ASIA

At the start of Erin Callaghan the Director of Enterprise Partnerships for Futuri‘s talk at RadioDays Europe 2024 she spoke of people’s reticence the year previously to acknowledge AI, and it’s potential to replace sales, copywriting and on air talent. This year is different with Callaghan speaking to the importance of “live and local”, not necessarily “alive and local”.Futuri offers a selection of Audio AI solutions including Topic Pulse, which can create show prep and talking points based on what is trending on social media and even can predict future trending topics. They also have Spot On, which can create a commercial, to the length you require, AI voiced, in literally seconds – even creating A & B options for the client. They can additionally make AI voiced current news and weather spots for dayparts that might otherwise have no presenter, and the option of having it “voiced”, using the technology, by the familiar news presenter of the station.Of course that has ethical implications, and Callaghan also spoke to the lessons Futuri have learned through progressing the options they are rolling out to US radio stations. Top was transparency about any AI being used. But Futuri’s position is that AI must be incorporated into radio scheduling as a net cost saving option, rather than replacing people with Callaghan saying:“It is possible, and essential, to come out swinging and for us to claim AI.”Callaghan mentioned the statistic that the top US influencers on social media have a bigger audience than TV and radio stations, and how that shows that we are still invested in what people are saying and doing. From that she said that no day part should be a throwaway, ie devoid of local voices and current news and information, as that is our ongoing point of difference.What AI can do is shorten creation time, take over repetitive non human tasks and provide an immediate and current audio solution when a station is unmanned. Radio stations and audiences are ready for that now. […]

AI is a big theme of RadioDays Europe 2024 with Max Brandl from Bayerischer Rundfunk demonstrating a targeted and localised news service delivery option that is being trialed in Germany.This backend technology, using geolocation information, allows people to be able to select the suburb they live or work in, with the Remix Regional metadata then creating a circle around that area you have personally targeted of a size you determine, lets say a radius of 20 kilometres, as you can see in the image.What this AI summariser does is break down audio news bulletins into individual stories taking key words, in this instance relevant to location. A person can then get five stories that are specifically targeted to where they are. They can set the age of the stories, and this information is kept and reapplied the next time the person seeks their local stories.This summariser doesn’t have to be geolocation based. The metadata could be set to political key words, names of people or industries, sports and so on. It allows for current news, on topics of interest, targeted to the individual, who can change the subject or location as they wish. […]

According to local sources, two private radio stations – Shamla and Dehkada, were temporarily closed by the Taliban municipality on March 10 in Ghazni province in Afghanistan.The stations were shut down for not possessing the required municipal licenses, although they had licenses from other government entities. This was the second closure of the stations for the same reason in a week.The closures, which lasted for three hours, led to protests from media officials and local journalists and an intervention from the Information and Culture department.They were permitted to resume operations, provided they agreed to meet the municipality’s taxation demands within one week.Taliban municipal officials have conveyed to the media organizations that pressure from Kabul authorities necessitates the enforcement of municipal law, which includes an annual “license tax” of 7,000 Afghan afghanis, approximately US $100.This action, according to the Afghanistan Journalists Center (AFJC) places undue pressure on media organizations, effectively subjecting them to double jeopardy by demanding additional licensing when they already comply with broader regulatory and tax requirements.Photo: AFJC […]

Nearly 40 exhibitors and a thousand visitors attended the ABU’s Digital Broadcasting Symposium 2024 in Kuala Lumpur from March 4 to 7.The theme for the 20th edition of DBS was ‘Navigating AI Horizon’, exploring the opportunities and challenges of generative AI.DBS2024 was officially opened by Malaysia’s Deputy Minister of Communication Teo Nie Ching, who delivered the keynote address. She said broadcasters should be mindful of their ethical and social responsibilities when using generative AI, and in responding to issues such as algorithm bias.The symposium, through its conference sessions, panel discussions, workshops and masterclasses, featured more than 80 eminent experts from around the world. They sought to find solutions and share experiences on issues ranging from digital transition to enhancing user experiences.The main focus of the discussions was the use of AI and how it improves efficiency, offers more personalised content for the audience and revolutionises virtual production.The use of AI for nonprofits was highlighted as well, such as the use of AI technology in digital radios for the purpose of disaster-preparedness.Speakers debated whether AI brings more harm than good, with some concerned AI might replace workers, or even create a dystopian future where technology dominates humans.Lindsay Cornell, Principal Systems Architect at BBC Digital in the UK was quick to declare we have nothing to fear. He said: “People use AI for everything. There is a fear of the unknown, such as what people felt during the radio a hundred years ago, but things keep getting faster. Do we humans run out of capacity to adapt to change? I don’t think so.”Sanjay Das, VP Global Sales & Business Development at Cite’ de Memoire in India, said: “We must see AI as a little child – what do we teach it?” emphasising the importance of controlling AI, rather than letting it control us.Satriyo Dharmanto, Director of Technical Operations at TVRI Indonesia, emphasised the importance of providing a sustainable media ecosystem to support AI governance, including in areas of climate action and social inclusion. “Together we have the power to reset the narrative and create a better world with AI,” he said.In the closing ceremony, Dr Veysel Binbay, Director of ABU Technology and Innovation, thanked the attendees, exhibitors, sponsors, ABU staff, and the student volunteers who helped to make the event a success. […]

Radiodays Europe 2024, one of the world’s most significant events for audio professionals, starts in Munich tomorrow. Running from the 17th to 19th, this year’s conference is themed “Shaping the Changing Audio Landscape.”Over 1400 attendees from the commercial and public sectors are expected to attend, with the speaker line-up including Ellen K from KOST 103.5, Greg James from the BBC, Paula Schuzman from the New York Times, and Maria Lorenz-Bokelberg from Pool Artists.This year’s conference will focus on five key pillars, reflecting the most pressing issues and opportunities in the industry:

Change: As the audio landscape continues to evolve rapidly, Radiodays Europe will explore the latest trends, technologies, and strategies for adapting to change and driving innovation in radio and audio broadcasting.

Diversity: Representation and diversity are essential for ensuring that all voices are heard and reflected in the content we create and consume. Radiodays Europe will examine ways to promote diversity, inclusivity and innovation within the radio and audio industry.

Youth: Engaging younger audiences is critical for the future sustainability of radio and audio. Radiodays Europe will discuss innovative approaches to attracting and retaining youth audiences in an increasingly digital and fragmented media landscape.

AI: Artificial intelligence is revolutionising the way we produce, distribute, and consume audio content. Radiodays Europe will explore the potential of AI technologies and their impact on the future of radio and audio broadcasting.

Podcasting: Podcasting continues to experience exponential growth, presenting both challenges and opportunities for radio professionals. Radiodays Europe will examine the latest trends, best practices, and monetisation strategies in the podcasting industry.

Peter Niegel, General Manager of Radiodays Europe, emphasized the event’s role in fostering industry growth: “We are excited to bring together industry professionals from around the world to explore the future of radio and audio broadcasting. With our focus on change, diversity, youth, AI, and podcasting, we aim to inspire innovation and creativity while addressing the most pressing issues facing our industry.”As well as the sessions and workshops, with conference will provide networking opportunities for industry stakeholders to connect and exchange ideas.For more details on Radiodays Europe 2024, including registration information and the full conference program, visit www.radiodayseurope.com. […]

StreamGuys will unveil a modernised version of their RevenueStream service at this year’s NAB show.The platform first hit the market in 2008 to provide radio and television broadcasters with a secure and controlled service to help them monetise their live streams and on-demand media.This second-gen revamp of RevenueStream introduces a suite of new capabilities, including new subscription management, branding and payment features, along with more flexible monetisation options for all customers. The latter includes metered paywalls, freemium access, membership plans, and donation support, supporting everything from one-time events to recurring subscriptions that support ongoing revenue models.StreamGuys has natively integrated SGplayer media player with RevenueStream to support these new features, although third-party players can also be integrated behind the paywall. The new subscriber management platform, powered by Pigeon.io, aims to help users manage their subscriber lists, membership plans and account renewals, while new customisable integration options aim to help organisations easily visualise their branding elements within SGplayer.Customers also have the option of adding StreamGuys’ SGcontrol tokenization service to fully lockdown and secure content from being stolen as streams occur. Additionally, RevenueStream has expanded its transactional options, providing consumers with more payment choices while ensuring secure transactions that protect subscriber data.Eduardo Martinez, VP of Technology at StreamGuys, highlighted the platform’s role in opening up new revenue avenues and supporting diverse subscription models: “We are excited to bring customers in all verticals a modernized service to market that helps them offer more adaptable subscription models, drive audience loyalty and retention, and maintain a steady revenue flow. Furthermore, integration with our other tokenisation and playout ensure our customers can enjoy a proven and reliable streaming ecosystem.”The NAB Show, where the service will be showcased, runs from April 14-17 in Las Vegas. […]