ASIA

China Media Group’s FM 98 Dosti Channel organised a grand event in Islamabad, Pakistan, on the occasion of Chinese Lunar New Year.Senator Talha Mehmood congratulated China on behalf of the government and people of Pakistan and said that the long-standing relationship between Pakistan and China has grown stronger with the passage of time.Special Assistant to the Prime Minister, Zafaruddin Mahmood said that in recent years, organizing the New Year celebrations of the friendly country China has become a tradition which is a testimony of the strong bonds between the two countries. He said that FM 98 Dosti Channel is providing awareness to the Pakistani people about the Chinese culture and society which helps in promoting people to people contacts.

Charge d’Affaires of the Chinese Embassy Phang Chun said the year 2022 has been a memorable year for Pakistan-China relations. She vowed that China will work with Pakistan to further expand bilateral cooperation and enhance people-to-people contacts in the New Year in order to further deepen their relationship.Director General Radio Pakistan, Tahir Hassan, said Pakistan and China have close relations not only at the government level but also at the public level, which is why the Chinese New Year is celebrated with great enthusiasm in Pakistan as well. He said Radio Pakistan has learnt a lot from China Media Group’s Pakistan-based FM Dosti channel and is now making use of these experiences.Singers Sahar Gul Khan, Waqas Ali, Naseer Ahmed Khawaja, Alize Khan, Syed Asim Raza and DJ Adil Khan also performed at the event. […]

Selling Radio Direct with Pat Bryson.I’m sure you’ve heard the story about the two woodsmen who were in a challenge to see which one could cut the most trees. All day they labored. One woodsman cut continuously, fervently cutting trees. He heard the other woodsman cutting, then silence, then cutting, then silence. He thought the second woodsman must be resting.Woodsman one knew he was sure to win because he never stopped cutting. But, at the end of the day, woodsman two, the one who cut intermittently, had the biggest pile of wood. Woodsman one was stunned! “How did you end up with the biggest pile of wood? I heard you stop cutting, you didn’t work straight through!” Woodsman two replied, “I was sharpening my saw.”

I am amazed, and a bit appalled, at how many broadcast companies do not offer ways for their staffs to sharpen their saws. They don’t see the need for continuing training for their staffs. Or, perhaps they provide some hit and miss training, but nothing on a regular basis. Many only train the new comers and that training is usually brief.At the risk of sounding self-serving, may I speak directly to the owners and managers who might be reading this: “What do you provide your staff to sharpen their saws?” Whether my services, or some other method, do you continuously feed your staff? Feeding tenured salespeople is perhaps even more vital than feeding new ones. And, more challenging.How is your attrition rate? Does your training for new hires continue past the first few weeks? Do you feed them through the first year? The second year? We all know that new people tend to leave in the first few months or certainly before their first anniversary. We can no longer expect to give a new person a week or so of training and consider them to be full-grown salespeople.2023 will require sophisticated selling methods.Now let me speak to the salespeople who might be reading this newsletter. If you are fortunate enough to work for a company that provides training, wonderful. But if you are not, or even if you are, I ask you, “What are you doing to sharpen your own saw?” The most successful salespeople with whom I work make it their own responsibility to learn, to grow, to absorb new materials. They regularly call me and ask if I’ve read a certain book they happened upon. They subscribe to newsletters. They attend training sessions. They read. Lots. They listen to audio books and podcasts.

You say you don’t have time? You juggle work and family. I say, “How can you NOT make the time?” Successful people make the time. Remember, we all have 24 hours a day. How we use them determines our success.Broadcast is one of the few professions which does not require continuing education to keep your job. Lawyers, doctors, nurses, insurance agents, realtors, CPA’s all require continuing learning to remain in the profession.Even though becoming a sales professional does not require a license, it should require continuing education.As we head into 2023, I challenge you to find ways to become better, to learn more, to take time to sharpen your saws.Now to the shameless self-promotion: We at Bryson Broadcasting International provide a sales system that works. It is designed to help you to sell larger, longer-term campaigns. We teach this method to newcomers to our industry and to tenured professionals. Not only are these campaigns better for us, they are better for our clients! They move their revenue needle.I’m available for customized consulting agreements for your staff. I also offer on-line training done live with you. If you’d like to discuss whether we might be a good fit for your company, call me at 918.810.3068. Or email me at [email protected].My goal: to have broadcast professionals populate our industry. We hold the keys to creating successful campaigns for our clients. But we need to be great to succeed.Happy selling and happy learning in 2023! […]

According to a recent study by Toluna India, FM radio listenership is quite high in the country’s Tier II and III markets.The study, conducted between December 19, 2022 and January 2, 2023, surveyed over 1200 FM radio listeners aged 18-50 from different socioeconomic backgrounds and employment status, across 30 Tier II and III markets in the North and West regions of India.80 percent respondents claimed they listened to radio. Amongst working professionals, this rises even higher to 90 percent, but amongst students only 66 percent tune to the radio.

The study also found that 33 percent of radio listeners ranked FM Radio as the preferred medium for daily entertainment, followed by video/music streaming apps.74 percent listeners tune in for more than three days a week. 70 percent tune in for between 30 minutes to 2 hours every day, with 60 percent listening at home. Listenership peaks during morning and evening hours, with morning listening being a universal trend and evening listening being driven primarily by salaried individuals. The survey also found that mobile phones and car music systems are the most commonly used devices for listening to the radio.Dixit Chanana, Country Director, Toluna India, said: “Our study on radio listenership in tier II and III shows some interesting data points. 33 percent of radio listeners ranked FM Radio as the most preferred medium of daily entertainment. This is consistent with the study that we did in 2020. Apart from consumption on the go, more than 60 percent consume radio at home.” […]

Philippines’ Radyo5 92.3 FM welcomed the Chinese New Year, with a new program line-up and a new tagline: “Ito na ang totoong tunog ng Serbisyo Publiko!”These new programs include Bangon Bayan with Mon from 4am to 6am, Sagot Kita! with Cherly Cosim from 4pm to 5pm, Good Vibes with Laila Chikadora and Stanley Chi from 6:30pm to 8pm, and Pinoy Konek with Danton Remoto from 8pm to 9pm.Bangon Bayan with Mon jumpstarts weekday mornings with infotainment through news, music, health, and fitness. In Sagot Kita!, Cheryl Cosim will assist Filipinos who have issues with government agencies and be the bridge to help resolve their various concerns.

Laila Chikadora and Stanley Chi’s Good Vibes presents the lighter side of news by focusing on pop culture social media trends.Danton Remoto’s Pinoy Konek highlights the OFW life, connects listeners and informs them about matters that are relevant to them, while diving into modern and folk literature, music, and Philippine history as well.Dr. Love, Bro. Jun Banaag’s radio program helps couples with their love problems from Monday to Friday, 10pm to 12 midnight. With his soothing voice and words of wisdom, Bro. Jun helps heal heartaches and guide lovers through the various challenges in their relationships. […]

February 13 is World Radio Day (WRD) as proclaimed in 2011 by the Member States of UNESCO, and adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 2012 as an International Day.The theme for the 12th edition of the World Radio Day, is Radio and Peace and will acknowledge that in reporting and informing the general public, radio stations shape public opinion and frame a narrative that can influence domestic and international situations and decision-making processes.UNESCO says radio can indeed fuel conflict but in reality, professional radio moderates conflict and/or tensions, preventing their escalation or bringing about reconciliation and reconstruction talks.

On World Radio Day 2023, UNESCO will highlight independent radio as a pillar for conflict prevention and peace building, saying that this is the reason why support to independent radio has to be viewed as an integral part of peace and stability.13 Ideas for Celebrating WRD on 13 Feb 2023
Radio the Peacemaker: What impact did radio have during any conflict that once happened in your country, region or community? What stories do listeners still recall? Would your radio station be able to sketch a declaration for peace with your listeners? Carry out calls-in or vox-pops and share your listeners’ perspectives on radio and peace.
The Sounds of Peace: Which are the sounds listeners associate with peace? A river flowing? Traditional chants? The tweet of birds? Echoing cliffs? Make a poll and broadcast the sounds! Alternatively, focus on songs of peace – but do not just play them, talk about them. Review related albums, concerts, festivals …
Radio Rescue : How does radio assist in reducing tensions or conflict by proving false news wrong? Take a conspiracy rumour or theory presently circulating on websites or social networks and examine it against facts, data and records together with your listeners. Analyse how likely they are to be true and, if false, how the falsehood possibly started.
From Our Granary: Rebroadcast old interviews or programs which demonstrate the power of radio in peace-building and conflict prevention, or exchange broadcasts with other local and regional radio stations. Use the sound archives of libraries if yours is unavailable! This will go particularly well if your radio station targets Baby Boomers[1] or generation X[2].
Game is Up: So your radio station targets generations Y[3] and Z[4] instead, and you wish to talk about peace? Discuss recent video or box games they have been playing. What are the aims and scores? What are the expected abilities and performance? How does it all relate or unrelate to peace? Seek your listeners’ thoughts on the slang words used in gaming: steamroll, ragequit, swipe, square up, throw down, etc.
The Radio Bookshelf:  Host a talk show reviewing books or magazines that bring home stories of disarmament, demobilized soldiers, reintegration, reconciliation, co-existence, solidarity, community healing, post-war rebuilding … Discuss peace and stability through them.
Learning to Live Together: Cover local and foreign culture and arts to enrich each other’s experience and understanding. From this angle, review exhibits, TV shows, plays and films but also food and drinks, travel, fashion and dress codes, interior decoration, traditions and attitudes, etc. What about going out of your studio for this show? Or making a quizz for your listeners?
Sporting Radio: Fair play, team-spirit, integrity, respect, discipline … there are so many peace values in sports! Your radio station can relay them when reporting on the latest results and news. Include these values in your sports commentary, even in live broadcasts!
Energizing Listeners: What do you offer listeners when they tune in early morning? How do you get them ready for their day ahead? Prepare a breakfast show with news about what is happening, helping listeners get informed about public affairs, but offer balanced reporting, fair representation of members of society and solutions – reveal not only shortcomings but also effective measures. Include friendly chatter.
Distribution at Stake: Talk with your listeners about devices they use to listen to the radio and derived satisfaction. How do they assess access to information? Why do they enjoy listening from them? How do they address loudness? What could happen if they only rely on podcasting and Internet Radio? And would they buy a car if it did not have broadcast radio?
Newsrooms Set the Tone: Review your editorial housestyle and employment policies in a no holds barred discussion. Why is your radio station’s independent reporting absolutely critical to peace? How is the station contributing to good governance and the rule of law? In which way does staff diversity influence content? Prepare your radio station’s peace value or statement.
Unforgettable: Recounting narrative experiences of those mostly affected by the conflicts in their countries, regions or communities, can serve listeners as an emotional outlet and remind all of our common humanity. Your radio station can give a voice to refugees, returnees, internally displaced people – as well as to victims of discrimination and crime. This type of radio programmes requires high editorial and journalistic standards so as not to encourage violence and revenge but peace and democracy.
In the News:  Journalists and diverse opinion leaders from civil society can analyse what different radio stations, newspapers and online publications have said and written about Radio and Peace on World Radio Day in the run up to and actual day. […]

Two years after retiring from Radio Television Hong Kong (RTHK) Radio 3 following a 70-year career, the world’s longest-working presenter “Uncle” Ray Cordeiro has died. He was 98.He passed away in a hospital on Friday, January 13. No cause of death was given.Born in Hong Kong in 1924, Uncle Ray devoted his life to the development of radio broadcasting and the local music scene. He hosted his first show “Progressive Jazz” at the former radio station, Rediffusion, in 1949. Ray joined RTHK in 1960 as Head of Light Music.“The audience followed me, grew up with me, and they’re all over the world now,” Cordeiro told The Associated Press in 2021 after his retirement. “They still listened to me on the internet.”For his contributions to the broadcasting industry, Uncle Ray was awarded with an MBE in 1987, the RTHK Life Time Achievement in Broadcasting Award in 1997, the HKSAR’s Bronze Bauhinia Star in 2008, and was made an Honorary Fellow of the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts in 2012.He was recognised by Guinness World Records in 2000 as the World’s Most Durable Radio DJ. […]