ASIA

GatesAir, a Thomson Broadcast subsidiary dedicated to wireless content delivery, will flex its Audio over IP muscle at IBC2024 with a trio of new Intraplex solutions to help customers both streamline their infrastructure and take advantage of broader networking opportunities. Global debuts include the fourth entry into GatesAir’s second generation of Intraplex IP Link codec solutions, and the company’s first Intraplex solution to help DAB broadcasters strengthen their IP contribution and distribution strategies.“As networking technologies continue to mature, we see no limit to how Audio over IP can help broadcasters both simplify their infrastructure and unlock new possibilities to reach larger audiences,” said Keyur Parikh, Vice President of Engineering, GatesAir. “From consolidating more technologies inside our codecs to helping our DAB customers establish more efficient transport methods, GatesAir continues to evolve the Intraplex family to help broadcasters operate more efficiently and extend the reach of their content.”New Two-Channel Codec and MPX Bridge

IBC marks the global debut of GatesAir’s Intraplex IP Link 200n codec, adding a full duplex, two stereo-channel option to GatesAir’s second generation of IP Link solutions. The IP Link 200n comes one year after the debut of the IP Link 100n, a single stereo-channel version that otherwise offers the same impressive feature set thanks to modernized platform with greater capacity for more integrated features.Along with network path redundancy through GatesAir’s Dynamic Stream Splicing (DSS) software — long a characteristic of GatesAir’s Audio over IP innovations — the IP Link 200n’s greater capacity absorbs 10-band audio processing technology and updated audio compression algorithms. These enhancements at once improve program audio quality and optimize bandwidth management for radio broadcasters across STL, studio-to-studio, and streaming applications. The IP Link 200n also supports Secure Reliable Transport (SRT) for ultra-low-latency networking, cloud connectivity to simplify live stream monitoring, and backward compatibility with first-generation IP Link codecs. For large enterprise network applications, the IP Link 200n pairs well with Intraplex Ascent, GatesAir’s bulk cloud transport platform.GatesAir will demonstrate all four second-generation IP Link solutions at IBC, which also includes a half-rack codec ideal for remote broadcasting and contribution (IP Link 100c) and a module (IP Link 100e) for GatesAir Flexiva transmitters that removes the need for an external codec. All four solutions also support GatesAir’s Intraplex patented SynchoCast3 technology, a dynamic, scalable simulcasting solution for overlapping transmitters that helps broadcasters cover a broader geographic area with a single frequency.GatesAir will also introduce a new Intraplex device for radio broadcasters using analog audio processors to transport AES-192 and digital MPX signals. The new MPX Bridge provides a fast and convenient way to digitally transport an FM composite signal across an IP network, and eliminates the need to invest in a new processor to access the benefits of an IP network. Available immediately, the device works with all second-generation IP Link products.Low-Latency DAB TransportGatesAir will also unveil an enhancement to its IPConnect transport technology to help broadcasters establish ultra-low-latency IP transport for large DAB networks. IPConnect has been extensively used to reliably distribute HD Radio and DTV signals across IP networks using its SRT and DSS transport schemes. The newly added capability extends those same capabilities to real-time IP-based EDI streams, enabling DAB broadcasters to reduce their operational expense by migrating from ETI or satellite-based distribution to IP. The Intraplex technology ingests EDI streams and wraps them in the SRT protocol for transport to one or more points across the DAB network, with the added protection of network path redundancy through GatesAir’s DSS software. On arrival, the EDI packets are extracted and delivered to the local radio transmitter through Intraplex IP Link codecs.“Many broadcasters are using EDI to interface MUX outputs to the transmitter for the distribution of DAB signals, and DAB broadcasters using terrestrial IP networks are experiencing more packet losses and network jitter,” said Parikh. “GatesAir’s IPConnect technology within its codecs delivers the reliability and security of DSS and SRT when transporting EDI streams to eradicate these issues for stress-free distribution.”GatesAir’s new Intraplex solution for DAB transport with SRT works with all GatesAir DAB transmitters including the Maxiva OP Series of low-power transmitters, MultiD multicarrier systems, and PMTX-1 outdoor weatherproof transmitters. GatesAir will demonstrate all of the above Intraplex networking solutions and DAB transmitters at Stand 8.C74 in the RAI Amsterdam from September 13-16. […]

With only 2 weeks left in our Podcast Awards People’s Choice voting process, several front runners are emerging.Over 3000 votes have been cast so far by Asian voters who are keen podcast listeners and superfans of this year’s finalists.You have until August 31st to vote for your favourite Finalist in our 2024 awards competition. Vote here.

You can check out the full finalists list here.Just making the finalists list is significant recognition and we know that our finalists have been congratulated by colleagues and their listeners after the finalists list was revealed last week. Congratulations to you all!In a last weeks of voting activity the leader board may change, but so far most finalists are getting strong support in the voting.Who’s ahead in the vote? We can’t tell you that yet so we’ve blurred out the names in this ‘in progress’ snapshot of the front runners. […]

GMA Network Philippines’ flagship radio stations, Super Radyo DZBB 594 kHz and Barangay LS 97.1 Forever!, continue to dominate Mega Manila airwaves, solidifying their positions as the leading radio stations in July.Super Radyo DZBB 594, the Kapuso Network’s flagship AM radio station, further widened its lead over the competition. Data from Nielsen Radio Audience Measurement (RAM) shows that Super Radyo DZBB’s audience share increased from 38.7 percent in June to 41.6 percent in July.Meanwhile, its closest competitors, DZRH and DWWW, recorded July audience shares of 23.5 percent and 23.1 percent, respectively.

Barangay LS 97.1 Forever!, also increased its audience share from 53.2 percent in June to 55.6 percent in July.It left competitors 90.7 Love Radio and Wish 107.5 behind, with an audience share of 9.3 percent and 8.1 percent, respectively. […]

Global audio advertising marketplace Audacia Audio has partnered with AI creative audio studio Wondercraft to scale international audio ad production for its APAC clients using AI.
Founded by former Spotify Director Kym Treasure in 2022, Singapore-based Audacia Audio connects publishers, advertisers and customers across premium audio environments, supporting brands to produce and implement audio ads, and publishers to monetise their inventory. 

To date, Audacia has supported over 30 APAC clients to produce and monetise powerful audio advertising campaigns in over 10 markets, a process which typically takes 10 days or more. Now, Audacia is using Wondercraft’s digital Ad Studio to speed up the production process and empower clients to connect with new audiences by rapidly translating ads for multiple markets using AI.
Co-founded by former COO at Acast and early Spotify employee Oskar Serrander and Palantir engineers Dimitris Nikolaou and Youssef Rizk, Wondercraft’s AI Ad Studio enables brands and creative teams to script, voice, produce and translate studio-quality audio adverts in any language, simply by typing.
Dubbed “Canva for Audio” for its ability to radically simplify audio production, the Wondercraft platform features hyper-realistic AI voices which can be directed with absolute precision, seamless music and sound mixing, a versatile AI script- and ad copy assistant, and powerful audio translation tools.
Audacia started working with Wondercraft to produce audio creative in February 2024. Since then, the Singapore-based audio marketplace has produced dozens of slick audio campaigns using the technology for high-profile clients in the finance, entertainment and travel sectors, driving Listen Through Rates of up to 99%.
For one client, Audacia used the platform to create and rapidly translate four audio adverts from English into Italian, Mandarin and Vietnamese for multiple markets. The technology has enabled Audacia to reduce average production time and scale its creative output.
Kym Treasure, co-founder at Audacia Audio, comments: “At Audacia Audio we’ve found Wondercraft to be an indispensable partner in our audio advertising campaigns. Their intuitive interface simplifies the process of crafting professional audio adverts in any language. From copywriting to voice cloning, translation and background music selection, their tools provide unparalleled flexibility and quality. The technology has enabled us to create a quantity and quality of audio ads for clients we could not have come close to otherwise, so our clients can focus their energy and budgets on marketing and monetisation. Our clients have been excited and receptive to the power of this new technology to drive fast audio ad production and iteration for multiple international markets and customer segments.”
Oskar Serrander, former Acast COO and co-founder at Wondercraft, comments: “We’re obsessed about making audio production more accessible to the marketing and ad industry. What normally eats away at the media budget, takes weeks of feedback ping-pong, and only leaves the brand with a few ads to show for can now be done in a matter of minutes and hours and leave you with endless variations of copy, voices, music and languages to deploy your ad campaigns in multiple markets, tailored to multiple target audiences. 
“I’m excited to enable brands and agencies to invest their time in developing amazing, creative concepts that drive results and help them with the rest: a fast, affordable, friction-free, studio-quality platform to make those ideas come alive. Audacia Audio was one of our earliest enterprise users and true pioneers in adopting AI to service their clients. We’re super impressed by Kym and her team’s work and excited to see the impact Wondercraft is having on their business and services.”
Wondercraft came out of Beta in February this year and is already being used by more than 40,000 storytellers, creatives, audio ad producers and brands, including world leading podcast company Acast and Steven Bartlett of Diary of a CEO.
The platform has been designed for both creators and creative teams, with a suite of team collaboration tools making it easy for creative teams at ad agencies and publishers to work together on audio projects with colleagues, clients and stakeholders. […]

The advancement of digital technology has shifted the behavior of audiences in listening to radio broadcasts. Currently, there is a tendency for the use of on-demand radio to increase, allowing listeners to choose the appropriate content. Responding to the dynamics of disruption due to technology, Minister of Communication and Information Budi Arie Setiadi encouraged the Public Broadcasting Institution (LPP) Radio Republik Indonesia (RRI) to implement digitalization so that it can present a new, more interactive format with the use of more advanced technology.“The disruption to the broadcasting industry presents a challenge for radio people to continue to maintain their existence. This provides an urgency for the radio broadcasting industry to adapt to technological developments,” he said in a Public Discussion on “Challenges and Opportunities for Digitalization of Radio Broadcasting” organized by LPP RRI in Central Jakarta.

The event was attended by the RRI LPP Supervisory Board and the RRI Board of Directors as well as academics and students representing campuses in Indonesia who attended both offline and online.Minister Budi Arie emphasized that the Ministry of Communication and Information has issued regulations that can facilitate the development of digital-based radio broadcasting. However, the implementation of regulations needs to be balanced with the implementation of four strategic steps.“First, the need for coordinated planning to ensure the direction of digitalization that is in accordance with market developments, community demands and sustainable. Second, a multi-stakeholder approach that seeks organizers, regulators and the public in various stages of digital radio broadcast development,” he said. The third step is related to optimizing the development of the digital radio ecosystem through the utilization of the RRI LPP infrastructure. Including accommodating DAB+ and DRM technology standards. “Finally, it is necessary to form supporting regulatory policies related to various efforts to digitize national radio broadcasts from the planning phase to the implementation phase,” explained the Minister of Communication and Information.National research data shows that the percentage of online radio content is still relatively low at 8.9%.   “This is also a challenge for the radio industry so that this omnichannel is also a necessity in the future, maybe radio content can be switched into social media such as TikTok for example,” said Minister Budi Arie.Therefore, to respond to the growing trends and needs of the audience, the Minister supports the implementation of more interactive formats and access such as the integration of elements and the use of audio on demand as well as the use of data analytics.“If radio people are able to utilize their potential, the future of radio will actually open up promising opportunities. In fact, it can encourage program development strategies and advertisements that are in accordance with current consumer behavior patterns,” he said. […]

The Voice of Vietnam (VOV) was honoured with three wins at Together for Planet, People, Peace Media Awards (T4P Media Awards), organised by the Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union (ABU).This year’s awards received more than 100 entries from major radio, television, and news agencies from 30 countries around the region, including RRI Indonesia, KBS Korea, France 24, Radio Television Brunei, Radio Television Hong Kong, and China Media Group.Among the three winners, “Bai Ca Tren Nui” (Song On The Mountain) by Ba Duy of VOV2 won first place in the People Audio Category, while “Dat Lanh” (Good Land Attracts Birds) and “Tro Ve” (Coming Home) by a group of journalists of VOV1 were placed third in the Peace Audio Category.

The award aims to recognise and celebrate the vital role of media in advancing sustainability, social justice, and peace. […]