Dear Friends, Colleagues and Partners,
Happy New Year and lots of success in 2026! January has started with so much activity that the holidays seem so far behind.
In this inaugural 2026 newsletter edition you will get a few reminders of the high note on which DRM ended last year and more details on the preparations for a couple of big events involving DRM at the start of the new year.
The first one is the exhibition and conference in New Delhi, India at the end of January. BES is a big event where we expect to make big announcements.
This will be preceded by a robust DRM presence at the quarterly HFCC meeting in Malaysia.
Preparations are also under way for the UNESCO World Radio Day on February 13th where DRM will try to make a groundbreaking impact while contributing to the theme of broadcasting and AI. This will be also the occasion for two global seminars for which you can freely register by also choosing a convenient time for your time zone.
The DRM General Assembly is also confirmed for May 5-6 in Jakarta, Indonesia and you are warmly invited to participate in the one, VIP Day, on May 5th.
In 2026 we keep open the invitation to join us as a free member. If interested, please make sure to get all the information.
Latest News
DRM Stronger than Ever at Indian Event
Under the title DRM Digital Radio – “One Nation, One Standard” the Digital Radio Mondiale Consortium will showcase DRM’s broadcast-proven capabilities in India and its public-value benefits at BES Expo 2026, the 30th International Conference & Exhibition on Broadcast & Media Technology, taking place 29–31 January 2026 at Hall 12A, Pragati Maidan, New Delhi.
At BES Expo 2026, DRM experts will demonstrate how the global, open digital radio standard can offer a flexible and cost-effective path for FM radio digitisation, while preserving radio’s strengths: universal access, resilience, and public service. Because DRM is an open standard, it strengthens technology sovereignty by avoiding proprietary lock-in and empowering local innovation and manufacturing.
📄 DRM Digital Radio – “One Nation, One Standard” at BES Expo 2026 – news.drm.org
📄 DRM Consortium to highlight digital radio for India at BES Expo 2026 – RedTech
📄 DRM Digital Radio – “One Nation, One Standard” at BES Expo 2026 – radiotvlink.com
👍 Read and like the post on LinkedIn
📌 Continuously updated information and further resources on DRM @ BES 2026 are available at www.drm.org/bes-2026.
DRM – The Choice for FM Digitisation in India
Following recent recommendations by the Indian regulator on the adoption of a single national standard for digital radio broadcasting in the FM band, a new article by Yogendra Pal, honorary chairman of the DRM India Chapter in the specialised Indian press, argues why DRM uniquely meets India’s strategic, technical, and policy requirements. The article highlights how DRM supports true simulcasting, efficient spectrum use, Emergency Warning Functionality, and alignment with national initiatives such as Digital India and Make in India.
📄 The full analysis is presented in the article One Nation, One Standard – DRM for Digital Radio Broadcasting in the FM Band in India – broadcastandcablesat.co.in
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DRM Member Announces Ultra-Low-Power SDR Tuner for bands from LF to VHF
CML Micro has just launched the CMX918 multi-mode Software-Defined Radio (SDR) ultra-low-power tuner enabling longer battery life from LF to VHF. This is an advanced SDR tuner that combines digital radio capability including Digital Radio Mondiale – DRM – with industry-leading low power consumption for portable and embedded receivers.
The new SDR tuner is designed to significantly extend battery life in portable, embedded, and always-on radio applications.
📄 DRM Member Announces Ultra-Low-Power SDR Tuner for bands from LF to VHF – news.drm.org
📄 CML Micro launches the CMX918 ultra-low-power SDR tuner enabling longer battery life from LF to VHF – cmlmicro.com
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DRM Prepares New Announcements at BES Delhi
During the three-day BES event in New Delhi the strong expert contingent representing the DRM Consortium are also preparing for new announcements to be unveiled at a special event to be hosted on 30 January, 11:30–12:30, at the DRM booth B3 in Hall 12A, Pragati Maidan exhibition centre in the Indian capital.
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DRM Ends 2025 in a Strong Position
In its last 80th anniversary printed edition – 2025 World Radio TV Handbook – the DRM Consortium makes a strong case for DRM digital radio globally while highlighting the great and real impact successes of 2025. Read the article in this annual prestigious handbook.
📄 DRM Strong Position in the 2025 Directory of Global Broadcasting – news.drm.org
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📄 Please also check: DRM Newsletter December 2025 – news.drm.org
DRM – Comprehensive Preparation for World Radio Day
The DRM Consortium will contribute to the UNESCO World Radio Day 2026 on a scale never attempted before by showcasing how broadcasters can deliver AI-Enabled e-Learning via Digital Radio.
On UNESCO World Radio Day, February 13th, DRM specialists will show and explain how DRM digital broadcasts over the airwaves can provide e-learning content – audio, text and images – live or for later use, in one or more languages.
How can digital broadcasts over the airwaves deliver e-learning content – audio, text and images?
To find out, register via the link or QR code below and select the time slot that best fits your time zone and schedule.
📅 Friday, 13 February 2026
🕘 Option 1: 09:00 UTC
🕒 Option 2: 15:00 UTC
📌 Continuously updated information and further resources on DRM and AI for UNESCO World Radio Day are available at www.drm.org/wrd-2026.
You can also get information and register on the official UNESCO World Radio Day page:
🔗 World Radio Day 2026: Free AI Training Sessions – unesco.org
More information about the UNESCO World Radio Day:
🔗 World Radio Day 2026 puts the focus on artificial intelligence – RedTech
DRM at Global Shortwave Coordination HFCC Conference
The A26 Global Shortwave Coordination Conference is currently underway in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, hosted by ABU. Approximately fifty frequency managers from across Asia, Australia, the Arab States, Europe, and the Americas are participating in the five-day conference, 19 to 23 January 2026.
The conference is hosted by the Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union (ABU) and jointly organised by the High Frequency Coordination Conference (HFCC) and the Arab States Broadcasting Union (ASBU).
The conference is aimed at coordinating shortwave frequency schedules for the A26 (summer) season. Most of the event is getting coordination among member states to minimise interference and ensure reliable shortwave broadcasting services.
While this is a working conference, there are also special presentations aimed at giving members the latest on shortwave and digital shortwave – DRM – technical and country updates. Paul Firth, senior manager at Encompass Digital Media, UK, and DRM Consortium Steering Board member, will present the latest on DRM including latest application and demonstrations like Emergency Warning Functionality or e-learning.
DRM in South Africa Takes New Steps
The chairman of the DRM South Africa group has given details to TechCentral, a much-appreciated South African publication, on South Africa’s latest digital radio planned demonstration. This will be DRM demo broadcasts expected to go live within weeks, potentially timed to coincide with World Radio Day on 13 February.
The author is Aldred Dreyer, chairman of the DRM South Africa Group, the organisation that’s spearheading the development, roll-out and promotion of DRM radio in the country. It follows the granting of a trial licence by communications regulator ICASA late last year.
📄 South African digital radio trial is about to go live – techcentral.co.za
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DRM SW Transmitter Back on Air
The SW transmitter in Waldheim, Germany, went back on air in December 2025 with Digital Radio Mondiale (DRM) shortwave broadcasting on 6195 kHz.
Sender Waldheim started a series of DRM shortwave transmissions with programme relays from welle370, SE-TA 2 and C. M. Obrecht shortwave radio. Listener feedback was received from around the world, with reception reports confirming coverage in and around Germany.
Further programme relays are planned for later in the year. Before that, a special DRM broadcast is scheduled for 13 February, in the context of DRM’s partnership with UNESCO for World Radio Day.
📄 Sender Waldheim returns on DRM shortwave – news.drm.org
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DRM in Hungary – Part of Radio Centenary Celebrations
Although digital radio transmissions are not at the top of the agenda in Hungary, this silence was broken in the last month of 2025. On the 1st of December 2025, 100 years of regular broadcasting in the country were celebrated. DRM was mentioned in articles aimed at both the professional community and the wider public.
December 1st, 1925 marks the moment when regular broadcasting backed by appropriate legislation officially started. Previously, occasional AM transmissions took place. To honour this, a DRM transmission was launched on 26060 kHz for 1 day only and its output power was exactly 100 W like 100 years ago. Just like 6 years ago, when a demonstration of DRM programme covered Budapest and its surroundings twice during six months, this 2025 project was the result of a collaboration between Fraunhofer IIS, as they provided the data stream, 4iG Infrastruktúra Kft. (former Antenna Hungária, and the Hungarian national broadcasting company) who “lent” the broadcasting site for this purpose, the National Media and Infocommunications Authority of Hungary as they issued the related radio licence, and SZOMEL Kft., Associate Member of the DRM Consortium, who provided the transmission technology and organised the background work.
📄 DRM in Hungary – Part of Radio Centenary Celebrations – news.drm.org
DRM African Newsletter Out
The end of 2025 saw the publication of the second African newsletter which is taking shape as an independent and full information tool for those interested in DRM digital radio in Africa. Please make sure you become a regular reader by registering and receiving it quarterly for free.
📄 DRM Africa Newsletter, December 2025 – newsletter.drm.org
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📄 See also: DRM to demo FM in South Africa – RedTech
DRM Confirms Place and Times of its Annual General Meeting
The DRM Consortium has just confirmed that preparations are underway for the 2026 DRM General Assembly, to be held in Jakarta, Indonesia, May 5-6. The DRM General Assembly will be held in partnership with the key Consortium member Radio Republik Indonesia (RRI), at a moment when Indonesia is taking an increasingly prominent role in radio digitisation.
The GA will consist of two days of meetings. The first day of the meeting is open to members and guests.
📅 Day One
DRM Day Seminar for members and invited guests – Tuesday, 5 May
📅 Day Two
Members only – General Assembly and Steering Board – Wednesday, 6 May
📌 Continuously updated information and further resources on the DRM General Assembly 2026 are available at www.drm.org/ga-2026.
Videos
Around the Web
📄 CES Wrap: Reflections on Radio, AI and the Future – Radio World
📄 Prasad Dodangodage appointed as ABU News’ SE – abu.org.my
📄 Here’s How FCC Station Totals Have Changed in 10 Years – Radio World
📄 Will Forcing Radio Out of the Car Dash Save Consumers Money? – Radio World
Upcoming Events
📅 19-22 Jan | HFCC, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
📅 29–31 Jan | BES Expo, Delhi, India
📅 2–4 Feb | FOMEX, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
📅 13 Feb | UNESCO World Radio Day
📅 22–24 Mar | RadioDays Europe, Riga, Latvia
📅 30 Mar-2 Apr | ABU Digital Broadcasting Symposium
📅 18-22 Apr | NAB, Las Vegas, USA
📅 22-25 Apr | CCBN, China
📅 6-7 May | DRM General Assembly, Indonesia
