ASIA

According to India’s latest Economic Survey, released earlier this week: “Radio continues to be the most affordable and popular medium of mass communication in India and has been a tool that has consistently helped in empowerment and social development of the people of our country. The accessibility, wide coverage, variety of programmes, mobility, and vernacularity have continued to be reasons for its popularity.”The Economic Survey of India is an annual report card released by the finance ministry, detailing the economic performance of the country in the financial year. It is a review of the country’s economic development, which analyses and provides data on various sectors.The Economic Survey 2022-23 pointed out that in this fast-evolving digital era, radio embossed a separate identity for citizens ad the pandemic further strengthened the role of radio waves in the lives of Indian citizens.

It noted that during the pandemic, radio waves not only spread awareness but also functioned as a channel for empowerment as virtual education also took the recourse of the medium.All India Radio now broadcasts in 23 languages, 179 dialects from 479 stations reaching 99.1 per cent of India’s population. Even as Prasar Bharati celebrated its silver jubilee in November last year, it has kept up with the fast-evolving digital times. “Over 240 radio services of All India Radio are live-streamed on NewsOnAir App, Prasar Bharati’s official App. These streams have a large number of listeners not just in India, but globally, in more than 85 countries across the world,” the Survey noted.The private FM radio industry has also flourished in the last few years with the number of private stations going up to 388 in the quarter ending June 2022 from 243 in December 2015.“The rising number of FM radio stations depicts how radio as mass media has satisfactorily delivered on their mandate of public service and stood strong with the people during the time of the pandemic,” the Survey stated.It also spoke of the role played by Community Radio Stations, which serve targeted local and well-defined communities with a strong reach in vernacular languages and various dialects. “With this, we see radio as being significantly important through good and tough times,” the Survey added. […]

As part of its efforts to expand reach across borders and cultures, Philipppines’ ABS-CBN has launched MYX Radio, MORe, and TeleRadyo on Malaysia’s leading digital radio platform, SYOK of Astro Radio.Through SYOK, Astro Radio has been offering Malaysians a multilingual digital lifestyle and entertainment platform with more than 100 online radio stations, music, podcasts and more.MYX Radio is a 24/7 radio streaming featuring fresh music around the world and mainstream hits. It’s a platform to discover new R&B, hip-hop, pop and dance music across the globe through custom curated programs and podcasts.

Filipino music lovers and celebrities will find a home in MORe as it not only airs contemporary middle-of-the-road tunes, but also offers talk shows starring the hottest names in showbiz.TeleRadyo is a Philippine bilingual news channel delivering local and international updates from morning until late night. Count on the mix of young and veteran presenters to perk up the day with good vibes, inform with the latest happenings, and bridge people through public service.“ABS-CBN’s premium content and world-class talents have captured the hearts of Malaysians for years. In fact, the Malaysian adaptation of ‘Tayong Dalawa’ titled ‘Angkara Cinta’ ended its run as the most watched show on Astro Prima Channel at the height of the pandemic,” said Maribel Hernaez, ABS-CBN Global’s managing director for Asia Pacific.“With this partnership with Astro Radio, we hope to reach both Malaysians and Filipinos based in the country through music and news anytime, anywhere,” she added.Kenny Ong, CEO of Astro Radio and Rocketfuel Entertainment, said: “As we continue to widen our reach to more diverse listener groups, we hope all users enjoy their experience on SYOK and the extensive range of music, information and podcasts available locally and abroad.” […]

RØDE has released a headset edition of the award-winning NTH-100 headphones, the NTH-100M.The NTH-100M offers the same premium features as the NTH-100, with the addition of a broadcast-grade headset microphone, making it ideal for media and broadcast, podcasting, streaming and gaming, conference calls and other business applications.The microphone is also available as a standalone accessory, the NTH-Mic, allowing existing NTH-100 users to transform their headphones into a professional headset.

KEY FEATURES OF THE NTH-100M:
Custom-matched drivers that deliver an incredibly accurate frequency response and low distortion – ideal for both critical and everyday listening
Precision-engineered acoustic construction optimised for exceptional detail and clarity
Broadcast-grade condenser microphone for highly detailed voice reproduction
Alcantara® earcup and headband cushions for superior comfort
Unique ergonomic earcups with memory foam cushions for excellent noise isolation and revolutionary CoolTech™ gel for reducing fatigue
Fully adjustable headband with FitLok™ locking system for a tailored feel
Rugged, hard-wearing construction and modular design for unmatched durability
Designed and made using high-grade components in RØDE’s state-of-the-art facilities in Sydney, Australia
Covered by a lifetime warranty
CEO Damien Wilson says, “The NTH-100 headphones have been hugely successful since their release back in March. “We spent years meticulously designing these headphones to deliver the best listening experience possible, and they were an instant hit with everyone from audio professionals to home musicians and content creators, particularly for their highly accurate sound signature and ultra-comfortable design.  It was incredibly gratifying to see our hard work pay off and now it is with great pleasure that we can deliver everything the NTH-100s have to offer in a professional headset.” […]

Registration is open for the next ABU Digital Broadcasting Symposium, which will be organised as an in-person event from the 6-9 March 2023 at Kuala Lumpur.With the theme “BACK IN BUSINESS” the DBS2023 will address challenges, find solutions and share experiences related to digital transition, technology implementation, creative content ideas, and enhancing user experiences.The in-person event will comprise of multiple conference sessions, workshops and masterclasses presented by industry leading experts.

Key topics of discussion include:
Remote Production Technologies
Cybersecurity and Media
Media Workflows and Cloud Applications
Artificial Intelligence and Data Applications in Media
5G and Advances in Media Delivery
The event attracts close to 1,500 participants annually, representing over 350 organisations across the region and beyond.Registration is free and can be done here. […]

RØDE has a major firmware update for the RØDECaster Pro II featuring advanced sub-mixing functionality and more.Since its launch, the RØDECaster Pro II has seen multiple updates based on user feedback, introducing new features, functionality and interface enhancements.The last major update, version 1.0.7, added advanced routing capabilities for USB outputs to allow easier integration into streaming setups.

The new update takes this functionality to the next level, allowing users to independently adjust the level of every audio input for each of the ten audio outputs, including the headphone and monitor outputs, the Bluetooth channel, on-board recording mix, and the three USB outputs.This is particularly useful for streamers who need to create custom sub-mixes for different audio destinations, such as stream and chat applications and their headphone mix.In addition to the new advanced sub-mixing feature, firmware 1.1.1 introduces a number of system optimisations and workflow improvements, including the routing of voice effects, which are now applied to each individual channel in multitrack mode, allowing users to capture these effects while maintaining the flexibility in post-production that multitrack recording offers.The RØDECaster Pro II’s companion software RØDE Central has also been updated to mirror all of the configuration options including setting up the advanced APHEX® audio processing, SMART pads and custom sub-mixes.Firmware version 1.1.1 for the RØDECaster Pro II is available for direct download now. […]

Inaba Nobuo is the new President of Japan’s public media organisation, NHK.  He will serve a three-year term.Nobuo, whose appointment became effective January 25, succeeds Maeda Terunobu, who stepped down on 24 January upon completion of his term.After graduating from the University of Tokyo in 1974, Inaba joined the Bank of Japan where he held various positions. He then joined Ricoh Company, Ltd., where he served in several senior posts.

Inaba said: “NHK needs to continue providing high quality news, documentaries and entertainment content to build public trust.“I feel that creating an organisation where workers can devote themselves to production with a sense of mission to serve the public is crucial, and would like to take the lead in this effort.” […]