ASIA

Ten new organisations have joined WorldDAB since May 2021.They include South Korean solution provider RF2Digital, Indian solution and service provider Jasmin Infotech, network operator digris, Vietnamese electronic vehicle manufacturer VinFast, South Korean test solutions manufacturer RedwoodComm, Romanian network operator RADIOCOM, Croatia’s regulator Agency for Electronic Media, US-based electronic vehicle manufacturer Lucid Motors, global vehicle manufacturer Ford Motor Company and Swiss network operator Romandie Medias. WorldDAB now has a total of 106 members from 32 countries.By joining this global industry forum responsible for defining and promoting DAB digital radio, their membership includes many benefits.Participate and network
Participate in WorldDAB Committees, Working Groups and Task Forces
Attend WorldDAB member events
Reach customers with targeted networking opportunities
Free or discounted admission at other organisation’s industry events
Speaking opportunities
Resources
GfK statistics – quarterly reports on DAB digital radio sales
ETI library – samples of live on-air ensembles from different countries
Strategic information on country rollout plans, coverage maps, presentations and tailored research from industry experts
SharePoint – online member document sharing tool
Member directory
New clients
Promote your products and services to stakeholders across the industry
Dedicated member profile on WorldDAB website
Discounted rates for advertising in brochures
Profiles of success stories
Publication of your organisation’s press releases and white papers
Connections with emerging markets
Support and advice
Dedicated one-to-one support and advice on all aspects of switching from analogue to DAB:
regulation licensing technical trials network build-out
best business case scenarios cost modelling
receiver legislation
production of new digital radio content marketing […]

The Society of Publishers in Asia (SOPA) announced the winners of its annual Awards for Editorial Excellence 2022 in recognition of outstanding works of journalism over the past year in the Asia-Pacific region.Mediacorp Singapore’s English-language station CNA938’s radio documentary “Educate or Regulate: The Alarming Rise of Cryptocurrency Scams”, won the regional award for Excellence in Audio Reporting, edging out other finalist entries by CNA’s The Climate Conversations’ podcast team and BFM Media.SOPA is a Hong Kong-based not-for-profit organisation dedicated to pursuing excellence in journalism. Its awards recognise outstanding works of journalism over the past year in the Asia-Pacific region.In the CNA938 documentary, Ernest Puey explores the rise of crypto scams, what’s luring victims, and if regulation is the only answer to the problem, as the latest data in Singapore shows almost 3 in ten investment-related scams involve cryptocurrencies. The programme features a cryptocurrency scam victim sharing his story, analysts who give a behind-the-scenes look at enforcement and recovery investigations, and a developer who created an unexpected viral hit in Singapore’s cryptocurrency space, the Umbrage Coin.According to the judges, the winning CNA938 piece was “excellent reporting on a significant issue”. They appreciated its “high production quality”, and said: “This sets the bar for audio journalism in the region. It touches a very current, urgent and complicated topic very successfully with extremely detailed editing.”98 awards were presented for coverage of key issues around the region. This year marks the 40th anniversary of the founding of SOPA and the 24th consecutive year of Awards for Editorial Excellence.More than 750 English and Chinese-language entries competed this year in 20 categories including two new categories of Excellence in Technology Reporting and Excellence in Audio Reporting.

The Audio Reporting category drew strong contenders, including startup Project Brazen, whose podcast “Fat Leonard” won a global Award for Excellence. And in the new Technology Reporting category, Tencent News won the Chinese-language Award for Excellence for “Across the Ruins: The Bicycle Sharing Drama Has Not Ended.” […]

According to GfK Radio Audience Measurement survey, Wave 1 2022, Malay-language radio station Suria FM has managed to attract more than 3.4 million listeners a week, an increase of 11% or 350,000 listeners.The station’s breakfast show Team Pagi Suria, which is hosted by Ajak, Fizi Ali and Suraya Borhan and airs 6am to 10am weekdays, recorded the highest increase of 18%. It also recorded the biggest leap in terms of exclusive listeners among all the Malay-language commercial radio stations in Malaysia, at 22%.The Suria Cinta segment, hosted by the award-winning DJ Lin from Sunday to Friday, 8pm to 1am, has the highest weekly time spent listening (TSL) among Malay-language commercial radio stations, averaging two hours and 40 minutes.Mid-morning show Gaya Suria and evening drive show Suria Petang are among the top three stations in Malaysia that have recorded the highest listenership in those time slots.DJ Lin, who is also the general manager of Suria FM, told The Star: “The success achieved is the result of everyone’s hard work at Suria FM. We at Suria are committed to improving radio performance in all aspects, especially digital.“ […]

Radio Teater Nasional (RTN), an audio project of local Malaysian theatre company Manamana debuted an audio adaptation of the theatre piece ‘Dato Seri’ on Wednesday.Through RTN, Manamana seeks to revive the art of the radio play by adapting selected Malaysian plays into episodic radio dramas, which will be available for free on the project’s website.A Malay adaptation of William Shakespeare’s The Tragedy Of Macbeth, Dato’ Seri is adapted by father-and-son duo, the late Muhammad Ali Hashim and Omar Ali.The radio play version was adapted and directed by Omar, who also voices the titular Dato’ Seri DiKijang.Set in the 1960s, the critically acclaimed play takes place in a reimagined, never-colonised, Malaya called Pertiwi which weaves Nusantara culture, society and stylings. The plot follows Dato’ Seri DiKijang as he navigates political intrigue in his ascent to the family throne, as prophesied by three witches.The list of voice talents includes Sheena Baharudin as Datin Seri DiKajang; Na’a Murad as Dato’ D’Hul; and Nadia Aqilah, Ruzana Ibrahim and Siti Farrah Abdullah as the ‘Tiga Nasib’ witches.The rest of the cast comprise Fatin Syazwanie, Radhi Khalid, Naque Ariffin, Faez Malek, Zul Zamir, Yusman Mokhtar, Kamini Senthilathiban, Nabil Musawir, Endee Ahmad, Amanda Ang, and Coebar Abel.RTN aims to increase arts accessibility across Malaysia to various communities including the visually impaired, the mobility challenged, B40 income group, those residing in rural parts of the country and students.

A statement from Manamana Productions said: “Malaysian Arts has often failed to cater to and include marginalised groups, due to content, cost or accessible venues.”“By using a radio drama model, Radio Teater Nasional will allow for previously marginalised groups to access the Arts.“Radio Teater Nasional’s curated Malaysian plays will be adapted into an episodic audio format, performed by experienced local talent to create fully immersive radio dramas and stored as digital plays accessible to all.“Our long- term goal is to curate and produce plays in a diverse array of Malaysian languages.“We hope to also reach out to schools and school literature clubs, to encourage pickup by the younger generation, for them to develop Arts appreciation and development.”Originally set to launch in 2020, the project was delayed due to the pandemic.The Dato’ Seri radio play can be streamed for free with new episodes available every Wednesday until July 20 via www.radioteaternasional.com.my. […]

Selling Radio Direct with Pat BrysonTime marches on!We are now 6 months into this year, and, if my math is correct, we have only 6 months left to hit our goals for 2022. Are you on target? Are you ahead of projection? I thought it might be time to review some “best practices” to meeting and exceeding our goals.How we spend our “billable hours” daily will determine whether or not we reach our goals. That will determine our paychecks. Unlike attorneys or accountants or doctors, we don’t bill clients for our time. I’ve often thought we should, but nevertheless, we have only so many hours in the day. They must be spent productively if we are to succeed.What activities should we be doing daily?Every day: X number of new calls. How many the number “X” represents depends on where you are in your tenure as a salesperson. Are you tenured, carrying a large list of clients? Then perhaps making 4 or 5 new calls each day will be enough to cover any attrition and grow your list. If you are just starting out and have very few existing accounts, 15-20 new calls a day will not be too many. It takes a lot of “suspects” to end up with enough good prospects that result in orders.Every day: Appointments to do Customer Needs Analysis meetings. Ideally, that would be four a day, but I’d settle for two. Two needs analysis meetings daily would probably result in one presentation.Every day: Ask for money! Be in the position to present to one or two clients. These presentations are NOT for small dollar, short term sales. They are for larger, long-term sales. Long-term sales are the only way to build a base of business that prevents you from starting over each month. Plus, consistent advertising is better for our clients. They can’t reach their goals by short term ad bursts either!

Every day: Take care of your existing clients by providing extraordinary service. Define what “extraordinary service” means to each one. Then, make sure you do it! Find ways to go above and beyond. Surprise them. This will cut down on attrition and provide you ways to upsell them along the way.Every day: Spend some time “sharpening your saw.” Whether you read, listen to audio books or podcasts, grow yourself. Learn new things. Keep up with business trends. Invest time in increasing your skill level.Every day: Make sure those paperwork tasks we all love to hate get done. Keep your forms flowing correctly. Keep your workspace organized. Your internal staff will thank you. They might even bring you cookies!Every day: Plan your day. Work your plan. Don’t wing it. Think strategically. Prospect strategically. Work strategically.How we spend our billable hours determines our success. Ultimately, no matter what type of daily planners or CRM’s you use to please your boss, YOU are responsible for your success. You must use self management. No one is looking over your shoulder 8 hours a day.Say it together, “If it is to be, it’s up to me.”Time for a course correction if you need one. Doing so will put the next six months on track for a successful conclusion to 2022.Happy Selling and Happy Planning! […]

Radiodays Asia 2022 has announced more speakers for this year’s conference, to be held in-person and online on September 6 and 7 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.These include:Ashit Kukian, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Radio City, India’s leading radio network. In his present capacity, Ashit is responsible for leading effective teams, streamlining operations and strategy across the organisation, with the objective of enhancing market share and driving sustainable growth. Ashit brings more than two decades of cross functional media, entertainment and management experience to the role to drive continuous business improvement and help exceed the revenue and profitability objectives.Mae Mariyam Thomas, Presenter, Podcaster, Journalist, Writer, and Voice Over artist. She started her career as a News Editor/Journalist. She moved back to India in 2010, she continued working in radio as a presenter where she is most well-known for hosting the afternoon request show, ‘Mumbai On Demand’ on 94.3 Radio One. In 2018, she started her own podcast production company winning multiple awards. She works as a podcast consultant to develop audio ideas, design shows, handle production and distribution of podcasts.Francis Currie is an International Radio Consultant and Coach with over thirty years professional radio experience. He is also a partner in specialist radio research company, Currie Nordén. He specialises in providing strategic insight and operational support to radio stations in competitive markets around the world. He works across Research, Programming, Promotions and Digital activity.This will be the third edition of the new conference from the team who produces Radiodays Europe, the world’s largest and leading conference for radio and audio development, in collaboration with broadcaster organisations in the Asia-Pacific.Radiodays Asia includes a fantastic line-up of speakers, leading experts and professionals from around Asia, Australia and across the world. Topics ranging from radio and podcast strategy, new digital developments, successful formats and content development, fact checking and investigative journalism, podcast storytelling and business, social media, audio advertising, sales and the latest research about consumer behaviour. The most important trends and new ideas worldwide in one place.The main conference runs over two days with two parallel tracks of sessions. It will have meet-ups and interactive sessions as part of the programme to facilitate networking and sharing of ideas. There will also be an exhibiton area where you can learn the latest about services from our commercial partners. In addition four educational training workshops will be included in the offer, as well as an evening networking event.

The main Radiodays Asia conference will be hybrid – in-person in Kuala Lumpur and online for those who are unable to travel.The first Radiodays Asia was held in Kuala Lumpur in 2019. It got fantastic feedback from participants, coming from 30 countries. Attendees gave the event an astonishing 4.25 rating on a 1-5 scale.  The second, virtual event in March 2021 saw attendees from 40 countries and the same high rating: 4.25.Click here to register with the Early Bird Price before July 15. […]