Mandurah will be the ninth city in Australia and the first non-capital to have DAB+ digital radio, when the free to air broadcast technology is rolled out to Western Australia’s second largest city on Monday, December 23.

DAB+ offers audiences a host of new features, including digital sound quality, on screen information such as song titles, artist information, news and weather updates, and extra stations.

“We’re pleased to work with West Coast Radio to launch free to air DAB+ radio services in Mandurah in time for Christmas,” said Joan Warner, chief executive officer of industry body Commercial Radio Australia.

“DAB+ is the biggest upgrade for broadcast radio since FM was launched in the 1980s.  It’s a superior and highly efficient technology and will allow broadcasters to offer better and richer radio services and new stations.

“For instance, broadcasters will be able to offer new formats and pop-up stations to celebrate a festival, tour or sports event.”

West Coast Radio content director John De Bellis said: “We’re excited to officially launch DAB+ with our popular FM stations 97.3 Coast FM and 91.7 The Wave both broadcasting in digital from December 23.  Listeners can look forward to new stations rolling out in the coming months, offering more exciting choices of music and entertainment.”

Mandurah is the ninth city in Australia to have DAB+, following launches in Canberra, Darwin and Hobart earlier this year.  DAB+ has been available in Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Brisbane and Perth since 2009, with new stations offering country music, rock, chill out and more.

Consumers will need a DAB+ radio to tune in.  DAB+ radios come in a wide range of models, including portable and bedside clock radios.  DAB+ has also been integrated into some sound systems and Bluetooth speakers.