ASIA

The Saudi Broadcasting Authority (SBA) celebrated World Radio Day, observed annually on February 13, under this year’s theme “Radio and Climate Change“.UNESCO designated this day in commemoration of its first radio broadcast in 1946, reinforcing radio’s prominence as an essential auditory medium. The occasion highlights radio’s vital role in human diversity, its widespread reach as the most accessible media platform, and the importance of high-quality radio content that upholds professional standards. It also emphasizes engaging listeners, encouraging community participation, and ensuring the competitiveness and sustainability of radio stations in attracting and retaining a broad audience.Mohammed bin Fahd Al-Harthi, Saudi Broadcasting Authority CEO, spoke to the Saudi Press Agency about the authority’s commitment to radio development, citing its wide reach.He said that Saudi radio’s evolution matched the Kingdom’s social development, serving as a vital channel for knowledge dissemination and keeping citizens informed about local and global developments.Despite technological advances, radio remains one of the most widely used global media forms, reaching diverse communities across all sectors of society.The Kingdom’s radio broadcasting history dates back to 1949 when the late King Abdulaziz bin Abdulrahman issued a Royal Order establishing Saudi Radio. The inaugural broadcast began in the same year from Jeddah during the Hajj season, initially focusing on official and religious news and literary productions such as poetry and articles, with a daily broadcast duration of no more than three hours.Under the umbrella of SBA, the Kingdom operates several radio stations, including Jeddah Radio, Riyadh Radio, Saudia Radio (English-language service), the Holy Quran Radio, Nidaa Alislam Radio, Al-Ekhbariya Radio, and Khuzama Radio.Recognizing the Kingdom’s Islamic significance and influential global role, the Saudi International Radios network was established in 1969, broadcasting in more than 10 languages, including French, Turkish, Indonesian, Persian, Hindi, and Urdu. […]

On the small island nation of Niue in the South Pacific Ocean, over six hundred radios were gifted to every household to mark World Radio Day (WRD) on February 13.The radios, donated by the People’s Republic of China, were distributed by national broadcaster Broadcasting Corporation of Niue (BCN) and the Associate Minister of Broadcasting Esa Mona Ainuu.Ainuu, a former journalist, spoke about the significance of Radio in providing information and keeping our population updated on what is happening around the island. She said that radio is still the preferred source of information for many, especially the elderly.Alofi South village councillor Ettie Pasene-Mizziebo that she listens to the radio all the time because she loves music and the radio is her main source of information.General Manager of BCN, Trevor Tiakia said that they realise how valuable a radio is to a household and especially during cyclones or any disaster.The only radio station in Niue, Radio Sunshine is part of BCN.Its senior reporter Esther Pavihi posted a note on Facebook to commemorate WRD, saying: “I started working on radio in 1998 with Evaeva Niue under the tutelage of Lofa Rex and Ida Hekesi. Thirty odd years later I’m still on radio with the news and current affairs. Working on radio is a responsibility to our audience … to keep them informed, educated and entertained, and shaping national conversations on issues that matter to our society. Today Feb 13th is World Radio Day…Fakaaue lahi to all whose voices keep us informed and entertained, those who wake us up in the mornings and keep us company during cyclones.” […]

The Digital Radio Mondiale Consortium (DRM) Consortium will mark World Radio Day 2025 on February 13. This event chosen (since 2011) by UNESCO aims to celebrate radio transmissions by all category of broadcasters, such a public, commercial and community stations. The theme for World Radio Day this year is Radio and Climate Change, which focuses on “empowering radio stations to enhance their journalistic coverage of one of the most critical issues of our time,” according to UNESCO.The DRM Consortium marks this event by reminding all radio stakeholders of the key benefits the DRM standard can provide in tackling the negative effects of the major changes in global climate.  This is a natural emergency of huge proportions which has claimed thousands of lives and, therefore, we are welcoming the UNESCO initiative to ‘encourage decision-makers to create and provide access to information through radio…’.Digital Radio Mondiale (DRM) can be part of the global effort in mitigating the effects of natural or man-made disasters with its fully integrated disaster and early warning service called Emergency Warning Functionality (EWF).The DRM digital radio standard, which can be used in all frequency bands (below and above 30 MHz), should therefore be the major building block of a national emergency warning policy, providing full and continuous alert services, audio, text, maps in more than one language, potentially even from remotely located transmitter sites, when all other internet or TV towers fail in the disaster areas.EWF support in receivers can be ensured with no need for special chipsets or extra adaptations for this alert system. Everything needed for EWF is already in the radio receivers, built according to the specifications issued by the DRM Consortium.To ensure that this digital service is effective, key requirements (and immediate advantages) are necessary:
Send notifications to a maximum number of people in the affected areas as promptly as possible
Must cover large areas with very high reliability (with DRM being the only standard running in all frequencies and providing local, regional, national and international coverage, as required)
Must work when common information services and local services fail
Make warnings available on devices that people use on daily basis (desktop, pocket receivers, cars)
Reach devices that are still operational, if electricity fails (i.e. radio sets and other devices with independent energy source)
Be as un-intrusive as possible for daily use
Must be available and continuously on-air for the duration of the emergency in one or several languages
Control of emergency notification and immediate access by authorities
Make emergency messages available to the widest possible audience, including the visually or hearing impaired with complete and detailed information by audio and multilingual on-demand advanced text on receiver screens (Journaline)
For more information about the benefits of the DRM Consortium integrated warning and emergency system, please place ewf.drm.org in your browser to be able to access and download the documents describing in detail this life-saving digital radio service.For a quick demonstration on how a regular radio transmission can be switched to an emergency alert using a digital receiver please watch: s.drm.org/video-ewf. […]

On World Radio Day (WRD) 2025, Vietnamese national radio broadcaster the Voice of Vietnam (VOV) will feature a one-hour radio program on this year’s theme – Radio and Climate Change.The theme for the 13th edition of the WRD celebrates the many opportunities that radio broadcasting brings for giving prominence to climate change issues.The VOV program will feature Vietnamese and foreign guest speakers from Asia-Pacific Institute of Broadcasting Development (AIBD), Australia Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) and GIZ organization, Germany.The program will be live on air at 9am on February 13 Vietnam time and will also be livestreamed on its facebook fanpage.Has your station planned something for #WolrdRadioDay2025? If yes, why don’t you share the details and we will cover it, just write to us at [email protected]. […]

India’s School Radio, an online radio for children and youth, will feature special curated programs to mark World Radio Day (WRD) 2025 on February 13.The theme for the 13th edition of the WRD, Radio and Climate Change, celebrates the many opportunities that radio broadcasting brings for giving prominence to climate change issues.While the Paris Agreement takes on capital importance, radio contributes to achieving its international objectives by supporting populations facing climate change through disseminating fact-based information, listeners’ voices, and dedicated radio shows.School Radio, which began its journey on 13 February 2015, coinciding with World Radio Daylets children and youth to create content in any topic, language, or medium and exposes them to solutions.This year, it is inviting students and teachers to develop 15-minute radio programs in English/Hindi or any language of their choice on the WRD 2025 theme, which will be broadcast on the station.Has your station planned something for #WolrdRadioDay2025? If yes, why don’t you share the details and we will cover it, just write to us at [email protected]. […]

Radio Pakistan Abbottabad, a key regional station of Pakistan Broadcasting Corporation (PBC), is organizing a special live event to mark World Radio Day (WRD) on February 13.Established in March 1991, the station is a platform for news, culture, entertainment, and educational programs.The theme for the 13th edition of the WRD, Radio and Climate Change, celebrates the many opportunities that radio broadcasting brings for giving prominence to climate change issues.Radio Pakistan Abbottabad’s live even will feature discussions on the impact of radio, interviews with senior broadcasters, artists, and media professionals, as well as interactive segments with listeners. The event will highlight the role of radio in shaping public opinion and strengthening community bonds.It will involve around 15 key speakers, including radio hosts, journalists, and cultural figures along with approximately 70 guests, including students, media enthusiasts, and local community members. A wider audience is expected to join via our live radio broadcast and digital platforms.Has your station planned something for #WolrdRadioDay2025? If yes, why don’t you share the details and we will cover it, just write to us at [email protected]. […]