The Netherlands: RNW partners with WRN to launch "Radio With Pictures"

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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: Media Network Blog

http://blogs.rnw.nl/medianetwork/rnw-partners-with-wrn-to-launch-radio-with-pictures

 

More from original source...

WRN Launches Revolutionary - Radio With Pictures

London, April 7, 2010: International broadcast services company WRN today announced the launch of its Radio with Pictures product, which aims to revolutionise 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.

Renowned international broadcaster Radio Netherlands Worldwide (RNW) 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, head of Programme Distribution, Radio Netherlands Worldwide, 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/GMT from Monday-Friday where popular Arabic music can be heard outside this period.

Notes to Editors:

About Radio Netherlands Worldwide Radio Netherlands Worldwide (RNW) is the Dutch international public service broadcaster. Through radio, television, mobile platforms and the internet we keep millions of people informed about developments in the Netherlands, Europe and the world, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. RNW is regarded as an independent, unbiased and reliable source of news worldwide, in 10 languages.

Huna Amsterdam is the radiomagazine of the Arabic department of Radio Netherlands Worldwide.

The Arabic service brings news, analyses and reports from the Middle East, the Maghreb and from the Netherlands/Europe. It also reports from the migrant communities. The contributions of our editorial team are often cited by leading Arabic media.

Huna Amsterdam targets a young, educated audience. The main aim of the Arabic department is to bring the Arabic and the western world closer together. For this purpose we also have a platform for debate about all the topics which are talking points in the Arabic world. In our radiomagazine but also on our website, www.hunaamsterdam.nl

http://www.wrn.org/corporate/wrn-launches-revolutionary-radio-with-pictures-2/

(Yimber Gaviria, Colombia)