ASIA

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 13th edition of the World Radio Day, Radio and Climate Change, celebrates the many opportunities that radio broadcasting brings for giving prominence to climate change issues.2025 marks a pivotal year for climate change. In accordance with the Paris Agreement, if humanity is to limit global warming to 1.5°C, greenhouse gas emissions must peak by that year at the latest, before they begin to fall.While the Paris Agreement takes on capital importance, radio contributes to the achievement of its international objectives by supporting populations in the face of climate change through the dissemination of fact-based information, listeners’ voices and dedicated radio shows.To support radio stations in their journalistic coverage of this issue, UNESCO is offering a networking experience and some useful resources to celebrate WRD2025.To benefit from the 2025 Opportunities and appear on the UNESCO map please click here.Your radio station will also have the chance to connect with a radio station in another locality or country. Thanks to these collaborations, you will be able to exchange programs, guests, sound archives, and even consider a longer-term relationship beyond February 13, 2025. […]

Long after the stills photographers had packed up their cameras, heading for the Bar, and the tv crews had switched off their lights, teams of audio sport specialists were still working, feeding match interviews and summaries to their live radio outlets and capturing long form analytical interviews about the game for their podcasts.For live events such as big sporting matches, radio and tv are still the media choice for audiences and advertisers.When important footy finals or cricket tests are in progress, audiences don’t want to be behind the play, they want to experience each exciting moment live, at the same time as their friends do. Broadcast media is still a primary medium for this sort of coverage. This was ably demonstrated today, the last day of the final Australia v India text match at the SCG, as I watched the other media pack up and and adjourn to the Members Bar, leaving the radio teams to continue working.ABC Radio’s Andrew Moore in his trademark pink Hawaiian shirt rolled through the team captains and big hitters across the ABC’s local radio network, bringing news of the win live to living rooms with the tv on but the sound turned down, to commuters on public transport and to holiday makers driving back home to start work again tomorrow.For the Triple M network, former Australian captain Mark Taylor was supported by a co-commentator and a team of three producers who were doing multiple jobs on their mobile devices from the field.One producer was reading listener text messages on his screen and selecting the best ones to show the commentators so they could react to listener messages, the other was doing a live feed to social media and the third was gathering player talent such as Steve Smith and Glenn McGrath for interviews.

The Triple M team is one group making the running on using new technology to take them beyond the typical soundproof commentary box full of standard production and mixing equipment, to a new style of untethered broadcasting using wireless mics, smart cameras, production apps and phone data.SEN was on the field with a wireless mic set up and multimedia support from a digital video SLR camera, for their live feed and podcasts.SBS Radio was there, harnessing the passion of its South Asian audience of cricket lovers to produce news and podcast content that is attracting interest beyond Australia.The Ashes may hold the weight of tradition, but could the Border-Gavaskar Trophy be cricket’s next crown jewel? On SBS Podcast’s Pace, Spin, and Spice, renowned journalist Bharat Sundaresan explored the Australia-India rivalry and the shifting power dynamics in the cricketing world. Sponsored by Kayo, SBS Spice is breaking new ground with English language content for young South Asian Australians. Some of the current best cricket podcasts are:Australia won the 2024/5 test series by 6 wickets, gaining the Border-Gavaskar trophy from India, who had held it since 2016.SCG Members Bar, spectators… and mediaReporting: Steve Ahern at the Sydney Cricket Ground. […]

Drivers can now listen to all their favourite podcasts, radio, and music from the BBC more easily than ever before, as the new BBC Sounds in-car app is now available directly from an in-car entertainment system for the first time.Where previously listeners needed a phone to access BBC Sounds in a car through Android Auto or Apple CarPlay, they can now listen to music, radio, and podcasts from the BBC directly from the car’s display.Initially, the BBC Sounds in-car app is rolling out in select BMW and MINI vehicles with BMW Operating System 9 or MINI Operating System 9. Drivers can check their car’s compatibility using this list. The new app has been built to work on car displays powered by Android Automotive, and the BBC plans to launch it in other cars in the future.Once signed in, listeners will get a personalised experience which synchronises their playback history across devices. So, if listeners start a great true crime podcast like the new series of Bad People on their phone, they can pick up right where they left off when they jump in the car.Listeners can also rewind and pause live radio, allowing them to start shows like ‘The News Quiz’ from the beginning or resume after interruptions, such as a phone call. They can also find shows and music mixes they’ve previously bookmarked on the other versions of BBC Sounds, and get personal recommendations for new things they might like based on their listening.The in-car BBC Sounds app will be available in newer cars – which can be checked on this list – starting with BMW and MINI. Drivers can still listen to BBC Sounds by connecting their phones via Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and those experiences will continue to be updated and developed in the future. Plus, it’s still possible to connect BBC Sounds via Bluetooth.Storm Fagan, chief product officer for the BBC, said: “People love to listen to the BBC when they’re in the car – it’s a huge part of how people interact with the BBC, and drivetime shows are still some of the most popular radio we make. But as technology in cars gets better, drivers have far more entertainment options. By launching this dedicated in-car app, we’re able to give drivers the full BBC Sounds experience – enabling them to listen to all their favourite podcasts, music mixes and, of course, live radio while they’re behind the wheel more easily than ever before.”Andrew Furse, BMW Product Operations Manager, said: “This latest integration complements the wide range of apps already available in our vehicles and underscores our commitment to delivering a seamless in-car entertainment experience.”

The in-car BBC Sounds app will be available, along with all other apps, within the vehicle’s Appstore. The vehicle’s Appstore is only available to drivers with a data service, such as a subscription to BMW Digital Premium or MINI Connected Package. […]

Frontier has announce that its DAB+ receiver solutions have passed the Automatic Safety Alert (ASA) certification, marking a key milestone to launching the safety system in 2025. ASA is a new standard for safety that […]

Registrations are open for the next edition of Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union’s (ABU) Digital Broadcasting Symposium DBS), to be held from February 24 to 27 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.The symposium is back as an in-person event after a break of two years. The DBS2025 event, through its conference sessions, panel discussions, focused workshops and masterclasses, presented by eminent experts across the globe, will address challenges, find solutions and share experiences related to digital transition, technology implementation, creative content ideas, and enhancing user experiences.An ever-expanding range of technologies is now on the market, providing broadcasters with important new opportunities. DBS showcases these to help broadcasters make the right decisions.The symposium attracts close to 1,500 participants annually, representing over 350 organisations across the region and beyond.The growth in participation reflects the relevance of the issues covered at the conference, workshops and masterclasses, and the strong interest in the products and services on show at the exhibition.The number of exhibitors has also risen significantly. In 2005, DBS attracted just four exhibitors. By 2008 this had risen to 20, and by 2011 to 29. In 2019, 45 exhibitors showcased their products and services in 52 booths.The ABU Digital Broadcasting Symposium 2025 promises four exciting days of innovation and insight.This is your chance to connect with industry leaders, innovators, and decision-makers, demonstrate your latest products and solutions, and strengthen your presence in the ever-evolving broadcasting landscape.

Register here. […]

New York Festivals Radio and TV & Film Awards have announced a new partnership with JusticeAid, a nonprofit organization dedicated to using art and music to raise awareness about civil rights challenges and inspire action for social justice. Together, they will launch the inaugural JusticeAid Award, a new honor that will recognize the highest-scoring entry across all Social Justice categories in the NYF TV & Film and Radio competitions.The JusticeAid Award will be presented to the entry that demonstrates outstanding storytelling in addressing critical social justice issues. The winner will be determined by the esteemed NYF TV & Film Awards and Radio Awards Grand Juries, who will evaluate entries across a range of categories.NYF Radio Categories eligible for the award include News Program, News Report/Feature, Documentary, Entertainment, Promo, Digital, Podcast, and Student. Categories within TV & Film Awards include News Program, News Report/Feature, Sports, Documentary, Entertainment Program, Entertainment Special, Promo, Streaming, Student, and Corporate Image.“With the JusticeAid Award, NYF shines a spotlight on the Social Justice categories across all genres and platforms encompassing Journalism and Entertainment categories alike. These stories show how individual actions can change the world and the ability of the human spirit to triumph over adversity,” said Rose Anderson, Executive VP & Executive Director of New York Festivals Radio and TV & Film Awards.“The nexus between civil activism and the arts has long been recognized. Social justice work can be heavy and exhausting, and art can arouse the spirit and encourage optimism and action. JusticeAid operates at the intersection of social justice and the arts to bring joy and uplift to this critical work, and believes that, as the writer Toni Cade Bambara said, “[t]he role of the artist is to make the revolution irresistible,” said Kim Duckett Coaxum, CEO, JusticeAidThe first annual JusticeAid Award will be presented at the 2025 Storytellers Gala, a virtual event in the Spring 2025 celebrating global excellence in storytelling. In 2024, over 180 award-winning teams worldwide shared their acceptances, while industry leaders spotlighted their creative journeys in special segments. Additionally, the JusticeAid Award-winning submission will be honored at the JusticeAid Concert in May 2025 in New York City, showcasing the transformative power of music and the arts to raise awareness for civil rights and inspire positive change.The New York Festivals TV & Film and Radio Awards competitions receive entries from over 50 countries.  Members of the Grand Jury panels vote to determine the Shortlists and final standings for Tower Trophies. The 2025 Storytellers Gala will honor trophy winners of both competitions in the spring.The official deadline to enter the 2025 Radio Awards is January 31, 2025. For more information on the 2025 Radio Awards visit: HERE. […]