Radiodays Asia, and could TV's switchoff put radio at risk?

Radiodays Asia, and could TV's switchoff put radio at risk?

Author: James Cridland September 9, 2026 Duration: 7:12

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  • I’ll be on RRI in Indonesia a little later this week: the station was founded on 11 September 1945, so it’s celebrating its 81st anniversary this week. The broadcaster has four networks and 90 local stations. Radio is 101 years old in Indonesia: the first station in the country broadcast in Dutch,.
  • I’ve been in Indonesia for the past week at Radiodays Asia. You can find a bunch of interviews in the RadioToday podcast - and more to come in RD. The Radiodays Europe Podcast too. I do enjoy the event: there’s plenty going on in Asia that doesn’t get the coverage it deserves. Next year, the event will be in Taipei, Taiwan - a place I’ve never been: should be fascinating.
  • While in Indonesia, I took my ludicrously geeky radio with me, and tuned around the dial one afternoon. I discovered Padel Corner 89.6FM - a radio station that seemingly is run by a sports club in the city, with music and an advert for the sports club itself (I can tell you it has six padel courts, a sauna and it does food). I wonder how those licences work - an interesting idea, if you can keep the costs low enough, to run your own service on the FM dial!
  • In the UK, there’s real concern that turning off television broadcasts could put radio services at risk. Radiocentre has released some research suggesting that transmission costs for radio broadcasters could increase by more than 50%. They’ve not shared the full research, and I’m surprised that it’s only a 50% increase - but even so, it’s a real concern, especially if that happens in 2034, one of the dates being considered. I wonder if this has been costed in other countries? The UK can’t be alone in looking to turn off free-to-air television; but perhaps the shared infrastructure that the UK uses makes it a little different.
  • Over the past few weeks, I’ve been driving my daughter home from school listening to the BBC Radio 1 breakfast show. My goodness, the production on that radio station is phenomenal: I can only assume that someone is pre-producing all the segues ahead-of-time, because the quality of them all is really impressive. Worth a critical listen.
  • RCS and Triton Digital have produced programmatic advertising for over-the-air radio, which they’ve demonstrated this week at IBC. A very clever idea to connect a playout system to this kind of tool: I gather that broadcasters approve audio creative before it gets broadcast (probably for the best), and that Triton are also working on getting it integrated with other playout systems. (Although, in deference to my sponsor, what other playout systems are there? Are there any?)
  • At some point in the last month or so, the BBC international app has finally got a proper video player for the live stream of BBC News, so it’s now (finally) possible to watch the channel in full-screen, for example. Not sure what took them so long, but it’s very welcome.

For anyone curious about where the world of radio is heading next, Radioland, with James Cridland-radio futurologist offers a clear-eyed and informed perspective. This isn't just industry gossip; it's a thoughtful analysis of the forces reshaping audio. James Cridland, working as a consultant and writer at the intersection of radio and new technology, sifts through the noise to bring you the most significant developments. In each episode, you'll hear a concise breakdown of emerging platforms, shifting listener habits, and the business models that are succeeding or failing. The discussion is global in scope, looking beyond any single market to understand the broader trends affecting broadcasters and audio creators everywhere. Tuning into this podcast provides a unique advantage: it's like having a knowledgeable guide explain not just what is changing, but why it matters and what might come next. The analysis is grounded in real-world observation, offering practical insight for professionals in the business and intrigued enthusiasts alike. You can find more from James, including his newsletter, through his personal website. Radioland is your regular briefing on the evolution of an enduring medium, delivered with authority and a focus on the future.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

Radioland, with James Cridland - radio futurologist
Podcast Episodes
The big changes for radio's 55+ audience [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 9:47
Hey! I'd love to hear your thoughts, send me a voice note.New research shows that radio's core audience is changing rapidly.More on this and everything else at https://radioland.email
Ofcom's news rules to cool FM band? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 11:58
Hey! I'd love to hear your thoughts, send me a voice note.Read this at https://radioland.email
Why TV's decline matters for radio [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 12:59
Hey! I'd love to hear your thoughts, send me a voice note.Read this, see the links and more at https://radioland.email
New Australian broadcast rules - covering AI and kids [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 11:10
Hey! I'd love to hear your thoughts, send me a voice note.The new rules from CRA in Australia. What do they say?https://james.cridland.net/blog/2026/new-australian-rules for links and more!
ABC comes off iHeart [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 9:15
Hey! I'd love to hear your thoughts, send me a voice note.Links and more - https://james.cridland.net/blog/2026/abc-comes-off-iheart/
STV Radio launches, and more AM switchoffs [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 7:29
Hey! I'd love to hear your thoughts, send me a voice note.https://james.cridland.net/blog/2026/stv-radio-launches/ for links and more
Radiocentre's 2025 - and closures as we move into 2026 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 15:03
Hey! I'd love to hear your thoughts, send me a voice note.https://james.cridland.net/blog/2026/closures-at-end-of-2025/ for links to everything I talk about, and more