UK

UlsterMUX launches with ten transmitters in Northern Ireland

UlsterMUX has launched a small scale DAB Service across Newry, Armagh, and Down Newry in Northern Ireland using ten transmitters.
Operating on DAB Block 9c, UlsterMUX has constructed a network of transmission sites to deliver coverage from Dromore to Banbridge and extending to the City of Newry and beyond to the border at Dundalk.
The service will also encompass Castlewellan, Kilkeel, Warrenpoint, Crossmaglen, and Forkhill, making it the largest small scale DAB network in operation across the UK to date.
Radio stations on the network so far include Bounce Digital (Banbridge) and Lisburn Live, as well as a Newry based Country and Irish music station WILD.
Radio Caroline will also be on board, commemorating its 60-year legacy in the area of its conception in 1964.
Additionally, listeners can look forward to a specialist station catering to the Punjabi community, a dedicated rock/pop station for Northern Ireland, Eirewave, and a nostalgic 70s, 80s, and 90s Rewind music service which will become very festive from November.
“We are thrilled to bring this innovative DAB service to the region, enhancing radio accessibility and diversity for our communities,” said John Gartlan, CTO of UlsterMUX.
“Our extensive network ensures excellent coverage and provides a new platform for stations to connect with audiences in Newry, Armagh, Down, and beyond.”
Olivier Mauxion, owner of one of the stations on the network, Eirewave, expressed his excitement: “I would like to extend a special thanks to John Gartlan for his exceptional work. His dedication to delivering high-quality audio and his openness to our requests for metadata and our quirky ideas have been invaluable.
“This new coverage is a pivotal step for Eirewave as we continue to grow in Northern Ireland. Our enhanced reach on DAB+ will enable more listeners to enjoy our programmes without interruption. We are committed to engaging with all the multiplexes that will open in Northern Ireland in the future.”
For further information, visit ulstermux.com or contact info@ulstermux.com. […]

UK

Radio News Hub launches weekly show with Dr Hilary Jones

Dr Hilary Jones has joined forces with Radio News Hub to launch his first-ever radio show.

The 30-minute weekly programme will be supported by Healthspan and starts on July 25th free of charge to all existing clients.
As the Health Editor for ITV’s Good Morning Britain and Lorraine, Dr Hilary is a household name who is dedicated to helping millions understand the most important health stories of our time.
Dr Hilary Jones says: “I know how important it is for people to get the right advice that can help improve their health and their happiness.
“There is so much information, news and content available to us that it can be hard to know what to trust and what is relevant for individuals and their loved ones.
“So, in addition to my work with ITV, my new show will see me act as a guide through the stories and topics that matter most to us all. I will be bringing together leading experts and people with lived experience to help unpack the most important health and medical topics.
“It will also be a fun show though, filled with uplifting and hopeful stories, and we will be hearing how life’s ups and downs have impacted the health and wellbeing of some of the country’s best- known celebrities. Come and join me!”
To find out more about how you can sign up, get in touch via the Radio News Hub website. […]

ASIA

Radioinfo Asia Podcast Awards: Entry deadline extended

Entry deadline for the 2024 Radioinfo Asia Podcast Awards has been extended by popular demand to Sunday, July 28. Registration is free.Once you’ve registered, you can read all the rules and entry details.

Once registered, you can start your entry and update it as often as you like between now and the closing date.The 2024 Radioinfo Asia Podcast Awards recognise the most outstanding individuals, teams and organisations working within the medium from across the Asian media and marketing landscape.There are 21 categories, which will be judged by some of the most respected leaders and rising stars in the world of podcasts, alongside radioinfo’s panel of international senior editors who cover the growing medium each day.DETAILSPodcast of the Year

The Podcast of the Year will be selected as the Best of the Best from any of the Podcast categories below. The winner will receive the Grand Prize of flights, accommodation and free conference entry to Radiodays Asia 2024 in Kuala Lumpur (you must be available to travel or to send an alternative person if you cannot make it).Categories
Best Children’s Entertainment Podcast
 Best Comedy Podcast
Best Crime Podcast
 Best Education Podcast
 Best Factual Podcast
 Best Fictional Podcast
 Best Health and Wellness Podcast
 Best Interview Podcast
 Best Money and Business
 Best New Podcast
 Best News Podcast
 Best Radio Show Podcast
 Best Society & Culture Podcast
 Best Sport Podcast
Individual Categories
Podcast audio producer of the year.
Podcast executive producer of the year
Podcast host or presenter/s of the year
Organisation Categories
Branded podcast of the year
Podcast publisher of the year (indie)
Podcast publisher of the year (major)
Don’t wait, start your entries now.If you’re unsure of anything, or need help uploading your entry, just contact The Radio Today Awards Team who’ll be happy to answer your questions. […]

ASIA

Mediacorp sets benchmarks in listenership and engagement across stations: Nielsen

A record 3.93 million listeners have propelled Mediacorp’s dominance in the audio landscape to new heights, as the national media network, which owns nine out of Singapore’s top 10 radio stations, continues to claim a lion’s share (84.2%) of the radio market. With 88.1% of adults tuning in weekly, time spent listening has also climbed to almost 10 hours weekly. This is accompanied by unprecedented engagement rates and followings on social media platforms.These findings are based on the latest Nielsen Radio Survey conducted from March to May 2024, which tracked radio listenership via diary recordings by 2010 adults aged 15 and above, with the results weighted by age, sex and race to be representative of the Singapore population.As the leading radio network, Mediacorp’s radio stations are consistently the top choice among key audience segments across gender, age, race, and occupation.

Five stations achieved all-time highs in listenership. These are youth-centric stations YES 933 (+44.0% to 1.10 million) and 987 (+30.1% to 613,000); Silvers’ favourite CAPITAL 958 (+8.6% to 848,000); as well as top vernacular stations WARNA 942 (+17.9% to 547,000) and OLI 968 (+11.7% to 392,000). In addition to claiming the accolade of fastest growing station, YES 933 is simultaneously the top station overall and top digital station.
Seven stations recordd growths in time spent listening. These are WARNA 942 (+1.3 hours to 10.1 hours), taking with it the title of most engaged station overall; LOVE 972 (+0.7 hours to 8.3 hours); OLI 968 (+1.0 hours to 6.9 hours); YES 933 (+1.6 hours to 6.3 hours); 987 (+1.4 hours to 4.6 hours); RIA 897 (+1.5 hours to 3.6 hours) and CNA 938 (+0.6 hours to 2.9 hours).
Showcasing the enduring appeal of radio, Mediacorp’s reach continues to grow across key audience segments. These include premier audiences, which increased by 12.6%; as well as vernacular audiences, with Indian listenership increasing by 8.0% and that for Malays increasing by 1.0%. Notably, listenership among tertiaries aged between 15 and 24 has also grown by 3.8% since the last survey. Correspondingly, the segment’s top three stations have also expanded their reach, with that of 987 increasing by 39.1% to 178,000, CLASS 95 by 7.0% to 138,000, and YES 933 by 75.0% to 126,000.
Mediacorp’s news stations rank prominently in the top 10 leaderboard. Holding its ground in the top three radio stations for the second consecutive year is CAPITAL 958, which simultaneously claims the title of most engaged Chinese station with listeners tuning in for 8.7 hours weekly – a statistic that further soars to 11.1 hours for silvers aged 55 and above. Boasting an all-time high reach of 848,000, the station also gained ground with audiences aged between 35 and 44 (+34.4% to 125,000), those aged between 45 and 54 (+1.9% to 158,000) as well as parents (+45.2% to 90,000).Meanwhile, breaking into the top 10 leaderboard is Singapore’s preferred English news station CNA938, which was launched in 2019 as an additional platform for CNA’s award-winning journalism. The radio station’s weekly reach of 255,000 marks an 18.1% increase since the last survey, furthering its lead with 3.3 times the reach of its closest rival. In a further testament to its ability to captivate and retain a discerning audience, the station boasts an even stronger performance with premier audiences, who tune in for 3.6 hours weekly, and PMEBs, who tune in for 3.5 hours weekly, contributing to an overall engagement rate of 2.9 hours. Together with CNA’s formidable presence on television, digital, and social media platforms, this success underscores Mediacorp’s strategic expertise in reaching audiences on their terms and delivering content that entertains, delights, and informs with precision.As Mediacorp continues to expand its suite of digital offerings, its digital radio network has seen a steady compound annualised growth (CAGR) of 6% over five years since 2020. This translates into a reach of more than 1.42 million listeners, or nine in 10 digital listeners with more than eight hours weekly engagement – a statistic twice that of its nearest competitor. These results correspond with the uptick in performance for Mediacorp’s digital audio service melisten, which saw a growth of 46.2% in monthly average unique visitors5 to reach 1.05 million. This is accompanied by a corresponding 4.1% increase in active sessions on melisten6 to reach 27.48 million, signalling robust engagement and loyalty among its userbase.Beyond digital audio achievements, Mediacorp’s continuous efforts to strengthen its presence in the everyday digital lives of its listeners have continued to gain ground. On TikTok, overall engagement – comprising likes, comments and shares – has surged by 77.1% with youth-centric brands leading the pack. They are RIA 897, which saw a stunning 178.8% increase in engagement; 987, with a 75.9% boost; and YES 933, which grew the same statistic by 43.2%, reflecting Mediacorp’s successes in connecting with younger audiences and fostering vibrant, engaged communities through the strategic use of livestreams and content helmed by audio personalities. Meanwhile, engagement on Facebook and Instagram have likewise increased by 110.5% as Mediacorp’s social media footprint for audio brands continues to expand with 2.83 million followers across platforms.Angeline Poh, Chief Customer & Corporate Development Officer, Mediacorp, said: “We are delighted to be the audio network of choice among Singapore listeners. Having seamlessly integrated broadcasting with innovative digital experiences, our continued breakthroughs defy outdated misperceptions of the medium, which today offers an enduring, holistic lifestyle experience. This evolution underscores Mediacorp’s focus on being an integral part of our audience’s lives and we aspire to continue engaging them every day.” […]