ASIA

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 […]

Broadcast radio continues to dominate as the most preferred source of in-car entertainment across the globe, according to a new international study* released by Edison Research. Almost all (90%) of the survey respondents say a broadcast radio tuner should be standard equipment in every car, a trend that is consistent across age groups, indicating strong demand among current and future car buyers.The survey also reveals that the availability of radio has a major impact on consumers’ vehicle purchasing decisions: 82% of potential car buyers say they would be less likely to buy or lease a vehicle that is not equipped with a built-in radio tuner.The survey – commissioned by WorldDAB in partnership with Radioplayer and sponsored by The National Association of Broadcasters, Commercial Radio Australia, and Xperi – interviewed those who had recently purchased or leased a new car, or plan to do so in the near future. The study included interviews in Australia, France, Germany, Italy, the UK and the U.S.A.When considering the most valued standard-fit audio features in a new car, having a broadcast radio tuner ranks highest for the respondents (rated ‘important’ by 89%), ahead of USB ports (rated ‘important’ by 86%) and the availability of Bluetooth (rated ‘important’ by 85%), and well ahead of smartphone mirroring technology (Android Auto is rated ‘important’ by 65% and Apple CarPlay by 54%).Day-to-day consumption of broadcast radio among motorists remains significantly higher than for any other form of audio content. 65% of respondents say they listen to broadcast radio in the car ‘frequently’, versus 23% for online streaming music services and 15% for CDs. Echoing the usage levels, a clear majority (80%) agree with the statement: “radio provides a better listening experience in the car than other types of audio sources.”  Respondents say the primary reason for listening is ‘to get news and information’, cited by 63%, followed by ‘to hear favourite songs’ (42%).A clear majority don’t want to pay for radio – 93% say it is ‘important’ that radio should remain free to listen to – as it is currently via analogue and digital broadcast radio tuners. The importance of free-to-air radio was highlighted by motorists’ concerns about data charges for streamed content: a clear majority (70%) of those who currently listening to audio via their mobile device say they are ‘concerned’ about how much data they are using.Car buyers were also asked about their most desired added-value in-car radio features. Having an ‘ability to search for radio stations using voice controls’ is the most popular (mentioned by 58% of respondents), followed by ‘provision of information about content’ (54%).Ongoing radio consumption trends
Consumption of broadcast radio remains very high among today’s car buyers, with 89% saying they have listened in the last week, and 76% saying they listen at least once per day.
The car remains the most popular location for listening to radio, cited by an average 89% of respondents, followed by 75% who listen at home and 39% who listen at work.
Tom Webster, Senior Vice President at Edison Research, comments: “This is a major piece of consumer research covering some of the biggest automotive markets, yet attitudes about radio among car buyers across all of the countries surveyed were uncannily similar.“It’s clear, too, that broadcast radio was singled out specifically as a must-have option. Roughly two-thirds of motorists across all countries surveyed indicated that they ‘would not listen to their favourite radio stations’ if they were only available online. For consumers the availability of free, easy-to-access broadcast radio as standard is an essential part of the in-car entertainment system and looks set to remain so.”* Edison Research was commissioned by WorldDAB, in partnership with Radioplayer and sponsored by National Association of Broadcasters, Commercial Radio Australia, and Xperi, to conduct national online surveys in Australia, France, Germany, Italy, the United Kingdom, and the United States. The 6,287 respondents, evenly split among the six countries surveyed, reported either purchasing / leasing a new vehicle within the past two years or that they plan to purchase / lease a new vehicle in the next 12 months. Interviews were conducted between 1 September and 21 September 2021, and data was weighted to match the most recent population estimates from each country for age, gender, race and region. […]

Helwin Lesch, Head of Distribution and Controlling Department in the Production and Technology Directorate of Bayerischer Rundfunk (BR), was announced as this year’s recipient of the WorldDAB Award for Outstanding Service at the WorldDAB General Assembly meeting on Monday. Helwin Lesch has been a pivotal figure in promoting DAB+ in Bavaria, in Germany and more widely in Europe. He has been an active member of the WorldDAB Steering Board for several years, in addition to being a founding member of the European Digital Radio Alliance (EDRA). He has worked at Bavaria’s public broadcaster, BR, since 2002, first as Head of the Main Program Distribution Department, then as Head of the Main Planning and Technology Department, and since 2015, as Head of the newly created Main Distribution and Controlling Department.In addition to his responsibilities at BR, Helwin serves as a member of the Executive Board of Digital Radio Platform e.V. (DRP), and as a member of the advisory board of Bayerische Medien Technik (BMT) GmbH and Bayern Digital Radio (BDR) GmbH.Prior to joining BR, Helwin worked with the Bavarian Regulatory Authority for Commercial Broadcasting (BLM) as a specialist consultant, while simultaneously working as an authorized signatory at Bayerische Medien-Service-Gesellschaft mbH (BayMS).Commenting on receiving the award he said: “Digital radio will help to ensure that radio continues to play an important role for people in the future and provides a common information base for discussions in our society. Even though I am no longer a member of the Steering Board, I will continue to devote all my energy to digital radio.” […]

Content from BPRA common challenge for programmers is differentiation of their news/information programs from those of the competition. There are a number of ways to do this.
NAME IT. Many years ago, a station in New York State identified its news bulletins as “Action Central News.” Even though it did not necessarily mean anything, it suggested immediacy and authority. When listeners were asked, “What station has Action Central News” most of them were able to identify the station without hesitation. The same idea can be applied to traffic, weather and sport reports. By naming a report, it becomes proprietary to your station and associated with your brand.

PERSONALISE IT. One of the most effective ways to associate your news, traffic, weather and sport reports with your station is to personalize them by linking them to specific reporters. If you are fortunate enough to find a talent with an engaging style, the station’s association with that type of report will be greatly enhanced. Listeners are more likely to trust a report if it presented by an individual whom they know and whom they feel can be relied upon to give them accurate information. Over the years, many sport reporters, including professional athletes, have gained renown as the “sport guy” on the station.

GIVE IT A LOCAL FEEL. Associate your reports with the local community. This technique works especially well in large metropolitan areas or regions. For example, some stations have localized their weather reports by adding weather conditions for a specific area of town. Reporters can preface their news stories with lines such as, “Here is a report just in from the Kensington area…”

OWN IT. Always link your reports with the name of your station. “Here are the latest headlines as compiled by the Hit Radio news team.” “And now for the latest traffic information from Hit Radio’s traffic guru Bob Jones.”

PROMOTE IT. By promoting your reports throughout the day, you can raise listener awareness of your information programs. “Listen tomorrow morning at 7 to Hit Radio Radar Weather and be fully prepared for the day ahead.” “Tune in to Hit Radio before leaving the office to check on the latest road conditions.” We know that promotion works, so why not apply it to your information reports?
One of the realities of modern radio is that the information that we deliver to the audience usually comes from an external source. For example, weather information is often generated by a central meteorological agency. However, this does not prevent us from taking ownership of our reporting and linking it to our brand image.By Andy Beaubien, BPR […]

Content from BPRSocial media platforms have become an extremely effective way to share information and build brands.Radio stations use it to engage with their audiences and clients, presenters use it to engage with their fans and their sponsors.However, an Australian TV journalist learnt the hard way recently that it’s essential to think before you post.As news.com.au reported on September 10 this year, Georgia Love was removed from her on-air role as a reporter at Channel 7 Melbourne over a social media post. Georgia had posted a video to Instagram earlier in the week of a cat which was sitting inside an Asian restaurant.Accompanying the video was the caption: “Shop attendant or lunch?”The response was immediate.Georgia deleted the video about an hour later but the damage had already been done.Her employer, The Seven Network, was swift in its actions. It issued a statement which said: “We have addressed this matter internally and disciplinary action has been taken. Seven does not condone this inappropriate conduct and all of our staff have the right to work in a safe, nurturing workplace free from prejudice.”She was moved to the production desk, undertook counselling and issued an apology to her colleagues.To rub salt into the wound, Georgia was also dumped as an ambassador for Melbourne’s prestigious Chadstone Shopping Centre. No doubt a nice little earner for her.So, here are five points to remember as your station and your talent leverage the power of social media platforms to build their profiles:
Nothing is private.
Anyone who follows you or is otherwise connected to you online can take a screenshot of your social media post or image and “share” it. There’s a high degree of probability that your competitors are following you on social media platforms to see what you’re up to and to catch out a mistake.
The Internet is forever.
Content shared on the internet is never deleted….it is out there, waiting to be found. Yes, you may have deleted content that you thought, in hindsight, was inappropriate for your brand but you don’t know who has already seen it, stored it or shared it. The reality is that you can never completely remove yourself or your information from the internet. 
Your posts are searchable.
If there is even the slightest chance that your station or your talent may regret posting a photo, a joke, a comment, or a complaint online, then don’t do it. Anyone with the right tools can look you up and find old posts that you had long forgotten about.
Talent – this one’s for you. Your posts could cost you new job opportunities.
Employers are looking online. Before you’re even hired, and possibly before you’re even interviewed, potential employers are looking through your social media posts to learn more about you. Your current employer may be reviewing your social media profiles when evaluating you or considering you for a promotion. Your clients and sponsors search online. As Georgia Love found out, one post cost her a lucrative promotional contract. If sponsors or potential sponsors find content that you shared that does not align with their brand values, there’s a strong chance you won’t get that MC’ing gig or TV commercial endorsing their product. Distasteful comments can come back to haunt you. It’s your image…….protect it.
Not All Jokes Are Funny.
You might think you are the funniest person you know, but when an online “joke” falls on the wrong audience, it can cause offence. You might also think that your meaning is clear when you post a comment, but it’s easy for misunderstandings to occur. Always think twice before you post.Your reputation is your greatest asset. Radio stations and talent must do everything they can to build and promote their reputations in a POSITIVE way, not to destroy them. There are enough people out there on social media only too willing to do that for you. Don’t give them the ammunition!By David Kidd, BPR […]