Broadcasting: over 1.2 million radios with DAB+ sold in Germany in 2024
The proportion of digital radio receivers is growing continuously and has risen to 50 percent of all radio sets sold. DAB+ warnings are coming soon.
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In 2024, over 1.2 million radio sets with DAB+ were sold over physical and virtual store counters in Germany. This corresponds to 50% of all radio receivers sold and a significant increase compared to 2020, when the share was 35%. The German Electrical and Electronic Manufacturers' Association ZVEI cited these figures with reference to the retail panel of the market research institute GfK as part of World Radio Day on February 13. DAB+ is particularly popular with table radios: 56% of all devices in this category sold in 2024 support the digital FM successor. Retailers were able to sell 700,000 of these "table-top radios" with digital audio broadcasting last year.
According to the ZVEI, traditional radio listening remains popular in Germany despite the growth in streaming services. Nine out of ten users continue to enjoy radio reception. Around two thirds of listeners rely on streaming or web radio, according to a consumer survey conducted by GfK on behalf of the ZVEI. The association concludes from the figures: "Even in the digital age, the medium remains indispensable." DAB+ will ensure that future generations will also have free and non-discriminatory access to relevant news. According to the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), terrestrial radio is the "most trusted medium" in 28 out of 31 European countries.
Warning messages via DAB+ in future
In addition to the reception of radio programmes, DAB+ will soon have another important function, emphasizes the ZVEI: In the future, digital receivers could "make an important contribution to civil protection". With the "Automatic Safety Alert" (ASA), the population will remain informed in crisis situations – even in the event of mobile phone or internet failures. The system automatically transmits digital warning messages via DAB+ and thus represents a "reliable, regional and uninterrupted alert" beyond, for example, the disaster warning technology Cell Broadcast.
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According to the association, ASA basically runs in the background, can be adapted regionally and uses "the high range" of the DAB+ transmission network for "maximum security". This is an advantage for clock radios, for example, "which can be activated from standby". With the implementation of ASA, public and private radio stations, the equipment industry and security authorities such as the Federal Office of Civil Protection and Disaster Assistance (BBK) have set themselves the goal of using DAB+ to provide a new important component in the warning mix for crisis situations. In addition to the usual announcements, text and image information is to be provided. The first devices with this additional function should be available on the market from the middle of the year.
According to the Audio Trends 2024 report by the state media authorities, 49 million people in Germany use digital radio stations. That is three quarters of all radio listeners. In total, more than 65 million Germans use linear radio – either on a traditional radio set or online. Three out of four of them also or only use digital broadcasts via web radio or DAB+.
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