunikationstechnik GmbH IZT provides equipment for digital radio systems, transmitters for digital broadcast, receivers for signal monitoring and recording, signal generation and channel simulators.
The DAB-specific product portfolio includes the IZT DAB ContentServer – a highly reliable professional broadcast system for DAB. It combines audio encoding, data service management and ensemble/service multiplex generation in one device. Its reliability has permanently been proven in numerous DAB head-end installations. In addition, the IZT’s signal generators and RF monitoring receivers are powerful laboratory tools, for example for DAB signal analysis or for the development DAB receivers.
www.izt-labs.de
Paneda
Paneda offers innovative and cost-effective DAB solutions: safety systems, broadcast networks and broadcast systems. Nearly 200 tunnels in Norway are equipped with Paneda systems. Many local and public European broadcasters are using Paneda DAB Head-End systems with a complete range of products including multiplexing, audio encoders, data insertion and content management. www.paneda.no
Radioplayer
Radioplayer is the broadcaster-owned platform that keeps radio first on every connected dashboard and device. Across 25 countries we unite more than 10 000 stations and deliver Hybrid radio combining the best of broadcast and IP that powers car dashboards and an extensive app ecosystem and smart speaker integrations. Through Data and AI, we help broadcasters optimize content and business strategies. Through global collaboration and advocacy, we uphold radio’s cultural significance and accessibility. In essence, Radioplayer leads radio’s evolution, ensuring that radio remains a vital part of the connected world, whether it’s in cars, homes, or on any device where people listen to content.
www.radioplayer.org
RF2Digital
RF2Digital specializes in cutting-edge automotive radio solutions that support global standards such as DAB, DRM, CDR, HD Radio, AM/FM, and streaming radio. Our SDR (Software Defined Radio)-based technology is designed for seamless integration into any automotive SoC platform.
In the era of SDV (Software Defined Vehicle), RF2Digital is at the forefront of broadcasting innovation, delivering flexible, software-driven architectures that address the growing demands of connected and intelligent mobility. With a mission to push the boundaries of automotive infotainment, we draw upon decades of expertise and research, constantly striving to explore the uncharted territories of the future.
http://rf2digital.com/
TRedess
TRedess is a company specialised in DTT and DAB+ Transmitters and Gap Fillers, counting with more than 28,000 transmitting devices operating worldwide in more than 60 countries. TRedess DAB+ portfolio counts with air cooled solutions from very low powers up to 5KW.
In the last fouryears, TRedess has become a key player in a large number of the DAB+ rollouts worldwide (with more than 500 x DAB+ transmitters deployed in 15 countries). Key elements to that success have been the high efficiency of TRedess DAB+ transmitters (up to 53%) plus also the outstanding performance of TRedess DAB+ SFN Gap Fillers.
Other main characteristics to highlight of TRedess solutions are: compact devices, flexibility, easy to use and operate, cost effective solutions for each scenario, full control of the design and manufacturing, top class quality control, support, etc…
www.tredess.com
Xperi - featuring DTS AutoStage and All In Media (AIM)
Xperi, via its comprehensive broadcast technologies portfolio (including DTS AutoStage, AIM Radio Apps including the new AIM Player and AIM RAPID), is uniquely committed to support broadcasters in their special bonds with the communities they serve, enabling connections with audiences wherever they consume content, while simplifying and personalizing content discovery and future-proofing radio via a consistent and constant stream of broadcastcentric innovation.
When joining DTS AutoStage, broadcasters maintain control of their content in the car dash and gain access to end-user analytics. Broadcasters can join DTS AutoStage for free at https://onboarding.connectedrad.io
