ASIA

The DRM General Assembly 2024 (May 19-20) was held for the first time in its history at the crossroads of East and West, in Dubai, May 19-20. This allowed new members from Europe and Middle East and key participants from India, China, Indonesia, Canada and Europe to meet and link to other virtual guests in places like South Africa, other African countries, Myanmar and Australia.Among the highlights of the DRM GA were the presentations on DRM developments in India, Indonesia, Pakistan, South Africa and the latest from China.The status of digitisation in India, where the government decision on the FM digitisation is eagerly awaited, and the comprehensive presentation from the ministerial representative in Indonesia, a country which has gone for a dual open standards solution, were of the highest relevance. The joined Chinese document issued by the National Radio and Television Administration, Ministry of Industry and Information Technology and State Administration for Market Regulation was presented again in this forum. In this government document the three administrations, it was explained, will actively guide and promote car manufacturers to implement DRM in medium band band in China.The interest in DRM in China was also mentioned in relation with the CCBN broadcasting professional Exhibition (April 2024) where the in-car digital radio solutions also became a topic of interest. NXP, Nautel, Fraunhofer IIS, Gospell, RFmondial, Starwaves were present with their latest at CCBN, as well as in Dubai.The most anticipated season at the DRM General Assembly was the receiver session. Companies like CML Micro and Cambridge Consultants (UK), BBC, Gospell (China), Starwaves (Switzerland), RF2Digital (S. Korea), Inntot (India), Skyworks (US), OptM Media Solutions (India), many in cooperation with NXP, Fraunhofer IIS and RFmondial, covered the whole range of options from chipsets, modules, kits of equipment, antennas, professional receivers, standalone radios, new and aftermarket car receivers, public announcements boxes, antennas, monitoring receivers etc. The variety of receiver options and modules for DRM in all bands, as well as the solutions combining DRM with other standards, was the highlight of this rich and varied session.Of particular interest was the announcements of the availability of the complete Digital Radio Mondiale (DRM) CML Micro and Cambridge Consultants DRM1000 module that will enable consumer radio manufacturers to provide communities with low-cost, low-power DRM radio designs which should connect them directly to the digital age.The geographic and receiver updates, the new companies’ (Assendive, DAC System, SpaceLine) and the established companies’ (BBC, Encompass Media, Fraunhofer IIS, Gospell) news and the strategic discussions to inform the direction of the DRM activities in 2024-2025 rounded up a very informative and successful General Assembly.“It was a unique event that brought together a truly global audience whose increased interest in DRM was palpable”, says DRM Consortium re-elected chairman, Ruxandra Obreja. “We enjoyed providing good and comprehensive answers to the question on the future of DRM receivers. The varied solutions exist, as amply demonstrated during the GA. DRM can provide not only pure DRM receiver solutions for cars, mobiles and standalone but also solutions for receivers with a combination of standards recommended in several big countries.” […]

Spotify has launched its first Global Podcast Trends Tour, an interactive exploration of the latest trends in podcasting. The Trends Tour showcases fresh insights and gives a free VIP pass to explore how people are engaging with podcasts.Most notably, it was found that there’s a new type of influencer on the scene –  63% of people said they trust their favourite podcast host more than their favourite social media influencer. Just call them podfluencers. And Spotify users aren’t just listening to podcasts; they’re watching them, too: globally, average daily streams of video podcasts are up 39% on Spotify.*While the Podfluencer trend is happening across generations, it’s picking up particular steam with Gen Z: 55% of Gen Zs said that if they follow someone on social media and listen to their podcast, they like their podcast content more than if they only listened.Key global findings included:PodfluencersPodcast hosts build trust with their audience, and they’ve become highly influential in purchasing decisions. 63% of people asked said they trust their favorite podcast host more than their favorite social media influencer. Just call them podcast influencers.
55% of Gen Zs told us that if they follow someone on social media and listen to their podcast, they like their podcast content more.
Nearly half (48%) of Gen Zs and Millennials are more likely to be interested in ads/products when promoted by their favorite podcasters.
45% of Millennials and Gen Zs said that when they hear an ad during a podcast, they trust the brand/product being promoted because of the trusted relationship they have with the hosts.
Stream to Screen Podcasts aren’t just for listening anymore. Globally, there’s been a +39% increase in average daily streams of video podcasts on Spotify.
Globally, there have been +64% more video episodes and +78% more video shows (podcasts with at least one video episode) released on Spotify YoY.
Gen Zs are 18% more likely to watch video podcasts vs. other people who engage with podcasts.
Spotify Global Brand Strategy, Thought Leadership Lead, Jenny Haggard, said: “There’s no denying we’re in the midst of the podcast era as people turn to podcasts to be inspired, informed, educated and much more. And with that, it’s only natural for a new type of influencer to emerge. Through this Podcast Trends Tour we’ve uncovered just how important podfluencers are for marketers looking to connect with audiences in a genuine way. With Spotify’s uniquely engaged audience and innovations in the podcast space, we have made it the perfect place to do just that.” […]

Selling Radio Direct with Pat BrysonWhat does “service” really mean?Several years ago, I was having dinner with a friend of mine who owned ROI Media which was a buying service that placed millions of dollars in radio and TV advertising every year. We were discussing his relationships with the account reps he worked with in media. Les expressed his displeasure with the type and quality of service he received from the people with whom he dealt. Remember that this gentleman spent MILLIONS every year!He recounted a story having spent two weeks trying to place thousands of dollars worth of radio advertising. When he called the stations, he was greeted by voice mail. He left messages, but received NO CALL BACKS! When he did manage to reach a real, live person, he was told that they could not give out the cell number of the Account Executive he was trying to reach. He was frustrated, and these stations missed dollars! Lots and lots of dollars! Now, granted, he was trying to place the buys during a holiday period, but so what? We are in the service business (or think we are!). Whether it is a holiday or we are on vacation, our clients need to be taken care of. We complain that business is down, that clients cut back. Are we sure WE are not contributing to the downturn? Are we taking very good care of our clients? Are we accessible?Check list for your organisation:
When someone calls, whom do they reach? A machine? If so, how often is the machine checked?
If a live person answers the phone (hallelujah!) does he or she do so by the third ring?
Do you have a policy of returning calls within 1 hour?
How often are your salespeople checking their voicemail? Can their voicemail be forwarded to their cell phones?
How often are salespeople required to check email?
Are “out of office” messages programmed into email if a salesperson is out of the office for any extended time? Does it contain the contact information for someone who can assist the client?
Do you have a “buddy” system to take care of clients when a staff member is on vacation or ill?
Before a AE leaves on vacation, do you have a policy of notifying all of their active clients of their away dates, including the contact name and information of someone who can help them during the AE’s absence?
Do your business cards contain cell phone information for salespeople?
Do your clients have a list of all staff members who may be of service to them should their AE be unavailable? General manager, sales manager, traffic manager, business manager, production manager? Does this list contain off-hours’ contact information?
When was the last time you received excellent service? I bet you remember it clearly because it is such a rare occurrence in today’s world. We cannot afford to give less than excellent service. Being responsive to our clients’ needs is the first step in retaining business. And being responsive means being timely in answering and returning calls and email. We are not in an 8 to 5 business.This conversation with Les occurred a few years ago. I believed we as an industry were getting better, offering better service. Then I had a conversation with a friend of mine who runs a station in a small market in Illinois. She had received a $4000 order from an agency who HAD to place this grant money in a short time frame. My friend got the entire amount because the stations across the street had not returned the agency’s phone calls for two days. (Sigh!)Lesson learned: Go the extra mile! Be accessible! Be responsive! There are no traffic jams on the extra mile, but there are lots of dollars!Happy Selling! […]

Radiodays Asia, the leading radio and podcasting conference in the Asia-Pacific, has announced its first set of speakers for its 2024 edition.Shah Hayatudin has an impressive 20-year track record spanning both Malaysia and Australia. As Group Network Director at Media Prima Audio, his strategic vision and leadership play a pivotal role in shaping the future of radio content and how to evolve content to suit the current climate of different audiences.Emily Kwong is the founding reporter and co-host of Short Wave, the Ambie®-winning science podcast from NPR. She is also the host of Inheriting, an 8-part narrative podcast about Asian American and Pacific Islander families which launches next week.Jake Abdullah is an author, speaker and a stalwart in the Malaysian media and entertainment sector with a career spanning over three decades. As Strategy Advisor at Media Prima Audio, Datuk Jake Abdullah’s strategic vision and transformative leadership style continue to contribute significantly to the company’s success.The event will be held 2-4 September in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Register for the conference here. […]

For this year’s Broadcast Asia show, Sonifex has  announced two new exciting products: the AVN-CU1 and the AVN-DIO10-12G.The AVN-CU1 extends the Sonifex Commentary range with a simple to use, single microphone / headphone combination, using Dante audio for comms, with a full feature set and a low price point.Features:
1 Comms Position
Simple to Use Fixed Format
Lightweight Aluminium Form Factor
Ember+ Control
4 Dante I/O Channels
Web Server Restriction of Operator Control
OLED Display for Configuration, Metering and Status Indication
High Impact VU or dBFS Metering
RGB LED Downlighting for Status or Decorative Illumination
Dual Redundant Network Ports with PoE
SFP Ports for Alternative Transceivers
4 Pin DC Input
The AVN-DIO10-12G simultaneously embeds and de-embeds 64 channels of audio from 12G/6G/3G/HD-SDI to the Dante® audio network.Features:
Dante to SD-SDI Through to 12G SDI Capability
Simple Plug and Play Interface
Dante Domain Compliant
Web Interface for Configuration
Simultaneous Embedding & De-Embedding for up to 64 Channels
Insert Mode Feature to Either Overwrite or Clear SDI Audio Selectively per Channel Pair
Test Tone Available on Embedded Outputs
Integrated SDI Generator
AES67 Compatible
Light Weight Aluminium Construction
Dual Redundant Network Ports with PoE
SFP Ports for Alternative Transceivers
Registration is now open for BroadcastAsia 2024, a part of Asia Tech x Singapore – the region’s flagship tech festival. The event will be held from May 29 to 31. It is the meeting place for Asia’s broadcasters, media and entertainment professionals. […]

Suria FM’s announcer DJ Lin has won the Most Trusted Radio Presenter in Malaysia award presented by Readers’ Digest as part of its Trusted Brands 2024 campaign.She has won the award for the fourth consecutive year.The award is the result of an independent study conducted by leading market research agency Catalyst Research with results published exclusively in Reader’s Digest Malaysia magazine.The study involved 2000 samples of individuals from all walks of life of Malaysia who were asked about their trust in the brands, products, and personalities across more than 45 different categories.DJ Lin, who is also the General Manager of Suria FM, said: “Thank you to my family, fans, media partners, Suria FM team and the management of Star Media Group Berhad for their unwavering support for me during my time as a radio presenter since 1999 until now. This recognition will indeed be a reinforcement and inspiration for me to continue to give a solid commitment to the Suria brand and the Malaysian radio industry.” […]