ASIA

Selling Radio Direct with Pat BrysonThose who know me understand that I allow myself a few indulgences. One such indulgence is a special perfume that I have used for decades. It’s my “signature scent”. I once lost a scarf while on premise with a client. One of the salespeople returned it to me saying, “I knew it was yours. I recognized your perfume.” You get the picture.Which brings us to today’s newsletter. I haven’t been able to find this particular perfume for nearly a year. I had resigned myself to smelling like the frankincense soap I use. When I attended the NAB in Vegas last April, I decided to visit several of their famous big stores to search for the perfume. I took a few hours off from trolling for new clients in the halls of the Encore and Bellagio and went on my quest: Saks, Macy’s, Nordstrom’s, Neiman Marcus. No luck anywhere. I was met with, “We haven’t been able to get that fragrance for months!”.

At Neiman Marcus, they thought they could order it. Oh, happy day! But they soon figured out it wasn’t available to order either. The nice salesperson offered to give me a couple of small travel size atomizers from their tester. I eyed the tester greedily, offered to buy THAT and briefly debated grabbing it and running from the store. I decided, however, that grand larceny should not be the way to fulfill my desire (see, Mom, I DID listen to Sunday services) so I thankfully took the small samples and left my card. Please let me know if you receive the perfume. She promised to do so.I must here mention that I left my cards at each of the above stores.Fast forward. I arrived home and mentioned my quest to a friend who shares the same passion for this fragrance. She said she had managed to order it online. Although I had previously not been able to locate it on line, I found it, ordered it, and was once more recognizable before I even enter a door.All of the above is background. Now to the sales lessons involved in this transaction. Two weeks ago (August), I received a call from a strange number from Las Vegas. Potential client? No, it was Julie from Neiman Marcus. She still had my card from April. She left a message saying she now had received 3 bottles of my perfume. She had sold one, but wanted to know if I still wanted it. (Lesson #1:She listened. She understood my need. Lesson#2: The follow up when she could fulfil my need.)

It’s a good thing I wasn’t behind the wheel when I called her back (of course, I NEVER do that: we have laws in OK about that) or I might have driven off the road.Remember I had already purchased perfume. I was so impressed with her follow up and customer service that I said, “Yes, send me one.” To which she replied, “Would you like both of the bottles I have?” (Lesson #3:This is called the upsell) I almost said, “Yes” because I liked her style. For the sake of my credit card, I resisted. Two days later my package arrived on my door.But the story doesn’t end there. When I opened the package, there was a nice note from Julie, her card and a small gift:“Thank you! This is a refillable atomizer perfect for travel. I’m here to assist with anything at Neiman.Talk soon,Julie”Lessons #4 and 5: Sending a Thank You and Going The Extra Mile.If I had clients in Vegas I’d be trying to recruit her to join our team.I still have her card. Will I call her? You bet. Extraordinary service is so rare these days that we need to celebrate it.To recap:
She listened to my needs
She retained my information even though she couldn’t fulfill my desire immediately and called me as soon as she could do so.
She tried for the upsell.
She delivered what she promised.
She went the extra mile.
Do you? If I called a random client on your list, what would they tell me about you? Are you their “go-to-person” when it comes to anything marketing? We should take a lesson from Julie. What do you bet I hear from her again in a few weeks or months? She “Will have been thinking about me” and will have something I need.So, that’s our lesson for today. Thank you, Julie, for not only making me smell like a room full of flowers, but for giving me fodder for this newsletter and for restoring my faith that there ARE still wonderful sellers out there.Happy Selling!Image: Shutterstock […]

For many years, RFmondial has proven to deliver high performance measurement and monitoring equipment for digital radio standards DAB and DRM. With the latest developments, analogue standards FM and AM can be included into the measurement devices. The system can decode up to 4 RF inputs and an unlimited number of distribution-streams (EDI or MDI) – all streams, all services, all audio, all data,all in parallel.The modular platform enables the customer to select the best and cost-effective setup for his desired application. If RF inputs are necessary, a 1 RU housing with up to 4 RF inputs is supplied. If only distribution inputs are desired, the system can be installed natively on a server PC or in a virtual environment.Some example configurations are– a DAB SFN monitor with absolute SFN timing measurement over ±60 seconds,– the same device with 4 RF inputs separated by IP address to save rack space,– a DAB monitor which decodes from RF and monitors in parallel the feeding EDI– a combined DAB and FM monitor to invest in new technology, but being able to still decode analogue services– a combined DRM, MDI, and AM monitor to fully examine a shared distribution on a shortwave or medium wave transmitter– a DAB network distribution monitor with several EDI inputs, being able to not only check the consistency of the stream but also of the content, e.g. silent detection on all audio services in parallel

Furthermore, specific measurement applications like spectrum mask compliance, single frequency network dimensioning, or field measurement campaigns are possible as well. […]

Pakistan’s caretaker Minister of Information and Broadcasting Murtaza Solangi addressed a meetinbon Radio Resource Control and Management at IBC, Amsterdam via Zoom on Saturday and said that Radio Pakistan is moving towards Digital Radio Mondiale Technology to bring its broadcast at par with the international standards.He said Radio Pakistan will be accessible throughout the country and neighbouring countries after installation of the DRM transmitter and its operational cost would be reduced by forty percent besides saving energy costs.He also highlighted the emergency warning feature of DRM transmitters, which is capable of issuing immediate alerts during natural disasters. The initiative would also facilitate disaster management authorities in carrying out relief efforts in affected areas.

Solangi also thanked DRM consortium, especially Chairperson Ruxandra Obreja, for their cooperation in installation of DRM Technology in Pakistan.He expressed hope that continued collaboration between the DRM Consortium, Radio Pakistan’s management and engineers would lead to a successful digital rollout in the near future and a new era will be added to Radio Pakistan’s 76-year-long journey.He also felicitated the Director General Radio Pakistan and DRM Steering Committee for their unwavering passion, hard work and dedication. […]

Key Chinese authorities have made an announcement to encourage the adoption of DRM for AM domestically and to get provincial transmission stations to broadcast DRM services.The National Radio and Television Administration (NRTA), the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT), and the State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) recommend the further strengthening of in-vehicle audio and video radio broadcast reception, as an essential component of the country’s basic public services.DRM is seen as a vital part of the infrastructure needed so that the authorities can rapidly and effectively reach the Chinese public with emergency alerts. This can be enabled through DRM’s Emergency Warning Functionality EWF. Therefore, NRTA and MIIT stress the need for the popularisation of “radio broadcasting receiving terminals”. They also promote the inclusion of radio receivers in all domestically produced and imported vehicles to be sold on the domestic market.

The Chinese authorities also express the intention to accelerate the construction of digital radio broadcasting coverage networks with digital AM broadcasting (DRM) transmission systems at local transmission stations.The aim is to finally build an advanced, fast-transmitting, and reliable digital radio broadcasting coverage network, able to improve the transmission quantity and signal quality of public service programmes available to the listeners. The process of transition from analogue to digital will be gradual and planned in stages.This news was announced during the DRM IBC Showcase event in Amsterdam. DRM is the only global, open and ITU endorsed digital radio standard to serve all coverage needs for the national and local public radio stations as well as for commercial and community broadcasters. […]

The Digital Radio Mondiale™ (DRM) Consortium welcomes the announcement by Indonesian authorities to adopt the global, open and ITU endorsed DRM Digital Radio Standard for national adoption in a country of over a quarter of a billion people.This news was announced during the DRM IBC Showcase event in Amsterdam. DRM is the only digital radio standard to serve all coverage needs for the national and local public radio stations as well as for commercial and community broadcasters. Going forward, DRM-based digital radio services can be introduced in the medium wave (MW) and FM bands, as well as in VHF band-III, for all of Indonesia’s 18 000 islands.275 million Indonesians can soon enjoy a whole new radio experience with better audio quality and more choice, Journaline text news and, above all, an extra level of protection against disasters through DRM’s Emergency Warning Functionality (EWF). The introduction of modern digital radio services will stimulate the entire radio ecosystem and broadcast industry, and it will energize the Indonesian as well as global receiver manufacturing.

The DRM Consortium is looking forward to further working closely with the Indonesian broadcasters and stakeholder groups, the governmental agencies, as well as the receiver, automotive and mobile phone industry in Indonesia to ensure a successful roll-out of DRM digital radio services throughout the country for the benefit of the entire Indonesian population. […]

CML Microcircuits (CML Micro) has announced at the IBC 2023 DRM Showcase Event, the full release of the world’s lowest-cost, lowest power, and smallest sized Digital Radio Mondiale (DRM) broadcast receiver module (DRM1000). DRM is the world’s leading digitalradio broadcast standard able to provide rich, high quality digital content over vast areas using medium-wave (MW) and short-wave (SW). In addition to high-capacity local broadcasting at Very High Frequencies (VHF).The DRM1000 is a complete ‘antenna to speaker’ module, containing all hardware, software, IP and patent licenses required for a radio equipment manufacturer to easily realize a dual mode (digital and analogue) DRM capable receiver.The module offers a 60% cost reduction and 80% power reduction over existing DRM technologies in the market. The device can run effectively from solar or wind-up rechargeable batteries: in addition to small primary cells. Low power operation directly improves accessibility to vital educational and public digital radio services across many emerging nations and opens the great features of DRM to many millions of potential listeners around the world.

In offering the DRM1000, CML Micro wish to enable their customers to design a complete DRM /AM /FM broadcast receiver solution, which is attractive, highly featured and accessible for all. The module allows these innovative receivers to be manufactured locallyin emerging nations in addition to traditional technology manufacturing locations.In addition to announcing the availability of the DRM1000; CML Micro is also proud to announce that the device has been adopted by Gospell Digital Technology Ltd for two new DRM portable radio families to be shown for the first time at the IBC 2023 DRM ShowcaseEvent.Haochun Liu, Head of Research and Development at Gospell, said: “At Gospell, we’ve always held a steadfast belief in the pivotal role that the accessibility and ubiquity of DRM radios play in enabling people to access high-quality information. This unwavering commitmenthas driven us over the years to design and manufacture user friendly DRM receivers, constantly pushing the boundaries to make them more accessible and attainable for all. The introduction of the DRM1000 module, with its impressive low-power consumption, costeffectiveness, and high performance, has been a game-changer. We are truly honored to collaborate with CML Micro in launching two groundbreaking DRM receivers based on the DRM1000 module, namely the GR-220 and GR-221. We’re confident that our combined efforts will not only deliver unparalleled value to people but also pave the way for the next chapter in DRM technology.”One third of the world’s population remains without an internet connection. Many millions of people will benefit from widespread DRM adoption. Increasing access to DRM enhances public services in remote areas, or where an internet connection is very expensive. Thisincludes a disaster and early warning service that can be used in the event of interruption to communications caused by natural disasters.CML Micro’s VP of Global Marketing, Matthew Phillips, said: “The benefits of DRM are already being enjoyed by listeners in the Indian market with 70% of the population covered by DRM broadcast services and 6 million new cars already fitted with DRM capablereceivers. We believe the market for DRM capable receivers is set for significant growth over the coming years. The DRM1000 provides an ideal platform to serve this emerging market with low cost, battery-powered portable receivers sold in millions of units.”

DRM in the medium-wave or short-wave band delivers FM-like quality to listeners spread over many thousands of square miles, from a single transmitter. This makes DRM the optimum digital radio solution for emerging nations. DRM uses existing long-, medium-,short-wave and very-high frequency (LW, MW, SW and VHF) radio frequency bands, operating seamlessly alongside current analogue services. […]