ASIA

Singapore’s multinational news channel, Channel News Asia (CNA) – a Mediacorp company – has been partnering with leading AI Audio Platform Adthos to generate localized news broadcasts. Using AI, broadcasts have been created which report the news in the Malay language but with a Singaporean accent.
CNA chose to partner with Adthos based on the capabilities offered via its latest release,  Adthos for News. This feature allows broadcasters and publishers to generate complete news bulletins with the touch of a button via their newsroom system. Broadcasts can include quotes and clips, with multiple voices, music beds and idents in an instant, while weather, traffic and sports updates can be completely automated and localized for any location.

This first deployment focused on Malay (Baku); an accent of Malay specific to Singapore.  Given that the new generation of Singaporeans mostly speak in English, it can be more challenging for broadcasters to find good voiceover talent that offers the diversity of accents.

Adthos CEO Raoul Wedel adds: “This is the first large scale project we have completed with one of our Asian clients and it’s been exciting to see what we have been able to do. In a region where there are so many languages and dialects, being able to offer this level of localization so quickly and easily offers a lot of potential for reaching and engaging larger audiences. We’re also delighted that AI is helping to preserve cultural diversity in languages not commonly spoken.”

Following the success of this project, CNA is planning to use Adthos for News for other languages in the future. […]

ABU is organising a webinar in cooperation with DRM Consortium to showcase the DRM digital radio standard’s emergency warnings functionality.The ABU-DRM webinar will detail how DRM Digital Radio can complete and enhance existing national emergency infrastructure using its Emergency Warning Functionality (EWF).It will be held on February 7 at from 3.30 pm to 5 pm MYT.

During the interactive session, DRM experts will detail how in-built features of the DRM standard can be efficiently used to deliver emergency warnings only to the affected areas, in several languages in both audio and text. DRM offers more than an enhanced signaling service and has all the tools already to function nationally and regionally as a complete emergency warning system, saving lives.Speakers at the event include Ruxandra Obreja, DRM Consortium Chairman; Alexander Zink, Vice Chairman, DRM Consortium; Radu P. Obreja, Marketing Director, DRM Consortium and Yogendra Pal, DRM India Chapter, Hon. Chairman. […]

In late 2023 RFmondial got the task to replace a malfunctioning Transradio DMOD3, which was feeding a Continental Electronics short-wave transmitter located at Kajang site. This traditional Malaysian site can be heard since the 1970’s all around the world and it stands out with its massive antenna masts located south of Kuala Lumpur.The upgrade of the transmitter was necessary, as Transradio is not on the market anymore and spare parts are not available. RFmondial’s broadcast exciter LVe has been designed exactly for this specific task such that upgrading older transmitters is still possible and preventing the need to invest into a new transmitter.The LVe is a fully digital broadcast exciter, tuneable within the longwave, mediumwave and shortwave frequency bands as well as in VHF. Furthermore, it meets the demanding performance requirements of Digital Radio Mondiale (DRM) broadcasts as well as pure analogue AM and simulcast transmissions.

Although the upgrade at Radio Televisyen Malaysia (RTM) was mainly targeted to continue the analogue shortwave program of RTM Wai/Limbang FM, the transmitter can now be prepared to provide digital broadcasts as well.Dr. Albert Waal, Head of Hardware Development, and responsible for the upgrade of the transmitter station says: “It was a great honour to upgrade this famous Malaysian transmitter site and to work with the very professional and kind staff of station manager Azizi Yusuf and his team.”This installation queues into the aim of RFmondial to be the world-leading company in upgrading existing high-power transmitter installations of various makes and models like RIZ, Continental Electronics, Transradio, Thomson, or GatesAir. […]

Content from BPRListeners of music stations usually place Music Variety amongst their most desired programming priorities.The problem is that inexperienced programmers, and sometimes those with plenty of experience who should know better, often misinterpret what the audience is saying by simply adding more songs into the mix, broadening the universe both in titles and music genres.

The end-result is a weaker music position that lacks focus.Top Five Variety Myths
More songs equals better variety. Wrong
Adding songs from genres outside my strategic centre will improve music variety. Wrong
Increasing the number of songs will improve variety and reduce repetition. Wrong
More songs will increase TSL. Wrong
Adding songs from eras outside my strategic centre will improve music variety. Wrong
Adding more songs, songs from eras or genres that are not part of your overall strategy will have the opposite effect…..they will dilute not only Music Variety perceptions but, worst of all, negatively impact your Best Music position…and ultimately, TSL and possibly cume.Why?Because when listeners speak of wanting “music variety” they’re actually saying they want a “variety of the songs they love”. Usually when programmers increase the size of the universe they do so with songs that have weaker test scores, are more unfamiliar or do not “fit” the format. That is, songs the audience doesn’t “love”.BPR’s research conducted in markets around the world shows that the stations with the tightest universes often have the best variety scores.Why?Because they only play the killer songs and their strict adherence to the station’s music policy ensures a powerful execution of the strategy.Take K-Earth, Los Angeles as an example. The #1 Cume and #1 Share in the #2 market in the US. K-Earth has a playlist tighter than many Hot AC stations. K-Earth is laser focussed and the ratings don’t lie. Remember, #1 cume in the #2 market in the US.You can hear Michael Jackson’s “Billie Jean”….three times between 6am and 6pm on K-EARTH. Police “Every Breath You Take” two or three times. The chances of the same listener hearing either song on K-Earth more than once in the same day is minimal. Every song the station plays defines the brand promise of “Greatest Hits”. Every song has a MASSIVE fave score. The audience LOVES them.If your variety scores are not what they should be, examine your logs…..look for clumping of genres, too many songs with similar tempo scheduled together etc.Are your listeners complaining that they’re hearing the same songs over and over? Maybe they’re right. Check your horizontal and daypart rotations – are the same songs being played at the same times? Don’t forget listeners are very habitual with their listening patterns.Depending on your format, make sure you have multiple clocks to achieve better music variety. Altering the category position from day to day and hour to hour decreases the chances of these habitual listeners hearing the same songs. ConclusionPerception is reality. Best Music and Music Variety are crucial perceptual “hills” to own for a music station.Formulate a strategy for your music position, execute that strategy flawlessly and sell it to your listeners. Best Music and Music Variety must be key elements of both the strategy and execution.As with everything about your radio station’s programming, owning the Music Variety position is a strategic exercise.I’ll leave you with my favourite quote from Sun Tzu……“Strategy without tactics is the slowest route to victory. Tactics without strategy is the noise before defeat.”Main Pic: Shutterstock […]

According to the Afghanistan Journalists Centre (AFJC), private radio station Nan in southeastern Khost province has been abruptly shut down today by local Taliban officials citing a “legal issue”.Established in 2010, the station produces and broadcasts various programs covering politics, society, culture, sports, and religion. It is accessible on 89.1 FM in Khost and its surrounding areas.An employee of Nan radio told AFJC: “The security forces of the Khost Police Command arrived at the radio building in the second district of Khost at around 12 noon today. While threatening the employees, they forcibly removed the devices and equipment of Radio Nan from this building. They kicked out the media and closed its gate.”

He added: “Following this action, Nan radio stopped working, and the employees were also ordered to leave the place.”Four employees of Nan radio were arrested while evacuating the media building and released after about two hours. However, Safir Mohammad Zadran, one of the owners of the radio, who was arrested a week ago, has not been released until now.But Tahir Ahrar, the spokesman of the Taliban police in Khost province, told AFJC: “Today’s action by the security forces was based on the verdict of the Khost Primary Court. The court ruled that the owner of the radio station should vacate the building due to non-payment of monthly rent, and this ruling was implemented today.”Ahrar added: “We have no problem with the continuation of Nan Radio. The owner of the radio can move his equipment to another place and reopen the radio in accordance with the law.”AFJC said that it is important to note that Article 4 of Afghanistan’s Media Law, which is held as applicable by the Taliban government, expressly prohibits any real person or authority from restricting, censoring, or interfering with the free activity of news or information media.AFJC expressed serious concern over this incident and stressed the necessity of implementing the media law and urges the local officials in Khost province to facilitate the swift reopening of this local media outlet.Photo: AFJC […]

Radiodays Asia, the leading radio and podcasting conference in the Asia-Pacific, will be back 2-4 September in Kuala Lumpur Malaysia.It will bring together industry leaders, professionals, and enthusiasts for insightful discussions, cutting-edge innovations, and networking opportunities.Radiodays Asia is a collaboration between Radiodays Europe, the world´s largest and leading conference for radio, audio and podcast, and broadcasting and podcast partners in Asia and Australia. The 2024 edition will run over 2 days in 2 tracks with 50 sessions. Top international speakers and industry leaders as well as successful producers and market experts will share their insights.

Top ratings from attendeesSince 2019 Radiodays Asia is the meeting point for everyone in radio-audio-podcasting who wants to understand more about the challenges of today and tomorrow. The event will bring 400 attendees from 40 countries together with a top-quality programme and many networking opportunities to meet and learn from colleagues in the audio industry.Participants at Radiodays Asia have been overwhelmingly positive. The participant rating is 4,2 on a 1-5 scale with 90% rating the event a 4 or a 5.Podcast SummitAsia Podcast Summit supported by Podnews will be part of this year´s Radiodays Asia. A full day dedicated to bring podcasters together and discuss how to develop your podcast business – how to format, market and monetize your podcast. A chance to learn from the most successful in podcasting and to network with other creative podcasters.Where and when?Radiodays Asia will be held in central Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Additional workshop and specialist meetings will be organised on Monday 2 September, while the main conference is held 2-4 September. More information will follow.PartnersRadiodays Asia is supported by the Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union (ABU), Public Media Alliance, Commercial Radio Malaysia, Indonesia Private Radio Association, Commercial Radio Australia, Radio Operators for India, Radio Festival India, Radio Broadcasters Association NZ, Podnews, radioinfo.asia and others. […]