DAB+ Launch Set for Gold Coast

The sixth-largest urban centre in Australia will gain new digital radio options on Apr. 4 when nine new commercial stations go on air via DAB+ in Gold Coast, Queensland, according to Commercial Radio Australia.

Gold Coast will be the 10th city in Australia to launch DAB+. ARN and Southern Cross Austereo plan to launch new stations for the DAB+ multiplex, and the market’s existing stations Sea FM, Triple M and Hot Tomato will simulcast on DAB+ and FM.

“As a successful early adopter of the digital radio spectrum, we are delighted that Gold Coast listeners will now be able to access new DAB+ stations from the Hit and Triple M family,” said SCA CEO Grant Blackley. “DAB+ offers a higher quality listening experience and, for SCA, the ability to increase our audience in southeast Queensland.”

“We’re excited to be able to elevate the current FM listening experience onto the DAB+ spectrum, but beyond that, given that the Gold Coast is Australia’s sixth largest city with one of the fastest growing economies in the country, it presents a significant opportunity for national advertisers to connect with an audience at scale,” said ARN Regional COO Michael Harvey.

DAB+ receivers are widespread in Australian automobiles; 78% of all new vehicles sold in the country last year were fitted with DAB+ as standard.

DAB+ launched in Brisbane, Queensland, in 2009 as part of the initial rollout of the technology to Australia. Located about 45 miles north of Gold Coast, Brisbane DAB+ signals have had some limited reach into the northern part of the Gold Coast market.