EBU Media Lunchtime Talks : Celebrating World Radio Day
Concise short presentation by speakers followed by moderated open discussion
Introduction
Nicola Frank, EBU Head of European Affairs & Christian Vogg, EBU Head of Radio
Speakers
Rüdiger Malfeld, Project Coordinator, WDR Radio (Germany)
Tomas Granryd, Channel Manager P3-SR (Sweden)
When ?
Thursday 13 February 2014, 12.30 – 14.00 over lunch (sandwich buffet)
Background
On the occasion of World Radio Day, the EBU invites you to take part in a timely debate on the future of radio with the insights of radio content and technology experts.
Radio has proven to be an extremely resilient media and remains one of the most accessed and trusted sources of information in the digital age.
Reaching more than 80% of the European population on a weekly basis today and with average daily listening time in Europe still going strong with more than 3 hours (in 2013), terrestrial radio is forecast to remain the main platform to access audio content in the foreseeable future. In fact, broadcast radio average weekly reach in Europe has only diminished by 1.7 percentage points in the last 10 years despite the development of Internet radio and the surge of online music services.
Broadcasters across Europe are changing the face of radio to make it more relevant than ever in the digital age, adding pictures and new services and adapting it to mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets. The "hybrid" combination of broadcast and broadband in particular makes it possible to develop new ways of being even closer to the audience.
Rüdiger Malfeld of WDR Radio will demonstrate the latest DAB+ radio broadcasting standard, which offers a direct route to hybrid radio services combining the benefits of free-to-air radio with the interactivity of Internet.
Tomas Granryd of Swedish Radio will meanwhile showcase projects and programmes which bring the listener ever closer to the public broadcaster, exploiting the new possibilities offered by social networks, embedded players and hybrid radio to reach out and communicate with younger audiences.