International broadcast services company WRN has announced the launch of its Radio With Pictures product, which aims to revolutionize satellite radio broadcasting by allowing satellite and cable radio stations to display visual content on TV screens. Visuals could include live graphics, existing web content or interactive SMS and Twitter feeds.
Radio Netherlands Worldwide is the first of WRN’s clients to take advantage of the product for its Arabic service, which broadcasts to the Middle East on Arabsat and Nilesat, enabling it to transform the radio programming into a 24-hour TV channel.
David Treadway, MD, WRN, comments: “Many radio stations use satellite and cable to extend their reach as these platforms offer relatively low barriers to entry, with lower costs and fewer regulatory hurdles. However audiences prefer to have something on their TV screen rather than it being blank.
“Radio with Pictures addresses this missed opportunity, transforming satellite radio channels on digital TV platforms into full-service television channels but at a fraction of the cost of TV. This enables broadcasters to interact with their audience in a new way whilst also creating potential new revenue streams.”
Unique features include:
- Radio stations appear alongside television stations on the Electronic Programme Guide and not via a separate radio menu, widening the potential audience.
- Web content can be repurposed so that it is used to reach vast TV audiences that may have no internet access or where access may be locally restricted.
- Listeners’ SMS messages and Twitter tweets can be displayed on the screen increasing audience interactivity.
- Live visuals from the studio can accompany radio programming or content can be uploaded in advance.
- Bandwidth requirement is lower than for conventional graphic transmission, meaning costs are kept low while maintaining compatibility with existing set-top boxes.
Jan Willem Drexhage, RNW’s Head of Programme Distribution, says: “Research has shown that satellite audiences in Africa and the Middle East tend not to press the radio button, but as Radio with Pictures lists the station as a TV channel with attractive visual content we are opening up our programming to a much wider audience. In addition, although we only produce a few hours per day of Arabic radio programming, Radio With Pictures transforms our “Huna Amsterdam” radio magazine into a 24-hour semi-television channel.”
The radio magazine is aired every evening from 1800-2200 UTC from Monday-Friday where popular Arabic music can be heard outside this period.
(Source: WRN)
on Apr 19th, 2010 at 10:05
“Web content can be repurposed”
I really despair when I come across jargon like this from broadcasters.
on Apr 19th, 2010 at 10:27
“Repurpose” is not jargon. It is in the Oxford English Dictionary and means “To use or convert for use in another format or product.”
on Apr 19th, 2010 at 10:59
Sorry Andy, but it’s a typical example of the jargon the media has now decided is necessary when trying to describe very ordinary things.
What ever happened to kept it simple and saying what you mean?
Next time I’m at RNTC, let’s chat about it.