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Tag: Radio

  • Consumers ‘quickly’ embrace radio’s digital platforms; Study

    Consumers ‘quickly’ embrace radio’s digital platforms; Study

    MUMBAI: The proliferation of digital broadcast platforms such as Internet radio, satellite radio, HD and podcasting is a testament to the popularity of radio programming in US.

    The Infinite Dial: Radio’s Digital Platforms, a new study by Arbitron Inc. and Edison Media Research, explores this expansion of the radio market and its implications for advertisers and media planners.

    “Consumers are quickly embracing radio’s digital platforms and this new research reveals that these advertising vehicles are becoming increasingly viable,” said Arbitron Sr VP marketing Bill Rose.

    “Our research shows that regardless of the platform consumers see all these options as merely being new forms of ‘radio’” said Edison Media Research president Larry Rosin. “This report provides crucial measurement on the development of radio as it is consumed in new and different ways.”

    The findings reported here are based on a 13 January – 12 February, 2006 telephone survey of 1,925 people who were interviewed to investigate Americans’ use of various forms of traditional, online and satellite media.

    Growth of Internet Radio
    Internet radio is growing rapidly. The monthly audience age 12+ now tops an estimated 52 million; an increase from an estimated 37 million people in 2005. The weekly Internet radio audience also increased 50 percent over the past year, with 12 percent of the US population age 12+ (an estimated 30 million) having listened to Internet radio in the past week, up from 8 percent in 2005, according to the findings.

    Advertiser highlights: Online radio reaches nearly one in five (19 percent) persons per week aged 18-34 and 15 per cent of persons aged 25-54. Weekly Online radio listeners are 36 percent more likely than the average consumer to live in a household with an annual income of more than $100,000.

    Satellite Radio In 2006, awareness of XM and Sirius satellite radio has reached equal levels of 61 percent awareness each among those aged 12 and older. Nearly one in five non-subscribers to satellite radio say they are ‘very’ or ‘somewhat’ likely to subscribe to satellite radio in the next 12 months.

    Advertiser highlights: Twenty-seven per cent of satellite radio subscribers live in households with an annual income of more than $100,000, nearly double the percentage of all households (14 per cent).

    Podcasting When asked to define podcasting in their own words, there was some confusion among respondents regarding the differences among podcasting, Internet broadcasting and downloadable music. When read a definition, eleven percent of Americans say that they have ever listened to an audio podcast.

    Advertising highlights: Podcasting attracts a youthful audience: one out of five who have ever listened to an audio podcast are 12-17 years old, and more than half (53 percent) are under the age of 35.

    HD Radio More than one-third of Americans say they are ‘very’ or ‘somewhat’ interested in HD Radio; more than 40 percent of satellite subscribers say they are interested in HD Radio as well.

    More than one-third of those who said they were interested in HD Radio say they would be likely to purchase an HD Radio receiver at a $100 price point, and 58 percent of those interested say they would be likely to purchase at $50.

    AM/FM Radio While there has been tremendous growth in usage of radio’s new digital platforms, AM/FM radio does not appear to be losing Time Spent Listening (TSL). Daily radio TSL is 2 hours 45 minutes for the average consumer, compared with 2 hours 48 minutes among those who listen to digital radio.

    Seventy-seven per cent of Americans say they expect to listen to AM/FM radio as much as they do now despite increasing advancements in technology. The same holds true for Internet radio listeners (77 per cent) and those who have tried audio podcasting (73 per cent). Satellite radio subscribers showed slightly less dedication to traditional broadcasting, with 64 per cent saying they plan to continue listening to the same amount of AM/FM radio.

    This study, as well as previous studies, may be downloaded free of charge via the Arbitron and Edison Media Research Web sites at www.arbitron.com and www.edisonresearch.com.
  • Fox host Tony Snow to be named Bush spokesman

    Fox host Tony Snow to be named Bush spokesman

    MUMBAI: Conservative radio presenter Tony Snow is to be named as US President George W Bush’s new press secretary. Snow is expected to be named on 26 April. He replaces Scott McClellan, who resigned last week.

    The 50-year old Snow presently hosts two shows on the Rupert Murdoch-owned Fox News network, Tony Snow Show on Fox News Radio and Weekend Live with Tony Snow on the Fox News Channel. He has also served in the administration of President George H.W. Bush as White House speechwriting director and later as a deputy assistant to the president for media affairs.

    According to the US media reports, Snow however has declined to say whether he had been offered the job. The news was leaked by Republicans close to the White House, who said the press secretary’s job had been offered to Snow and that he had accepted.

  • Sivasankaran buys 14.98 % in Sahara One for Rs 1.2 billion

    Sivasankaran buys 14.98 % in Sahara One for Rs 1.2 billion

    MUMBAI: If the news and radio space swung into acquisition mode early this year, it is the other areas of media business which are now attracting investors. NRI businessman C Sivasankaran is pumping in Rs 1.2 billion to acquire 14.98 per cent stake in Sahara One Media & Entertainment Ltd.

    Indiantelevision.com had earlier reported that Sivasankaran was in talks to put in around Rs 1.2 billion for a minority stake in Sahara One. Ernst & Young had valued the company at Rs 7 billion.

    Sahara One will make a preferential allotment of 32,25,000 shares (of Rs 10 each) at Rs 372 per share to Aircel Televentures Ltd (Sivasankaran’s company). With this divestment, the promoters will hold 73 per cent, according to a Sahara Group spokesperson.

    BCCL’s (Times Group holding company Bennet Coleman & Co Ltd) stake will be less than 6 per cent and Aircel Televentures will have 14.98 per cent while the rest will be with the public.

    “Aircel Televentures has recognized the potential of the movies and TV business in which Sahara One operates and agreed to invest. The funds generated through this move will be utilised in expanding our business in movie and television business,” the spokesperson said.

    The Sahara One board has approved the proposal of issuing the equity shares to Aircel Televentures on preferential basis. The board, which met today, has also called for an Extraordinary General Meeting of the company on 8 May. The shares will be issued subject to shareholders’ approval.

    Sahara is also planning to raise up to $50 million, for which it has obtained an enabling resolution. “Sivasankaran’s investments will be used for expanding the business. We also plan to raise up to $50 million,” a company executive said.

    Sahara is launching a music channel, adding up to a bouquet of general entertainment and movie channels. Sahara Group also owns a string of news channels.

    Sivsankaran’s first media investment was in ETC Networks where he held 40 per cent stake. He went on diluting equity and exited from the company which was later acquired by Zee Telefilms.

  • Sydus teams up with Bacardi for radio mobile service

    Sydus teams up with Bacardi for radio mobile service

    MUMBAI: The spirits company Bacardi has launched Bacardi B-Live Radio for mobile. This is being done through a tie up with Sydus, which works in creating audio-to-mobile lifestyle expressions.

    The service goes live next month and will take Bacardi’s spirit out of the bottle and onto mobile phones around the world. B-Live Radio is the world’s first brand-funded global digital music service, and will also be delivered via the web.

    While traditional marketing strategies have been ‘push’, going from the brand out to the consumer, with Sydus’ BrandedRadio solution, consumers can ‘pull’ the Bacardi experience onto their mobile phones and enjoy the Baqcardi spirit and lifestyle, wherever they are.

    Bacardi B-Live Radio combines two elements – the emotional connection of music, with the ubiquitous and extremely personal usage of mobile phones – to build a stickiness that is declining in traditional delivery mechanisms.

    Sydus president Saumil Nanavati says, “Bacardi B-Live Radio is an innovative way to market to audiences globally, using new media to attract and engage today’s savvy consumer. Sydus is delighted to be a part of Bacardi’s innovative approach to reach out to its users, and we believe this is the start of the next big shift in lifestyle marketing, whereby brands can connect to a global audience in a cost-effective manner.”

    Mobile marketing is rapidly emerging as an effective medium as brands target their customers via mobile phones. Bacardi, using Sydus’ technology solution, has taken a lead in demonstrating how a brand can reach out to its target consumers across the globe effectively, as compared with other marketing options, including the Internet.

    Bacardi global brand director John Burke says, “We are happy to partner with Sydus to enable the Bacardi B-Live Radio service. This is a music service that extends Bacardi’s existing music properties and long standing experience in events. Being available both online and via mobile, we are investing in new mediums that have a real relevance to our consumer’s lives. Sydus’ technology will service strengthen our association with music by creating further opportunities for us to connect with our target consumer in a way that reflects our brand values”.

    Bacardi B-Live Radio will play a mix of uplifting party classics from the world’s hottest dance floors with guest DJs selected from a global talent portfolio to produce exclusive mixes. At weekends, the content features the ‘best of the week’ and live recordings of Bacardi events across the globe. Bacardi has worked with independent experts to ensure content is selected with the correct audience in mind. All tracks must be socially responsible, avoiding any that feature foul language, incite racism or drug taking and excessive drinking.

    B-Live Radio will stream Bacardi mixes 24×7 through the Internet, and via Sydus’ BrandedRadio solution, directly onto GPRS/Edge/3G-compatible mobile handsets, estimated at 85 million handsets worldwide. This spans 189 mobile phone handset models and variants that are compatible with Sydus technology. Listeners can download the radio player free of charge onto their phones from www.bacardibliveradio.com to tune in to the service, and share the application with family and friends using Bluetooth or infrared. Alternatively, the radio service can be accessed via the site wap.bliveradio.com.