Posted on

Object Based Radio

yah wha gay?

yes, object based radio. Imagine you are listening to The Archers on Radio 4 and Kate has a birthday surprise (spoiler alert that is an actual future plot 29/09/2017). And as the surprise is been plotted we can choose to hear the relevant dialogue and soundscapes in that scene from the point of hearing in the plotters room, or we can choose to hear Kate’s point of hearing as she approaches the “SURPRISE!”.

While the plot is real the ability to opt between points of hearing is not yet a reality in The Archers. But as a technology it is something the BBC R&D folk are working on.

As part of the ORPHEUS project the BBC has made the first ever object orientated radio broadcast.

More details of how they are doing this new radio feature is documented on The Mermaid’s Tears.

Ideal for drama. Other possibilities would be sporting, like Cricket commentary, but not on LongWave! Last Night of the Proms but not on FM! Now where would you like to sit? Radio’s fly on the wall has arrived, what will we create with this HD immersive interactive technology for story telling and remixing sound at the listeners receiving end.

I can see this as a must for audio in a VR AR Mixed Reality space where a single track audio experience would be as flat as a mono 78rpm record with no b-side.

Posted on

Celtic Music Radio

Today’s featured station is Celtic Music Radio. OFCOM licensed in Glasgow the station has a long history beginning with a failed licence attempt in 2005. A string of RSL broadcasts followed and then it was successful in gaining a Medium Wave community radio licence in 2007. In 2012 they were awarded an FM licence and switched from MW to FM in 2014.

The station are well connected to their musical community through various festivals and fundraisers.

Their RadioPlayer feed appears to be down (or geo blocked to me) but you can tune is here on TuneIn.

Posted on

Newstalk unreserved apology for George Hook’s comments

Update 15/09/2017: George Hook suspended from duties at Newstalk

Newstalk issued an unreserved apology for George Hook’s comments about rape on the station on Friday.

Managing Editor, Patricia Monahan said that comments made were “totally wrong and inappropriate and should never have been made.”

George Hook has apologised for his comments. He said:

“I wish to apologise unreservedly for comments I made about rape on my radio programme on Newstalk yesterday (Friday). It was unacceptable to suggest in any way that blame could be attributed to victims of rape. I apologise for the comments which caused hurt and offence, and for this I am truly sorry.”

Head of the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre Noeline Blackwell, called for editors and journalists to collaborate with the organisation after the controversial remarks by George Hook about a trial in Britain.

Posted on

Bryan Dobson moves from TV back to radio

RTE Newscaster Bryan Dobson is to move from flagship TV news (Six One) to flagship radio news (Morning Ireland).

Dobson who began his broadcasting career with Radio Nova in the 1980s started presenting the RTÉ Six One news in 1996.

He is no stranger to radio and morning Ireland as a twitter search will show. He has presented stints on Morning Ireland in August each year.

The very best of luck to Mr. Dobson as he returns to radio full time!

see if you can spot Bryan in this Radio Nova poster.