Canada’s national broadcast association is the latest to join a global coalition that now counts more than 40 members representing over 10,000 stations, fighting for radio’s place in the dashboard as car screens grow more digital and turn toward subscription media.
The Canadian Association of Broadcasters is the newest member of Radio Ready, the global coalition working to safeguard radio’s prominence in connected cars. The CAB joins more than 40 members representing over 10,000 radio stations, including the NAB.
“The CAB is proud to join Radio Ready, a global coalition working to safeguard radio’s accessibility and prominence in connected cars,” the organization said on Tuesday. “Radio continues to deliver unmatched local connection. Our 2026 Broadcasting in Canada report reminds us: ‘A radio station that disappears from a community takes with it local voices, local employment and local knowledge.’”
Co-chaired by the UK’s Bauer Media Group and Swedish Radio/EBU, Radio Ready traces back to “The Playbook,” an EBU plan unveiled in February 2024. Its goals are keeping radio prominent on the dashboard, making radio apps easy to find, and making sure voice assistants reliably surface stations. Its argument is that radio remains a leading choice for in-car audio and also carries public value, from local language and culture to trusted information during emergencies, so access to it should not be buried by automakers’ software choices.
Canadian Association of Broadcasters President/CEO Kevin Desjardins said, “Radio plays a vital role in the daily lives of Canadians; it keeps people connected to their communities, reflects our culture, and provides trusted information when it matters most. During wildfires, severe weather, and other emergencies, Canadians rely on free, local radio as a dependable source of timely updates. As car dashboards become more complex, protecting straightforward access to radio is essential to preserving that public service. By joining Radio Ready, we’re adding Canada’s voice to a global coalition committed to ensuring drivers can continue to easily find and use radio, and to safeguarding the role it plays in keeping Canadians informed and safe.”
Bauer Media Group VP of Strategic Partnerships Tobias Nielsen added, “Ensuring audiences can continue to easily access radio as the in-car experience evolves is an important priority for broadcasters. The global support behind Radio Ready is a strong statement about the importance of securing a future where radio remains accessible and prominent in cars. We’re pleased to welcome CAB and to see the initiative continue to bring together perspectives from across the international radio community.”
While the AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act‘s chances of getting a U.S. Senate vote are dimmer than ever, it is important to note that Radio Ready is not band-specific. In Canada, AM radio consumption has been challenging, as in other markets. The CBC itself is largely responsible for shifting a significant audience away from the kHz band in Toronto, where it shed the AM 740 facility formerly used for CBC Radio One, now at 99.1 MHz. Today, that facility is the home of “Zoomer Radio,” which can easily be heard from Detroit to Syracuse during daylight hours and across multiple states and provinces after dark. Additionally, major broadcasters have shuttered AM radio stations while Corus unsuccessfully attempted to simulcast its News/Talk “QR” service on a full-power FM signal in Calgary — a move that broke CRTC rules.
In the UK, DAB+ has become the dominant method of broadcast radio consumption, and ensuring vehicles in the British Isles have access to it remains a key issue for Bauer, Global, the BBC and independent operators.
— Additional reporting by Adam R Jacobson
