BBC World Service to launch new language offers in Hungarian and Romanian

BBC World Service to launch new language offers in Hungarian and Romanian

BBC World Service will launch content in Hungarian and Romanian, further building on its global commitment to reach more people with trusted news. The new pilot services, BBC News Magyarul and BBC News Romania, will deliver news and analysis via their websites – bbc.com/magyarul and bbc.com/romania – and their social-media channels.

The Hungarian-language website and social-media channels on Facebook and Instagram will go live from Tuesday 16 June. The Romanian-language website and social-media channels on Facebook and Instagram will be available from Tuesday 23 June. Both language offers will have YouTube and TikTok channels going live later.

To serve their respective audiences – across Hungary, Romania, Moldova and beyond – with independent and impartial coverage of key global and regional developments, the pilot services will cover a broad range of topics on which audiences in Central and Eastern Europe are seeking accurate information, and will be in easily discoverable, social-first formats. The content offers in Hungarian and Romanian will share a mix of stories covering global and European current affairs, health, science, technology, climate, and cost of living.

Both editorial teams will use AI translation technologies responsibly to bring audiences the BBC’s high-quality global journalism in Hungarian and Romanian. Journalists will curate the editorial offer and ensure there is human oversight of all AI-assisted content which will be clearly labelled when used. Alongside this, the teams will produce original reports and analysis.

Interim Global Director, BBC News, Fiona Crack, says: “In an age of shrinking press freedom, rising disinformation, and global uncertainty, delivering independent and impartial news has never been more important. Launching BBC News Magyarul and BBC News Romania is a milestone built on innovation, like AI-assisted translation tools used responsibly, in order to reach new audiences with trusted news.”

BBC News Magyarul and BBC News Romania follow the successful launch of BBC News Polska. In less than a year since its inception, BBC News Polska has an average weekly reach of 537,000. In the most recent quarter, this grew substantially, with a weekly average of 808,000. The service’s reach among women is particularly high, making up nearly 60% of audiences on average since launch.

BBC News Magyarul and BBC News Romania Editorial Lead, Kateryna Khinkulova, adds: “I’m excited to be leading a team of highly skilled and experienced colleagues as we launch BBC journalism in two more languages, Hungarian and Romanian. Our offer is tailored to share high-quality journalism on the subjects that are of special relevance to the audiences we serve. With these two languages, we are eager to expand our reach in the region, especially to women and younger audiences, with the best of the BBC’s journalism.”

Expanding the BBC World Service’s global content offer to 45 languages including English, BBC News Magyarul and BBC News Romania will be available digitally around the world.

BBC News Magyarul and BBC News Romania add to the BBC’s presence in Hungary, Romania, and Moldova via BBC Studios. In Hungary, BBC Studios distributes the television channels BBC News and BBC Earth; in Romania – BBC News, BBC Earth and BBC First; in Moldova – BBC News and BBC

First.

The BBC’s radio broadcasts – and later, websites – served Hungarian-speaking audiences between 1939 and 2005. The Romanian service operated between 1939 and 2008.

(BBC Press Office)

Kuwait Radio marks 75 years of broadcasting

Kuwait Radio marks 75 years of broadcasting

Kuwait Radio has established itself over 75 years as a pioneering media institution in the Gulf and Arab region through continuous innovation, earning numerous awards for programs that remain deeply rooted in listeners’ memories.Since its launch on May 12, 1951, Kuwait Radio has served as a leading media and cultural platform in the Gulf region and a national voice accompanying Kuwait’s modern development across various historical stages.Official broadcasting began on the evening of May 12, 1951.

Full story at :
https://kuwaittimes.com/article/43532/kuwait/kuwait-radio-marks-75-years-of-broadcasting/

DRM General Assembly Welcomes Launch of the DRM Handbook Update

DRM General Assembly Welcomes Launch of the DRM Handbook Update

The successful DRM (Digital Radio Mondiale) General Assembly hosted together with RRI in Jakarta, Indonesia, welcomed the launch of the significantly enhanced DRM Handbook version 6. The DRM Handbook is a hands-on resource that explains the practical application of DRM on transmission and receiving site and its content possibilities. The update is more extensive than first envisaged and, besides the expected specification updates, and richer DRM trials and demonstrations list, version 6 shows improvements at a deeper level, too.

The main updates are around two important groups:

System Features

- More examples and improved description of the innovative DRM Multichannel transmission
- Examples for AMSS, providing service signalling for analogue AM services
- Description of the EWF Manager, the central component to integrate national alert systems with DRM

Emergency Warning Functionality

- Description of new revenue opportunities through Journaline via individual listener targeting, interactivity and audience engagement measurements
- Regional profiles for local script support

- Support for Receiver Implementations 

- Considerations for DRM specific Human-Machine user interfaces 

- Description of the Receiver Functionality Specification

- Clarifications on DRM IPR rules

Thanks for this achievement to editors, contributors, correctors, advisors, designer, project office, and all those who have contributed to it!

The latest version of the DRM Handbook is available as a free download at :  https://www.drm.org/about-drm/drm-handbook/

CML Micro, Newglee and Glovane Collaborate on Multi-Standard DRM & DAB+ Receiver Platform Following Indonesia’s Dual-Standard Adoption

CML Micro, Newglee and Glovane Collaborate on Multi-Standard DRM & DAB+ Receiver Platform Following Indonesia’s Dual-Standard Adoption

04 May 2026

CML Micro, Chengdu Newglee Technology Co., Ltd. (“Newglee”), and Glovane Co., Ltd. today announced a joint initiative to develop a flexible, multi-standard digital radio receiver platform supporting both Digital Radio Mondiale (DRM) and DAB+, in addition to traditional analogue AM/FM.

This collaboration follows Indonesia’s recent strategic decision to adopt both DRM and DAB+ digital radio standards in a complementary deployment model, rather than treating the technologies as competing alternatives.

A Complementary Approach to National Digital Radio Coverage

Indonesia, an archipelago of more than 10,000 islands, faces unique broadcast infrastructure challenges, with a need to cover wide areas as well as dense urban environments. By leveraging DRM across medium wave and VHF (Bands II and III) spectrum, alongside DAB+ in the upper Band III, the country aims to deliver robust, nationwide digital radio coverage.

This hybrid approach enables:

Wide-area coverage using DRM’s long-range capabilities

High-quality regional broadcasting via DRM in VHF (Bands II and III) and DAB+

Efficient spectrum utilisation across diverse geographies

The Indonesian model demonstrates how combining standards can create a comprehensive and resilient digital radio ecosystem.

Joint Development of a Multi-Standard Receiver Platform

In response to this evolving market need, CML Micro, Newglee, and Glovane have collaborated to develop a unified receiver platform capable of supporting both DRM and DAB+ within a single device architecture.

The solution integrates:

Advanced DRM technology from CML Micro

Advanced DAB+ technology from Glovane

Complementary system integration and manufacturing expertise from Newglee

The resulting platform enables:

A world-first low-power operation suitable for portable and battery-powered devices

Substantially extended battery life for use in remote and rural regions, with the possibility of ‘solar’ or ‘hand-crank’ battery charging

Cost-effective deployment across mass-market receivers

This development builds on the three companies’ proven capabilities in digital radio receiver solutions, including DRM, DAB+, and advanced user interface technology portfolios.

Supporting Future Digital Radio Strategies

This receiver collaboration demonstrates how countries with unique digital radio broadcasting challenges may approach rollout strategies—prioritising systems that work seamlessly together and alongside existing technologies.

The African Union of Broadcasting has made recommendations for Digital Sound Broadcasting (DSB), which include the use of both DRM for wide-area coverage and DAB+ for dense urban deployment, where free spectrum may be limited. This reference receiver design opens the door to cost-effective receivers that support DSB in Africa, leveraging the strengths of both DRM and DAB+ to meet diverse use-case requirements.

Live Demonstration at DRM General Assembly

The companies are showcasing a joint demonstration of the multi-standard receiver platform at the DRM General Assembly in Jakarta, Indonesia, taking place today, May 5th.

 

About CML Micro

CML Micro is a world leader in the design, development and supply of mixed signal, RF and microwave semiconductors for global communications markets. Headquartered in the UK, and with a world-class design team in RF and low-power ICs, their manufacturing and supply network spans across the United States, Europe, and Asia, operating on a global scale.

They offer a wide range of products, including mmWave MMICs, RF transceivers, baseband processors, data controllers, and interface devices, supporting critical applications in Professional & Industrial Communications, Network Infrastructure, Industrial Internet of Things, and Aerospace & Defence.

About Chengdu Newglee Technology Co., Ltd.

Headquartered in Chengdu with R&D and manufacturing hubs across China, Chengdu Newglee Technology Co., Ltd. is a leading provider of DRM digital broadcasting solutions. Guided by an “end-to-end” approach, Newglee delivers a seamless ecosystem spanning from headend to vehicle, encompassing media encoding, signal modulation, RF transmission, and terminal reception.

Driven by proprietary patents and an advanced software-defined radio (SDR) architecture, Newglee’s robust product portfolio covers device integration, in-vehicle reception, professional monitoring, coverage evaluation, and automotive OEM solutions, earning the trust of customers worldwide.

As a global pioneer in complete DRM solutions, Newglee is dedicated to continuous R&D and product expansion, driving the large-scale adoption of digital broadcasting and empowering the industry’s seamless digital transformation.

About Glovane Co., Ltd.

Glovane Co., Ltd. is a Korea-based fabless semiconductor company specializing in the design and supply of Digital Radio Broadcast receiver ICs, modules, and software solutions for consumer and automotive markets. Headquartered in Seongnam, South Korea, Glovane has developed strong in-house expertise across RF, baseband, audio, and firmware technologies for digital radio applications.

Glovane’s DAB/DAB+/FM SoC and module solutions are widely adopted in global automotive platforms through Tier-1 partners, enabling seamless DAB-to-DAB and DAB-to-FM service following. Its technologies are also integrated into a wide range of consumer digital radio products across Europe and the Middle East.

To accelerate customer development and mass production, Glovane provides complete reference designs, SDKs, and production test environments. The company is ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 certified and continues to expand its low-power, high-integration digital radio portfolio for the global market.

(CML Micro Press Release)

RFPI Launches New Shortwave Radio Broadcast to Iran in Partnership with Reporters Without Borders

RFPI Launches New Shortwave Radio Broadcast to Iran in Partnership with Reporters Without Borders

In partnership with Reporters Without Borders (RSF), Radio For Peace International (RFPI) is launching a new shortwave radio broadcast for the people of Iran, aiming to help break the media blackout and circumvent censorship.

https://rsf.org/fr/black-out-m%C3%A9diatique-en-iran-rsf-lance-une-fr%C3%A9quence-radio-en-persan-avec-rfpi-pour-diffuser-une

This initiative aims to guarantee access to independent information in a context of severe restrictions on press freedom in the country.

Daily Persian Broadcast to Iran

Available for two hours a day on 9770 kHz, at 12:00 PM and 11:00 PM Tehran time (0830-0930 & 1930-2030 UTC), this radio station broadcasts reliable, verified content in Persian, produced by the independent media outlet IranWire.

Since April 27, these programs have allowed audiences in Iran to access news bulletins and current affairs reports produced by professional Iranian journalists from the diaspora as well as citizen journalists based in Iran, despite the censorship imposed on the media since 2013.

Shortwave Radio to Bypass Censorship

The choice of shortwave broadcasting allows the station to bypass digital restrictions and information blocking. This transmission method makes content accessible even in the event of internet outages or restrictions imposed on international media.

Anyone with a compatible radio receiver can thus freely access these programs, without relying on controlled digital infrastructure.

Unlike online platforms, shortwave radio is particularly difficult to intercept or block on a large scale, making it an essential tool in contexts of heavy censorship.

A context of increased repression against the press

In Iran, journalists face systematic repression: arrests, surveillance, threats, and judicial pressure have intensified in recent years. Since 2022, more than one hundred journalists have been arrested, and many more remain detained.

Recent protest movements have further aggravated this climate, with new arrests and increased restrictions on access to information, in a context where independent media are heavily targeted.

Sylvain

President of RFPI

Revised Schedule :

0830-0930 UTC on 15500 kHz

1930 - 2030 UTC on 9770 kHz

RNZ has introduced a new design for its eQSL

RNZ has introduced a new design for its eQSL

Reception report can be submitted online using this form : https://www.rnz.co.nz/qsl