ASIA

On World Radio Day, February 13, WorldDAB released its latest infographic, which highlights the ongoing global growth of DAB+.The updated graphic shows device sales now nearing the 150 million milestone, with the fast-growing markets of France and Australia leading the way with sales of receivers now over 10 million each, alongside the well-established DAB+ auto market. Sales in eleven core markets now total 145,195,000, and almost all new cars across Europe come with DAB+ as standard.In France, this is coupled with DAB+ coverage now exceeding 60% of the population, and in Spain, public broadcaster RTVE is heading towards the goal of 50% coverage with the recent addition of transmitters covering the metropolitan areas of Valladolid and Zaragosa.The infographic is published by WorldDAB — the global industry forum for DAB+ digital radio — on February 13 to mark UNESCO’s World Radio Day, reflecting broadcast radio’s vital role as a relatively free and portable public safety net during emergencies, as well as the democratic value of radio to serve as a connection within underserved groups, and the companionship it can bring as a friendly voice whenneeded. This year’s theme is “Radio and Climate Change.”WorldDAB President Jacqueline Bierhorst said: “13 February is an important day in the global calendar for anyone as passionate about broadcast radio as me and the members of the WorldDAB family. Today we can share new data showing how DAB+ continues to grow in both new and established markets around the world. This, coupled with our new DAB+ Automatic Safety Alerts, which can provide life-saving warnings of environmental emergencies such as storms and flooding, demonstrates the critical role of broadcast radio.”The infographic can be downloaded from the WorldDAB website.Data from the new infographic will also be highlighted in WorldDAB keynote sessions at the Saudi Media Forum on 19 – 21 February in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; and the Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union Digital Broadcasting Symposium in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on 24 – 27 February. […]

Radio DYUP 102.7 FM, Philippines, has won the first edition of the international contest “Radio bridges – Joint actions for the climate”, launched by COPEAM with the support of UNESCO as part of the 2025 World Radio Day.The competition aims to promote and support exchanges between radios around the world that encourage local and global solutions to this planetary emergency, while emphasizing collaboration, innovation and the promotion of intercultural dialogue.COPEAM (Permanent Conference of the Mediterranean Audiovisual Operators) is a not-for-profit association devoted to the promotion of inter-cultural dialogue and media cooperation in the Mediterranean region.The contest saw the participation of 18 countries from almost all over the world: Gulf, Asia, Central America, Africa, MENA Region, Europe.The Jury, composed of members of radio networks and platforms representing all continents and all types of radio – community and associative, private and commercial, public, cultural, university and educational – evaluated the applications received, in order to decide on the best project dedicated to climate change with a collaborative and, where possible, transnational approach.“Ang Seawall sa Miagao” (The Seawalls of Miagao) by Radio DYUP 102.7 FM (Philippines) – a documentary realized in the framework of a collaboration with DW Academy and submitted in the “Representation of Women and Vulnerable People” category of the contest, won the award.It also earned praise from various members of the jury.AMARC said: “A strong initiative that highlights the impact of seawall constructions on coastal communities in the Philippines. It effectively illustrates the environmental and social challenges related to this technical solution, while giving a voice to fishermen, women, and vulnerable individuals.”

OSBU said: “Very good scientific approach to a climate problem, academically structured and engaging.”“A well thought out and executed documentary that really features the voices of lived experience (fishermen etc). The level of creativity and production was also high,” said ABU. The international jury included:Click here to read the script in English of the winning entry (produced in the local Hiligaynon language) […]

Malaysia’s Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil expressed his hope that radio continues to be an agent for unity, transcending all divides and fostering a sense of togetherness among people of various backgrounds.In a statement marking World Radio Day on February 13, Fadzil emphasised that radio plays an indispensable role in providing information, promoting education, and encouraging social cohesion across diverse communities.“For many years, radio has been an essential medium for disseminating knowledge, entertainment, and educational content to the public,” he said.The minister also extended his gratitude to radio professionals, both on-air talents and those working behind the scenes, acknowledging their tireless dedication and unwavering commitment to the medium.“Thank you to all radio staff for your continued efforts. Your hard work does not go unnoticed. Happy World Radio Day!” he wrote in a Facebook post. […]

The Saudi Broadcasting Authority (SBA) celebrated World Radio Day, observed annually on February 13, under this year’s theme “Radio and Climate Change“.UNESCO designated this day in commemoration of its first radio broadcast in 1946, reinforcing radio’s prominence as an essential auditory medium. The occasion highlights radio’s vital role in human diversity, its widespread reach as the most accessible media platform, and the importance of high-quality radio content that upholds professional standards. It also emphasizes engaging listeners, encouraging community participation, and ensuring the competitiveness and sustainability of radio stations in attracting and retaining a broad audience.Mohammed bin Fahd Al-Harthi, Saudi Broadcasting Authority CEO, spoke to the Saudi Press Agency about the authority’s commitment to radio development, citing its wide reach.He said that Saudi radio’s evolution matched the Kingdom’s social development, serving as a vital channel for knowledge dissemination and keeping citizens informed about local and global developments.Despite technological advances, radio remains one of the most widely used global media forms, reaching diverse communities across all sectors of society.The Kingdom’s radio broadcasting history dates back to 1949 when the late King Abdulaziz bin Abdulrahman issued a Royal Order establishing Saudi Radio. The inaugural broadcast began in the same year from Jeddah during the Hajj season, initially focusing on official and religious news and literary productions such as poetry and articles, with a daily broadcast duration of no more than three hours.Under the umbrella of SBA, the Kingdom operates several radio stations, including Jeddah Radio, Riyadh Radio, Saudia Radio (English-language service), the Holy Quran Radio, Nidaa Alislam Radio, Al-Ekhbariya Radio, and Khuzama Radio.Recognizing the Kingdom’s Islamic significance and influential global role, the Saudi International Radios network was established in 1969, broadcasting in more than 10 languages, including French, Turkish, Indonesian, Persian, Hindi, and Urdu. […]

On the small island nation of Niue in the South Pacific Ocean, over six hundred radios were gifted to every household to mark World Radio Day (WRD) on February 13.The radios, donated by the People’s Republic of China, were distributed by national broadcaster Broadcasting Corporation of Niue (BCN) and the Associate Minister of Broadcasting Esa Mona Ainuu.Ainuu, a former journalist, spoke about the significance of Radio in providing information and keeping our population updated on what is happening around the island. She said that radio is still the preferred source of information for many, especially the elderly.Alofi South village councillor Ettie Pasene-Mizziebo that she listens to the radio all the time because she loves music and the radio is her main source of information.General Manager of BCN, Trevor Tiakia said that they realise how valuable a radio is to a household and especially during cyclones or any disaster.The only radio station in Niue, Radio Sunshine is part of BCN.Its senior reporter Esther Pavihi posted a note on Facebook to commemorate WRD, saying: “I started working on radio in 1998 with Evaeva Niue under the tutelage of Lofa Rex and Ida Hekesi. Thirty odd years later I’m still on radio with the news and current affairs. Working on radio is a responsibility to our audience … to keep them informed, educated and entertained, and shaping national conversations on issues that matter to our society. Today Feb 13th is World Radio Day…Fakaaue lahi to all whose voices keep us informed and entertained, those who wake us up in the mornings and keep us company during cyclones.” […]

The Digital Radio Mondiale Consortium (DRM) Consortium will mark World Radio Day 2025 on February 13. This event chosen (since 2011) by UNESCO aims to celebrate radio transmissions by all category of broadcasters, such a public, commercial and community stations. The theme for World Radio Day this year is Radio and Climate Change, which focuses on “empowering radio stations to enhance their journalistic coverage of one of the most critical issues of our time,” according to UNESCO.The DRM Consortium marks this event by reminding all radio stakeholders of the key benefits the DRM standard can provide in tackling the negative effects of the major changes in global climate.  This is a natural emergency of huge proportions which has claimed thousands of lives and, therefore, we are welcoming the UNESCO initiative to ‘encourage decision-makers to create and provide access to information through radio…’.Digital Radio Mondiale (DRM) can be part of the global effort in mitigating the effects of natural or man-made disasters with its fully integrated disaster and early warning service called Emergency Warning Functionality (EWF).The DRM digital radio standard, which can be used in all frequency bands (below and above 30 MHz), should therefore be the major building block of a national emergency warning policy, providing full and continuous alert services, audio, text, maps in more than one language, potentially even from remotely located transmitter sites, when all other internet or TV towers fail in the disaster areas.EWF support in receivers can be ensured with no need for special chipsets or extra adaptations for this alert system. Everything needed for EWF is already in the radio receivers, built according to the specifications issued by the DRM Consortium.To ensure that this digital service is effective, key requirements (and immediate advantages) are necessary:
Send notifications to a maximum number of people in the affected areas as promptly as possible
Must cover large areas with very high reliability (with DRM being the only standard running in all frequencies and providing local, regional, national and international coverage, as required)
Must work when common information services and local services fail
Make warnings available on devices that people use on daily basis (desktop, pocket receivers, cars)
Reach devices that are still operational, if electricity fails (i.e. radio sets and other devices with independent energy source)
Be as un-intrusive as possible for daily use
Must be available and continuously on-air for the duration of the emergency in one or several languages
Control of emergency notification and immediate access by authorities
Make emergency messages available to the widest possible audience, including the visually or hearing impaired with complete and detailed information by audio and multilingual on-demand advanced text on receiver screens (Journaline)
For more information about the benefits of the DRM Consortium integrated warning and emergency system, please place ewf.drm.org in your browser to be able to access and download the documents describing in detail this life-saving digital radio service.For a quick demonstration on how a regular radio transmission can be switched to an emergency alert using a digital receiver please watch: s.drm.org/video-ewf. […]