Articles by radionewsfeeds

The Indian automotive market has achieved the fastest digital radio adoption, with 28% of new cars on the road currently being equipped with a DRM digital radio receiver.This achievement was recorded while most of the public broadcaster AIR’s transmissions are in simulcast mode (DRM and a legacy analogue signal), with the pure DRM transmissions slowly gaining ground. The figure of 28% within this short time frame after launching digital radio services is unparalleled in the world. The market share is similar with what has been achieved in the US for the domestic digital radio standard, but in a time span of over 20 years, and with a proportionally much higher investments by commercial companies.Today there are more than 4.2 million cars on the road in India equipped with DRM receivers as a line-fit feature and at no extra cost to consumers. The domestic automotive eco-system around DRM includes chipset manufacturers such as NXP, tier-1 receiver manufacturers, and car brands including Maruti-Suzuki, Hyundai, Toyota, MG Motors, Mercedes Benz, and others.Major worldwide operating companies (with Indian and global presence) are part of the Indian car industry, including NXP, RF2digital, Harman (Samsung), Visteon, LG Electronics, Mobis, Hyundai, Fraunhofer IIS, StarWaves, Gospell, Inntot, Cambridge Consultants/CML Microcircuits, Ittiam, and organisations like the not-for-profit international DRM Consortium. These companies have invested millions of dollars in developing and building DRM related technology and know-how in and for India as well the global automotive industry.According to the DRM India Automotive Group, there is a strong request by the whole Indian automotive industry for innovative content available via DRM accompanied by clear communication by the broadcasters towards the public. These measures along with a firm decision on adopting DRM also for the local FM services will give the market stability and certainty, resulting in a continued strong growth of DRM receiver availability as a default feature in Indian cars. Practically every automotive company and manufacturer of DRM receivers today has a solution to support DRM in all frequency bands including digital FM, as most of the serious investment in R&D and testing has already been done, and there is only a single IP royalty for DRM receivers irrespective of the supported bands.According to the Chairman of the DRM Consortium, Ruxandra Obreja: “A decision to extend DRM to the FM band makes absolute sense. The DRM standard allows for the FM digitisation with minimal investment. It is compatible with the existing Common Transmitter Indian infrastructure and does not affect the ongoing analogue FM services during the transition period. The Indian automotive industry has clearly expressed their request for having the single DRM standard extended to all broadcast bands, as this can be done with minimum development, testing and IP cost, without any hardware modifications, while providing a consistent digital radio experience to listeners. The industry has proven that existing DRM car radio sets are ready to support DRM in all bands, resulting in an even quicker adoption of receivers for DRM services in the FM Band.Going forward, the DRM Consortium and the DRM India Automotive Group encourage the Indian government to mandate future cars to be equipped with DRM digital radio functionality including support for EWF – Emergency Warning Functionality as a default feature, in-line with what has been legislated in other parts of the world. Based on the innovative digital radio services provided by DRM, this will help AIR and the private Indian broadcasters to raise the awareness of how digital radio can benefit radio listeners and encourage the industry to produce affordable DRM standalone receivers and cell phones.” […]

Content from BPRAs radio programmers, we know that listeners want to be entertained and informed by their favourite radio station. However, they also want company, community and a sense of familiarity & belonging. Social media platforms are a great way to engage with the audience and promote your station.But like every marketing tool, the use of social media must be carefully planned and executed.Andrew Davis, author of Brandscaping, has been credited with the creation of the 4-1-1 rule for publishing content on social media.In summary, for every SIX pieces of content published through social media platforms:4 pieces of content aimed at your target audience should be from other sources… that is, you’re sharing other people’s content.1 piece is original.1 piece should be promotional.The essence of the 4-1-1 rule is that it allows a station to engage in the conversation, build awareness and keep in touch with its listeners without coming across as being too self- promotional …. too “look at me”.Example:4 Pieces of Influencer Content:A radio station’s list of influencers i.e. people/sites generating content of interest to the station’s target audience may include:
Journalists/columnists/entertainment & gossip writers
TV stations
Sports teams
Bloggers
Bands/musicians
Entertainment venues
Comedians
 1 Piece of Original Content:These are your blogs, videos, photos, podcasts, etc. Here’s an example of original content from KIIS 106.5, Sydney that had exceptional engagement…. from listeners, non-listeners, TV stations & newspapers and even from the Australian Prime Minister and State Health Minister (who appears at the conclusion of the video).[embedded content]1 Piece of Content that Converts:This is effectively a “call to action”. It encourages listeners to do something which aligns with the goals of your digital strategy……remember, EVERY strategy must have goals.Those goals may include:
Entering a contest/promotion (and therefore, signing up to join the station database)
Telling your listeners, or at least those using one of the social media platforms, an additional “clue” that could help them win a contest
Getting them to purchase tickets to a station promoted event
Streaming the station
Setting appointment listening (e.g. promote an interview with a major celebrity)
Downloading the station app
  Conclusion
Every station needs a Marketing Strategy. Social media is just one component of the overall marketing strategy.
Create blogs, videos, photos and podcasts; share this content online across ALL social media platforms. Remember, your listeners may use a variety of platforms but perhaps not all of them.
Ensure the content is ENGAGING. Without ENGAGING content, social media as a marketing tool for any company is really a waste of time.
Use the analytical tools to work out what type of content resonates with your audience.
Measure the results of your digital marketing.
Follow the 4-1-1 rule.
By David Kidd, BPR […]