SPARK Europe, Junghofstraße 16, 60311 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
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,
It is my pleasure to welcome you to WorldDAB Automotive 2026.
I am pleased that this year we are in the exciting city of Frankfurt. It is a fitting location for our event, given Germany’s importance in DAB+, automotive and the broader European radio transition.
We meet here against a backdrop of global instability, increasingly algorithm-driven content, and the rise of disinformation. This makes radio’s role as a trusted, accessible and immediate medium more important than ever. In that context, broadcast radio remains central to resilient, free-to-air communication, including in the car.
These challenges mean that it is critical that the whole industry pulls together, and this is why WorldDAB is committed to playing its part in Radio Ready’s unified vision for how broadcasters and car manufacturers can support radio listening in connected cars. Together, we are working to ensure radio remains accessible, prominent and discoverable for listeners in modern, connected vehicles.
Alongside this, WorldDAB is unveiling significant new research on how drivers actually use audio in the car, what they expect from radio, and how prominence, defaults and user experience influence listening behaviour. I am keen to hear the results from our expert partners at Fifty5Blue, which will provide robust evidence for the automotive and policy communities on the continuing relevance of broadcast radio.
I am delighted that the global growth of DAB+ continues to accelerate. I recently visited Saudi Arabia, where DAB+ coverage has rolled out to nine further cities and the Riyadh–Abha road; and Lithuania which announced it is moving toward DAB+ digital radio. Meanwhile, Kenya has also launched trials this year, and the regional broadcasts underway in Ireland have now expanded to cover most of the country.
I want to take this opportunity to thank our many expert speakers from the automotive and broadcast sectors who will be sharing their knowledge, our sponsors and exhibitors who support our event, and of course all those who have travelled from around the world to join us in Frankfurt.
We also greatly appreciate the effort that the WorldDAB Project Office team, our local colleagues and members, and the venues all put into making these events so special.
Thank you and enjoy the day!
Jacky
Programme
Registration and networking breakfast 09:00 - 09:30 CEST
Session 1 09:30 - 10:30 CEST
Moderator - Julie Nageler
YouTube/Podcast Host, BR3/ARD, BR/ARD
Julia Nageler is an experienced and popular YouTube and social media host. She is the female face and voice of the YouTube Show “DSDN - Das schaffst du nie!”, which has over 850,000 subscribers. Run and published by the young radio brand Bayern 3 (BR/ARD), it is a 360-degree, multi-platform entertainment format. Alongside her show, she works as a creator and editor for several other products and platforms.
Opening address - Audio choices in cars have implications for society, safety, and culture
Automotive decisions taken today shape access to radio access tomorrowit’s not about nostalgia for radio - it’s about future-proofing radio’s value in the connected car.
Speaker: Jacqueline Bierhorst, Project Director, Digital Radio NL and President, WorldDAB
Industry keynote – Keeping broadcast radio prominent and accessible in connected cars
Sibyle Veil, CEO, Radio France and Chair, EBU Radio Committee
Julie Nageler
YouTube/Podcast, BR3/ARD, BR/ARD
Jacqueline Bierhorst
Project Director, Digital Radio NL and President, WorldDAB
Sibyle
Veil CEO, Radio France and Chair, EBU Radio Committee
Julie Soulsby Director, Insight, Fifty5Blue
Evidence, behaviour and implications for broadcast radio in the car
The first presentation of our 2026 multi-market Car Buyers Research, delivered by Fifty5Blue (formerly Kantar). The study examines how drivers actually use audio in the car, what they expect from radio, and how prominence, defaults and user experience influence listening behaviour — providing robust evidence for the automotive and policy communities.
Industry response: what the research means in practice
Senior representatives from the automotive sector, the European Broadcasting Union, the Association of European Radios and WorldDAB respond to the research findings and its implications for prominence, discoverability and genuine consumer choice in the connected car.
Speakers: Jacqueline Bierhorst, WorldDAB; Gregor Pötzsch, Product Owner, Radio, CARIAD, Volkswagen; Charles-Emmanuel Bon, Secretary General, Radio France; Tobias Nielsen, Senior Vice President Digital, Bauer Media Audio
Phyllis Chen
Insight Manager, Fifty5Blue
Gregor Pötzsch
Product Owner, Radio, CARIAD, Volkswagen
10:30 - 11:00 CEST Coffee
Charles-Emmanuel Bon Secretary General, Radio France
Tobias Nielsen Senior Vice President Digital, Bauer Media Audio
Programme
Session 2 11:00 - 12:00 CEST
Radio Ready: protecting easy, universal access to in-car radio
Focusing on Radio Ready’s core mission, this session outlines how the Radio Ready campaign secures simple, reliable access to broadcast radio in connected cars. Radio Ready unites public service and commercial broadcasters, industry bodies, platform providers and automotive stakeholders to safeguard radio’s prominence and usability. The session highlights why radio remains the top in-car audio choice, what each country is and member of the group is doing to ensure this and how a unified, industry-wide standard keeps radio effortless for drivers..
Speakers: Tomas Granryd, Coordinator, Radio Ready and Tobias Nielsen, Senior Vice President Digital, Bauer Media Audio
Tomas Granryd Coordinator, Radio Ready
Tobias Nielsen Senior Vice President Digital, Bauer Media Audio
David
Fernández Quijada Research Director, South 180
From content to societal value
The DAB+ Public Policy Toolbox reveals why broadcast remains relevant even in connected markets, why governments care about broadcast radio, and how policy frameworks support media plurality, safety, universal access.
Speaker: David Fernández Quijada, Research Director, South 180
Prominence in in-car user interfaces – goal, challenge, solution
This session explores the German framework developed by the German Media Authorities and the results of a proof of concept with different partners. How can regulatory principles be translated into practical implementation and how the model may inform approaches in other markets.
Speakers: Veit Olischläger, Head of Technology, Media Economics & Public Relations, BLM; Rainer Biehn, Technical Director, Bayerische Medien Technik GmbH, and Benedikt Wiencke, Manager for Automotive Entertainment Solutions, MHP Management- und IT-Beratung GmbH
12:00 - 13:00 CEST Lunch
Veit Olischläger Head of Technology, Media Economics & Public Relations, BLM
Benedikt Wiencke Manager for Automotive Entertainment Solutions, MHP Management- und ITBeratung GmbH
DAB MULTIPLEXER
Combines multiple audio and data services into a single DAB+ transmission stream
SIGNAL GENERATOR
Reliable RF signal source for testing automotive DAB systems under realistic conditions
RECPLAY SYSTEM
R5000 series enabling realistic testing and validation of automotive DAB receivers
Programme
Session 3 13:00 - 14:00 CEST
Dialling it up: DAB+ and broadcast radio prominence in the age of the electric vehicle
Drawing on twelve months of campaigning across government, industry and technology partnerships, this session delivers an honest progress report on Australia’s five-point strategy to secure the prominence of broadcast radioacross AM, FM, DAB+ and streaming - in connected cars. It makes the structural case, grounded in emergency resilience, consumer behaviour and international precedent, for why prominence protection is an urgent policy and engineering priority rather than a legacy broadcasting concern, and sets out what the industry must do together before the EV transition closes the window for action.
Speaker: Lizzie Young, CEO, Commercial Radio and Audio, Australia
Spain’s
policy momentum and a approach to DAB+
rollout
Spain is entering a key phase for digital radio, with a proposed Royal Decree on DAB+ under review to define rollout and market structure. Public radio will drive deployment, led by RTVE and joined progressively by regional broadcasters. This session explores their coordination efforts and what Spain’s evolving framework means for rollout, in-car radio, and the wider European market.
Speaker: Javier Sánchez Pérez, Director of Audiovisual Policy and Public Service, Radio Televisión Española (RTVE)
Lizzie Young CEO, Commercial Radio and Audio, Australia
Javier Sánchez Pérez Director of Audiovisual Policy and Public Service, RTVE
Hanns Wolter Technical Director, DAB Italia & Chair, WorldDAB SNIC
Raphaël
Eyraud President, Towercast
Investing in networks – DAB+ coverage today and tomorrow
European network operators discuss DAB+ coverage, expansion plans and investment strategies supporting long-term stability. The session focuses on road, tunnel and cross-border coverage, including OEM test routes. As markets move toward DAB+ stronger regulation, continued investment in broadcast infrastructure remains vital for the automotive sector.
Panel moderator: Hanns Wolter, Technical Director, DAB Italia and Chair, WorldDAB Spectrum and Network Implementation Committee
Panellists: Raphaël Eyraud, President, Towercast; Jérôme Hirigoyen, Head of International Radio Business Development, TDF France; Bruno Cigrovski, Head of Broadcasting Systems Department, OIV Croatia
Driving digital radio forward: from signals to strategy
Connected cars are key to the future of DAB+, supporting radio listening while enabling measurable in-car performance. Big data from in-car radios will lead to faster feedback and smarter decisions.
Speakers: George Cernat, Senior Director, Automotive Connected Media, Xperi; Gereon Joachim, Vice President Automotive Sales & Strategy, EMEA, Xperi
14:15 - 14:45 CEST Coffee
Jérôme Hirigoyen
Head of International Radio Business Development, TDF
Bruno Cigrovski Head of Broadcasting Systems Department
OIV Croatia
George Cernat Senior Director, Automotive Connected Media, Xperi
Gereon Joachim Vice President Automotive Sales & Strategy, EMEA, Xperi
Programme
Session 4 14:45 - 15:30 CEST
DAB+ and the radio app
DAB+ lives alongside the radio app in the car, this session explores how broadcast and the radio app have come to compliment and even enhance the listening experience for drivers, what features are available right now and what could be possible in the future.
Speaker: Ole Jørgen Torvmark, Head of Products, Radioplayer
Ole
Jørgen Torvmark Head of Products, Radioplayer
Gregor Pötzsch
Product Owner, Radio, CARIAD, Volkswagen
Nick
Piggott Project Director, and Vice President, WorldDAB
Closing panel: from principles to practice
This session explores how WorldDAB is working with automakers, broadcasters, and technology partners to advance digital radio in vehicles, to improve the in-car audio experience, and support the future of broadcast radio in the automotive space.
Speakers: Gregor Pötzsch, Product Owner, Radio, CARIAD, Volkswagen, and Chair, WorldDAB Automotive Working Committee; Nick Piggott, Project Director, RadioDNS and Vice President, WorldDAB; Jacqueline Bierhorst, President, WorldDAB
Closing comments
Bernie O’Neill, Project Director, WorldDAB; with Jacqueline Bierhorst, President, WorldDAB
15:30 CEST Close
Piggott Director, RadioDNS President, WorldDAB
Jacqueline Bierhorst President, WorldDAB
Bernie O’Neill Project Director, WorldDAB
Partner sponsor
Networking
dinner sponsor break sponsor sponsor
Sponsors and exhibitors
ARD/DAB+
The ARD is the nationwide network of regional public broadcasters. ARD is fully committed to DAB+ as the modern standard for radio broadcasting. ARD coordinates national marketing campaigns for DAB+ together with commercial broadcasters.
For listeners, the main benefit is a crystal-clear, noise-free sound experience without the need to manually search for frequencies while traveling. Beyond just audio, DAB+ offers digital extras such as album covers, weather maps, and news headlines displayed directly on the radio screen.
https://www.br.de/unternehmen/inhalt/technik/digitalradio-dab-dab-plus100. html
AVT Audio Video Technologies GmbH
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 three 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 cross-system 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
Nautel’s DIGIDIA digital radio solutions provide end-to-end DAB for broadcast and test applications. The broadcast transmission range encompasses multiplexers, encoders, gateways for AoIP inputs and EDI outputs, as well as road tunnel transmission/break-in products for DAB. The monitoring range consists of a EDI/ETI/RF monitoring platform. All products are provided for both virtual and physical server platforms - Software and hardware is 100% in-house designed. DIGIDIA solutions have been offered as part of Nautel’s digital radio portfolio since 2021 and benefit from Nautel’s extensive support and commitment to the broadcast industry.
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 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 an award-winning Deep Tech company specializing in high-performance Software Defined Radio (SDR) solutions for the global automotive and consumer electronics markets. By shifting complex signal processing from dedicated hardware to optimized software, Inntot provides cost-effective, platform-agnostic DAB/DAB+ IP stacks that significantly reduce Bill of Materials (BoM) costs for OEMs and Tier-1 suppliers. Additionally, patents granted in key performance areas, such as sensitivity and acquisition time, give Inntot’s customers a competitive edge for an outstanding user experience. With over 2 million deployments in vehicles worldwide, Inntot’s field-proven technology supports the full spectrum of digital radio features—including seamless service linking, TPEG, and SlideShow—enabling a premium, futureproof hybrid radio experience. Inntot is already engaged with car OEMs and Automotive Tier-1s to provide SDR-based DAB receiver solutions for various markets, including Europe, GCC, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. www.inntot.com
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
RedwoodComm Co., Ltd.
RedwoodComm delivers high-precision measurement systems designed for the rigorous demands of R&D and high-volume mass production. We provide a comprehensive testing spectrum for DAB/DAB+, DRM, CDR, FM/RDS, and AM, ensuring reliable signal integrity across the entire development lifecycle.
The RWC2010C Digital Radio Tester integrates multiple broadcasting standards—including DAB/DAB+, DMB, DRM30/DRM+, and AM/FM/RDS—into a single platform. With its built-in multiplexer and ETI/MDI file players, it also supports key data services including SLS, SPI, EPG, TPEG, and EWS.It enables advanced protocol analysis and functional testing such as Reconfiguration, AF, Announcements, and Service Linking.
The RWC2500A Modulation Analyzer provides comprehensive measurement for both digital and analog radio, covering AM, FM, (CDR*), and DRM. With the recent addition of a built-in DRM Analyzer, it enables accurate evaluation of DRM signal quality and audio performance, making it well-suited for validating modern radio receivers.
With RedwoodComm, you gain the technical certainty required to bring highquality digital radio products to market faster and more reliably.
www.redwoodcomm.com
RF2Digital
RF2Digital provides advanced SDR (Software Defined Radio)-based solutions that support all major global broadcast standards, including DAB, DRM, CDR, HD Radio, AM/FM, and streaming services. Our software-defined approach ensures seamless integration with diverse automotive SoC platforms.
In the era of SDV (Software Defined Vehicle), we are shaping the future of infotainment with software-driven architectures that empower connected, intelligent mobility.
Positioned as a global enabler of digital broadcasting, RF2Digital delivers flexible solutions for both the automotive and consumer markets, making it easier for industries and governments to adopt and scale digital radio services.
Most recently, we developed multi-standard modules tailored for regional needs — such as DAB/DRM for Indonesia and CDR/DRM for China — and successfully showcased these solutions, demonstrating how RF2Digital’s technology addresses real-world market requirements and supports countries adopting multiple digital radio standards.
http://rf2digital.com/
RFmondial GmbH
RFmondial offers professional products and services for the digital broadcasting industry as well as other industries with the need for innovative hardware and software. Research, development and prototype implementation for transmitter, receiver, and monitoring technology as well as design services for various industries are part of our core business. With our broad experience in different technological areas we serve world-wide markets; “Made in Germany”. As DRM and WorldDAB consortium member RFmondial possesses a wide record of experience and know-how in the field of digital audio broadcasting. This includes the experience of the world’s first DRM broadcast in the VHF band as well as precise, absolute SFN timing measurements in DAB networks. Furthermore, DAB+, HD-Radio, FM and related radio standards are parts of its innovative portfolio. The technological surroundings in Hannover - The City of Trade Fairs - leads to a close cooperation with the Leibniz University Hannover and ensures high level research expertise. RFmondial is quality management certified under the International Organization for Standardization`s ISO 9001 by the TÜV SÜD.
https://www.rfmondial.com/
Xperi
Xperi helps broadcasters keep radio front and centre—at home, on mobile, and in the car. Our technologies make stations look great, sound great, and deliver real insights. DTS AutoStage enhances in-car broadcast radio listening via rich visuals and provides timely, daily and actionable insights to managers, program directors, and sales teams. AIM Player lets broadcasters launch premium apps quickly, bringing live radio, podcasts and video to listeners on phones, TVs and dashboards. AIM RAPID ensures your metadata and artwork are consistent everywhere, unlocking new visual ad opportunities and better listener engagement. Together, we make radio more discoverable, more interactive, and more valuable.
