New Record: 53 Million in Germany Listen to Audio On-line

Declining listening to terrestrial FM and DAB+ radio. 

The Online Audio Monitor 2025 survey shows that online audio is firmly entrenched in everyday life. Web radio is still a solid anchor in audio consumption: 39 million people (56%) regularly listen to linear radio content online. Smart TV has become the second most important platform for online audio content after the smartphone.

When it comes to platforms, Spotify is the undisputed leader among people under 30, while YouTube continues to grow in importance for podcasts and audiobooks. 24 million people listen to podcasts, preferably on politics and society. Ahead of the 2025 federal elections, more than half used podcasts as a supplementary information medium.

5G Broadcast Field Trials On Air in the Netherlands

New technology breakthrough at exhibition in Amsterdam

Netherlands will join other European countries in order to get the new digital terrestrial radio and television system on air.  At IBC2025, public broadcaster NPO and broadcast provider Broadcast Partners are showcasing a live 5G Broadcast transmission, highlighting the latest developments in over-the-air media delivery and announcing a nationwide field trial in the Netherlands set to begin in Q4 this year.

5G Broadcast enables live TV, radio and media content to be transmitted over-the-air directly to smartphones without consuming mobile data and without dependencies on mobile telecom networks. The technology uses a separate frequency band to efficiently deliver one signal to all users simultaneously. As the spreading of the media works completely independent from the internet and mobile infrastructures, the technology is excellent for future emergency communications; and is already compatible with the current LTE (Further Enhanced) standard and can be integrated into future smartphones with relative ease and low cost.

Parliament Wants to Postpone FM Radio Shutdown in Switzerland

Another DAB setback. Forced shutdowns are seen as endangering private broadcasters.

The National Council - the upper house of parliament - has adopted a proposal for new FM licenses from 2027. This is intended to prevent the planned shutdown of analogue radio. The council adopted a proposal from the transport committee by 124 votes to 62, with 8 abstentions. The proposal called on the Federal Council (government) to refrain from shutting down FM broadcasts on December 31, 2026. Instead, the current FM radio licenses should be extended or new licenses should be put out to tender from January 1, 2027, if necessary through an auction.

The transport committee argued that the forced shutdown endangers private radio stations and would lead to a shift of listeners to foreign stations. The SRG (the public broadcaster) had already lost 25 percent of its listeners after the FM shutdown at the end of 2024 – such a decline would be “devastating” for advertising-funded private radio stations. (Read more below)

FM Radio Shutdown in Switzerland Likely to Be Postponed for Five Years

Dissatisfaction with public service broadcaster switch to DAB this year. The Norwegian trauma.

The Federal Council decided in 2023 to phase out FM channels by December 31, 2026. This decision is not supported by a narrow majority in the National Council's Transport and Telecommunications Committee. With the chairman's casting vote, the committee decided to submit a motion instructing the Federal Council to abandon the planned deactivation. Instead, the government must extend the current FM concessions or issue a new call for tenders for the award of FM concessions starting January 1, 2027.

Strong Support For Retaining Crucial Frequency Band for European Broadcasters

Space for 5G Broadcast as game changer for future terrestrial radio and television 

Radio Spectrum Policy Group (RSPG) is a high-level advisory group that assists the European Commission in the development of radio spectrum policy. The RSPG workshop on the future of the 470–694 MHz band had a crucial meeting in April 2025 for the future of audiovisual services in Europe. Here the strategic value of terrestrial broadcasting and digital terrestrial television (DTT) was highlighted as an open, universal and accessible platform that ensures:

 - Free and equal access to news, cultural and entertainment content

 - Social and territorial cohesion, reaching where other platforms don’t

 - Technological sovereignty and resilience in times of crisis

 - A sustainable and energy-efficient model that supports pluralism and diversity

-  An innovative platform developing UHD, HbbTV and 5G Broadcast.

FM Radio Important Part of Emergency Preparedness During Power Outages

Linear broadcasts on terrestrial networks provide safer communication in emergencies

In an increasingly digital world where information is mostly disseminated via the internet, social networks or mobile apps, a proven technology is proving to be indispensable in times of crisis: FM radio. The recent power outages in Spain, Portugal and parts of France have impressively shown that in the event of a major power outage, only linear broadcasts continue to function reliably – a result with far-reaching implications for disaster management.

The power outage on the Iberian Peninsula confirmed that broadcast radio is “the only medium that can ensure fast and reliable communication in such a crisis”. While internet connections and mobile phone networks stopped working, terrestrial radio stations such as FM (and DAB) continued to broadcast thanks to backup power.