Expansion Plans for Baden-Württemberg
Germany's digital radio rollout stumbles forward with mixed updates in two states
In Baden-Württemberg, the southern multiplex (SWR BW S, Channel 8D) is set to activate transmission sites in Alpirsbach—already planned since 2024—and the new location of Waldshut-Tiengen. For the northern multiplex (SWR NW N, Channel 9D), the following sites are slated to go live: Bad Liebenzell (new location), Mosbach (planned since 2025), Mudau (originally planned for 2023 but temporarily removed), Murrhardt-Auenwald (planned since 2025), and Schorndorf (new location). The Bad Wildbad site, however, has been removed from the current plans.
Expansion Plans for Rhineland-Palatinate
In Rhineland-Palatinate, the statewide multiplex (SWR RP, Channel 11A) will include a new transmission site in Dümpelfeld in the Eifel region. Additionally, the existing sites Eifel-Scharteberg and Mainz-Kastel are back in the planning phase. The SWR is likely aiming to boost coverage and close gaps by increasing transmission power. The Neumagen site in the Moselle Valley has been dropped from the plans. In previous years, the SWR had already removed the proposed locations Hohe Derst (Southern Palatinate) and Nierstein-Oppenheim from its expansion strategy.
Private broadcasters RPR.1, bigFM, and Rockland Radio will also benefit from the network expansion in Rhineland-Palatinate, as they are transmitted via the SWR multiplex.
However, the SWR's annual expansion plans are always provisional. Last year, only one of the six planned sites—Langenburg in Baden-Württemberg—was actually implemented. Unexpectedly, the Weinheim transmitter, previously removed from the plans, also went into operation.
Meanwhile, the Commission on Licence Fee Affairs (KEF) is pushing ARD to accelerate the phase-out of analog FM radio.
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