ASIA

Content from BPR,To effectively manage and operate any successful organization, leaders must guide their team members and develop problem-solving techniques.The best minds in business management all agree that problem solving should be structured. By following steps, we can more clearly understand what problem it is we’re solving, what are the components of the problem that we’re solving, which components are the most important ones for us to pay attention to, which analytical techniques we should apply to those and how we can synthesize what we’ve learned back into a compelling story.There are different Problem-Solving Processes…. some with four steps, others with six or seven.But the ONE step they all have in common is the FIRST step….and that is…..What problem are we trying to solve?It is surprising how often people jump past this step and make a bunch of assumptions. The most powerful thing is to step back and ask the basic question…. “What are we trying to solve?”You need to be sure that you’re dealing with the real problem…. not its symptoms. For example, if performance in a department is substandard, one might think that the problem lies with the individuals themselves. However, the real issue might be a general lack of training or an unreasonable workload across the team.

When you have been in as many strategy and planning meetings as I have over the years you realise that those in the meeting with you often have completely different views of the very problem they’re there to solve.Our problem is the Morning Show-they’re not that funny, the music is off track, lack of marketing, too much inventory, our competitors aren’t that good but they’re out rating us (??!!) ……yes we’ve heard them all.The Morning Show may be lacking in entertainment value, but is that because of the talent or poor direction from the programming team? The music may be off track but is that the fault of the music director or the fact that the music vision hasn’t be effectively explained to them… or is it because of flawed research?Too often people run off with half of the idea about what the problem is and start collecting data and start thinking about ways to solve that problem, only to discover that they’ve gone off half-cocked.To define the problem you’re trying to solve:
Separate fact from opinion
Remove emotion from the process
Specify underlying causes
Consult each team involved in the problem-solving process for information
Avoid trying to solve the problem without data
State the problem specifically and unequivocally. Avoid vague language.
In the world of medicine, doctors are trained to understand the difference between treating the symptoms and curing the condition. A broken wrist, for example, really hurts…. but painkillers will only take away the symptoms; you’ll need a different treatment to help your bones heal properly and cure the underlying problem.The same applies if you’ve got a problem at your radio station. If you only treat the symptoms – what you see on the surface – the problem will almost certainly return, and need fixing over and over again.Determine the real problem and fix that!By David Kidd, BPR […]

On day two of the ABU-Rai Days Conference, Steve Ahern, Head of the ABU Media Academy, gave an overview of the challenges to transformation in the Asia Pacific region.Steve began by highlighting the positive changes the pandemic brought: speedier digitisation, smarter work practices and newer delivery methods.However he acknowledged the purpose of the session was to highlight the challenges in such a varied region. Internal challenges included:
Lack of money, most Asian PSB take advertising
Unreliable electric power and internet unreliability, difficult for remote studios during pandemic
Transmission issues – sand, water, jamming, disasters
Old studios, new ways of production not yet achieved
Organisational approach to change – structures
Regulatory restrictions – NHK forbidden to be online
Staff mindset, unions, outdated promotion practices
Outdated training styles – didactic not point of need
While the external challenges for the region included:
Internet and phone access/expense
Not understanding audience attitudes – no longer trust, don’t want adversarial bad news, news I can use rather than news I should have
Different generational habits and expectations
Cyber attacks
Misinformation/Disinformation
Advertising agency reprioritisation to digital platforms
Internationalisation of content, less protection of culture
Increased competition: Podcasting and VOD
Unlike Europe there is no region wide uniting body so regulation and trade require bilateral relationships
Steve used two polar examples to illustrate some of these changes. The first China, where recent research by McKinsey showed that Chinese youth, due to the current financial boom had lots of money, were spending not saving but creating a demand for luxuries, including travel and media on demand. The report found that Chinese youth want:
Spontaneity
Personalisation
Ease of use
Connectivity
Sustainability
Brand power
Privacy (without giving up the other benefits)
The study concluded that, “In just three more years Gen z will make up a quarter of the Asia-Pacific region’s population. By 2030, half of all transactions in the world will take place in Asia.”The second example was Afghanistan, where the face of broadcasting has changed recently as follows:
Many stations closed or reformatted
Entertainment and music programming more restricted
Intimidation and killings of journalists
Staff and Boards replaced, controlled
Fewer women on air and on screens
Advertisers cannot pay their bills (including government)

In another session, Davide Schiappapietra, the Head of Language Content at SBS Australia, discussed ‘creating vibrant digital communities.’He said: “Public broadcaster SBS in Australia is about promoting social cohesion, how we identify with new communities through connecting on similar interests.” We are now using Augmented Reality to tell stories of people we’re talking too, convert their content to podcast feeds, music channels, feedback gathered regularly, he said.“We are reaching out on socials and still trying to understand TikTok…“What matters is the content this can then be on different platforms… we are platform agnostic… Shaping content on where the audience is i.e. WeeChat.” […]

By Peter YiamarelosIn part one we took a look at some of the important aspects of the radio- listener relationship needed to build a successful station. In this edition we’ll look at the further aspects involved.EstablishedThe “established” phase is a when a listener will be happy to tell their friends they are a listener of your station or breakfast show, but they are still not loyal fans yetYes they are an established listener and are habitually listening to you daily but they are still listening to other stations as well.Some content directors are happy with that achievement. BUT these listeners don’t stay in this phase for long, they either become loyal fans to your station or they become loyal fans of your competitor.This is the last phase where you have to fight to win this listener over. Because once you do win them over it becomes very hard to lose them. Even when you make inevitable major content adjustments like launching a new breakfast show, changing the music or format for example.How? with over an above-promotions, with money can’t buy prizes, music tactics an entertaining content that your competitors can’t copy.

 LoyaltyThis is the phase you’ve been waiting for.The loyalty phase that you and the team have worked so hard to achieve.When this stage is achieved you can use and communicate to this community of listeners that have been out of reach in previous stages of the listener journey.Here is where you can capitalise the wealth of information available to you from this group. Through focus groups, call to action events and tactics you can drive this audience.Loyalty is the foundation you can build on audience growth incrementally.At this point your overall share is growing and gaining momentum.Remember once your station gets to no.1 to implement a defence strategy to maintain that no.1 position.A tool to help retain loyalty, while also making noise to generate awareness and all previous phases, is podcast catchups.This tool is essentially a small effort to allow your listeners to catchup on what they missed out on from their favourite show.While podcast catchups are used for the breakfast shows, it’s not uncommon to have podcast catchups for drive shows or other specialist shows within your overall line up.One of the other benefits of having a loyal listener base is that these listeners will drive most of your Time Spent Listening (TSL). While your casual listeners will drive your overall cumulative listenership numbers, your strong TSL numbers is what will drive your overall SHARE.Evangelists are those fans who talk about your station, music, or breakfast show…a lot. It’s the strongest form of word of mouth there is. Those who tell their friends, “did you hear this on station x?”These evangelists will also regularly share your digital content.That’s why your content distribution structure for social media must be set up to “spread the word” about your station by your evangelists / social reactorsCross check to ensure your social accounts are active and updated often.Finally, while your loyal fans will stick by you in the tough times, do not take them for granted. Look after them, spoil them. […]

Selling Radio Direct with Pat Bryson60 or 90 days ago, if you asked a client what their Number 1 concern was, the answer was probably “finding enough staff.” That’s still an issue, but in the last 60 days or so, it has slipped to Number 2 or 3. It’s been replaced by “the cost of fuel and products.”Each day our clients wake up and try to successfully navigate an ever-changing business landscape. They juggle having the right products at the right time, taking care of customers with skeleton staffs, competing with hundreds of places to buy what they sell, and trying to make a profit to stay in business. It’s a balancing act!Enter the world of rising fuel costs. Any product that moves anywhere, whether by air, truck or train is affected by rising fuel costs. The cost of containers full of merchandise stranded at ports has risen ridiculously.As the cost of goods goes up, only a portion of that cost can be passed along to their customers. The only way to safeguard their profit margin is to raise top-line revenue. That’s where advertising comes in.Advertising creates traffic. If we produce more warm bodies into stores, and the store converts them into sales, revenue goes up. Smart business owners know they must invest money to make money. High cost of doing business is EXACTLY why they need to advertise.I’d like to point out that we need to constantly be asking the question, “What’s the Number 1 problem you are dealing with today?” Their answer will change month to month, sometimes even week to week. What should their message be? The answer to this question may tell us.Keeping pace with the shifting business landscape is a never-ending job: for us and for our clients. Keep asking questions. Help our clients to find answers. Higher revenue awaits for our clients and for us!

Happy Selling! […]

Radiodays Asia 2022 has announced more speakers.Megan Davies is the International Managing Director at Acast. Meg has been able to fuse her extensive experience in the worlds of innovative tech, media and sales. At Acast she is responsible for supporting brands’ expansion into new markets, managing centralised multi-market activations and growing Acast’s business through both introducing global partners to new markets and also developing new partnerships with local brands and advertisers.Adam Uytman is the Creator Network Development Director in the International team at Acast, working with podcasters in new markets around the world to help them grow audience and find opportunities to monetise their content. Adam was previously Director of Content at independent UK audio production company, Listen Entertainment, leading a team to deliver audio content to the likes of the BBC, Audible, Spotify, MTV, commercial brands and more.Timi Siytangco is the Key Account Director in Sales for Acast Singapore, responsible for leading commercial growth in the region and establishing Acast’s first on-the-ground presence in Asia. Timi’s career of more than two decades spans creative and commercial experience in digital media across the APAC region, with previous key roles including leadership, strategy, sales management and marketing positions at Outbrain, Splice Newsroom, Possible Worldwide and Branded.James Cridland is Editor of Podnews, a daily podcast newsletter. He is a radio futurologist – a writer, consultant and public speaker on radio’s future. James has worked in audio since 1989 as an award-winning copywriter, radio presenter, and internet strategist. He is also a well-known industry commentator beloved on the speaking circuit for his comprehensive knowledge of podcasting, radio and technology.He will present a session titled “Cool new tech for radio that you should be using – Radiodays Asia edition”. With new tech everywhere; there are plenty of new tools that can help radio succeed. Software that makes audio editing as easy as a word processor, the radio presenter who does so much in-air he’s trained a robot to do some of it for him, the syndicated show that sounds like it’s tailor-made for your station, and how to make a show in a language you don’t speak, the possibilities are endless. Join radio futurologist James Cridland to see what’s possible for your station today.Radiodays Asia 2022 will be held in-person and online on September 6 and 7 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.This will be the third edition of the new conference from the team who produces Radiodays Europe, the world’s largest and leading conference for radio and audio development, in collaboration with broadcaster organisations in the Asia-Pacific.

Radiodays Asia includes a fantastic line-up of speakers, leading experts and professionals from around Asia, Australia and across the world. Topics ranging from radio and podcast strategy, new digital developments, successful formats and content development, fact checking and investigative journalism, podcast storytelling and business, social media, audio advertising, sales and the latest research about consumer behaviour. The most important trends and new ideas worldwide in one place.The main conference runs over two days with two parallel tracks of sessions. It will have meet-ups and interactive sessions as part of the programme to facilitate networking and sharing of ideas. There will also be an exhibition area where you can learn the latest about services from our commercial partners. In addition, four educational training workshops will be included in the offer, as well as an evening networking event.Click here to register with the Early Bird Price before July 15. […]

India’s public broadcaster Prasar Bharati released its new logo on Monday.Headquartered in New Delhi, Prasar Bharati is a statutory autonomous body set up by an Act of Parliament. It comprises of the Doordarshan Television Network and All India Radio (AIR), which were earlier media units of the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting.According to a statement, “The new logo is replete with rich meaning. The elements in the central circle and map of India signify the service of trust, security, and perfection for the common man.”“While the elements in the central circle and map of India signify the service of trust, security and perfection to the nation, its colour, ‘Dark Moderate Blue’ represents both the sky and the sea and is associated with open spaces, freedom, intuition, imagination, inspiration, and sensitivity.Blue also represents meanings of depth, trust, loyalty, sincerity, wisdom, confidence, stability, faith, and intelligence. The colour blue also pays tribute to the Indian ethos and traditions associated with religious figures; mythological characters found in the Indian miniature paintings.”On the occasion of unveiling of the new logo, Member (Finance) DPS Negi opined that in the earlier format, the corporate office of Prasar Bharati used both AIR and Doordarshan logos on both the sides of the written text ‘Prasar Bharati’ along with the Indian emblem in the middle. Inspired from the identities of both AIR and Doordarshan, the new logo of Prasar Bharati is defined as a blend of both AIR and Doordarshan. It not only encloses the elements from their visual identities, but it also leverages their colour combinations, to complement the identity of Prasar Bharati as a public service broadcaster. […]