RadioDNS

The RadioDNS project is very proud to be able to announce that we are inaugural winners of a techINK Innovation Award.

The awards were determined by techINK’s Editorial Advisory Board, and will be showcased in the May issue of techINK (included in the 5/17 issue of Radio INK). Presentation of the awards will be made at the RadioTech Summit in Mountain View, CA on June 2-3, 2010.

Skip Pizzi, Radio Ink’s Technology Editor, said, “The judges were impressed at the number and quality of award-worthy products this year, particularly given the economics of the previous year, during which they were being developed.

“Radio broadcasting is fast becoming as much as about IP as it is for RF; and the judges felt that RadioDNS is an important part of radio’s hybrid future.”

Nick Piggott, the Chair of RadioDNS, said, “All of those who’ve worked on the project are delighted to win this award. We’re very grateful to gain further recognition from a highly influential publication.”

April 15, Las Vegas:

RadioDNS was today awarded a 2010 Radio World “Cool Stuff” Award. RadioDNS was selected by the magazine’s panel of veteran broadcast engineers as notable for its potential in serving radio broadcast users.

Radio World’s “Cool Stuff” Award-winning products, announced by U.S. Editor in Chief Paul J. McLane, are selected each year by a panel of radio broadcast engineers as notable for their design, features, cost efficiency and performance in serving radio broadcast users. The winners will be featured in the June 2 issue of Radio World, which is read by radio professionals throughout the US and internationally.

The award, pictured above on the RadioDNS stand, marks the end of a successful appearance at the 2010 NAB Show, where RadioDNS technology has been displayed and demonstrated to a large number of broadcast professionals and consumer electronics manufacturers. RadioDNS was also showcased in the ‘Daily News’ show publication.

Nick Piggott, Chair, RadioDNS, said: “We’ve been overwhelmed by the positive interest and engagement we’ve had with our colleagues from the US Radio Industry, and look forward to welcoming more US based members and supporters to the project. Our stand at the NAB Show was was consistently busy with people wanting to know about the technology behind RadioDNS, what it could enable, and how they could get involved.”

“Winning the RadioWorld Cool Stuff Award 2010 was the highlight of the event, and a very special moment for the project, as it’s the first award we’ve received. It’s recognition for everyone who’s contributed so far to the project, and we thank RadioWorld for awarding it to us.”

ends

About Radio World
Radio World (www.radioworld.com) is the definitive information resource for radio managers and engineers, covering technology, industry news, management techniques, applications-oriented engineering, production articles and new product information. Radio World is published by NewBay Media LLC, the world’s leading publisher of pro broadcast, audio and video publications.

About RadioDNS
RadioDNS (radiodns.org) connects broadcast radio transmissions to resources on the internet: enhancing radio by using the benefits of hybrid IP-connected receivers. An open project, RadioDNS is a not-for-profit organisation based in Geneva, Switzerland.

We’re pleased to announce the results of the election for our Chairperson, Secretary, and Steering Board.

Nick PIGGOTT (Global Radio) was elected by vote as Chairperson.

James CRIDLAND (Not At All Bad Ltd) was elected by vote as Secretary.

The Steering Board was then elected. The results were:

Mathias COINCHON (EBU)
Chris GOULD (All In Media)
Nick JURASCHECK (Pure Digital)
David LAYER (NAB)
Ben MATTHEW (Absolute Radio)
John OUSBY (vTuner)
Michael REICHERT (SWR)
Russell STENDELL (ABC Australia)
George WRIGHT (BBC)

We’re grateful to all members for their votes and nominations.

Yesterday, we were pleased to announce that RadioDNS will have our own stand at the 2010 NAB Show in Las Vegas: stand C1329 in the LVCC Hall C1. To be sure of time for a great meeting with our project team, please mail feedback@radiodns.org to ensure we fit in with your schedule.

We’re keen for as many people to see us as possible, so we’re pleased to be able to also be able to offer anyone interested in RadioDNS a free Exhibits-Only pass, which also includes access to the opening keynote, info sessions, and the “content” and “destination broadband” theatres; in all, a $150 value.

Visit http://ow.ly/13T8Q today to redeem or register at http://nabshow.com/register with the code A913 (and feel free to pass this along).

We look forward to seeing you there, and also look forward to welcoming more Members to the RadioDNS project.

We’re pleased to announce that RadioDNS will be at the 2010 NAB Show in Las Vegas. The 2010 NAB Show is the place to discover new opportunities for all of us in the broadcaster world.

You’ll be able to find us at stand C1329 in the LVCC Hall C1.

We’ll be on hand throughout the show, to explain and demonstrate the technology and experience that RadioDNS enables. We’ll also have coffee and British chocolate, so we expect our stand to be busy. To ensure you have the time to meet with us, please email feedback@radiodns.org if you’d like to discuss RadioDNS further.

Please add us to your conference itinerary: and we look forward to meeting you and talking about changing the (radio) world together.

To gain free entry to the NAB Exhibits, register using this link.

Press Release: RadioDNS converges broadcast radio and IP

The open project that links broadcast radio and IP is to attend its first US show, in response to overwhelming interest from US broadcasters.

RadioDNS allows radio broadcasters to seamlessly enhance their existing analogue or digital broadcasts with IP delivered services. The project uses a simple technology based upon the existing DNS (Domain Name System) to allow IP-connected radios to automatically locate the servers of the station the radio is tuned into. It’s an open project, with members and supporters from all over the world, including Australia, Germany, the United Kingdom and the United States.

The PURE Sensia radio, which was unveiled at this January’s CES show, is the first connected radio device to use the technology, enhancing radio broadcasts with rich visual information acquired over IP. The radio performs a simple lookup in DNS to translate a domain-name based on the radio station’s RDS or HD radio information, into the broadcaster’s own domain name. From then on, the radio can find out what IP services the broadcaster supports, and provide them to the listener. The same approach can be used by cellphones with built-in FM or HD Radio functionality.

The technology, which is non-proprietary, can be used to support any combination of broadcast radio and IP-delivered application. Other applications being actively developed by members include a technology to allow radios to switch automatically between audio streaming and broadcast radio, and an application to allow tagging of any on-air event such as songs and commercials.

Nick Piggott, a Project Co-ordinator at RadioDNS said: “We’re very pleased with the amount of interest from US broadcasters in the project, and it’s gratifying to have support from ClearChannel, the NAB and others in the US radio industry. Our belief is that RadioDNS’s openness makes it attractive to broadcasters and device manufacturers, and its simplicity means that it’s easy and cost-effective to implement. Providing a connection between broadcast radio and the Internet could unlock significant new value for radio, and re-invigorate the perceptions of radio’s digital options.”

RadioDNS currently has over 40 supporters, and around 1,500 entries for radio stations. Project members will be on hand at stand C1329 to discuss what RadioDNS can do, the various way broadcasters can get involved, and demonstrating RadioDNS technology uses.

At our Second General Assembly, we set the wheels in motion for our first election.

Today, we publish the candidates for the roles of Chairperson, Secretary and Steering Board Members, and it’s a great lineup from across all sectors of the industry and across the world.

We’re also very pleased to publish our first list of members. Our members are the people who guide and shape RadioDNS, and we’re very pleased and fortunate to have them make this commitment to the project.

If you’d like to be a member, it’s not too late to join using the simplified procedure. The details are on our membership page. Being a member will allow you to vote in the elections.

Between now and 31st March, you can review the list of nominees and we’ll announce how you can cast proxy votes. Alternatively, you can attend (virtually) our Third General Meeting on the 1st April, at which the election will be held.

In the meantime, if you have any questions about RadioDNS, you can always contact us directly.

The news about RadioDNS’s official birth has been well received by the radio press, which we’re very grateful for. Among other stories, we’ve noticed…

UK radio station Absolute Radio announce their intention to be a full Member of the organisation

The excellent Radio and Internet Newsletter (RAIN) has covered the news by highlighting the US Supporters of the project

The UK-based Radio Today covered some of the new functionality that the RadioDNS framework can achieve.

Radio World International covered the founding of the organisation

Broadcast covered the story with commentary about potential boosts to online advertising

The RadioDNS Project welcomes this coverage, as we currently look for Members of the organisation to help shape the next chapter of the project.

Yesterday was a landmark for the RadioDNS Project.

At our Second General Assembly, the attendees voted unanimously to adopt the Statutes, Membership Process, Trust Model, IPR Policy, and other recommendations proposed by the Statutes Drafting Team. You can read all these in our documentation section.

Which means that RadioDNS is now able to legally form itself as a not-for-profit organisation, and start providing the RadioDNS basis on a full operational basis – as well as promote the technology to device manufacturers and broadcasters.

It’s an exhilarating moment, and I’d like to extend the thanks of the members to the Statutes Drafting Team for their extensive work in getting all the necessary documentation together, and making sure a comprehensive set of proposal.

So what happens next?

Until now, we’ve all been Supporters of RadioDNS.

From now on, you can choose to be a Member of RadioDNS, which allows you to influence the direction of RadioDNS, vote at meetings, and nominate candidates for the roles of Chairperson, Secretary and Steering Board Member.

You can also be a User which means that you have your station details in RadioDNS, but no more than that.

Becoming A Member

The General Assembly recommended that we have a period during which people can become members in order to nominate candidates for the roles of Chairperson, Secretary and Steering Board Member (9 positions). That period starts now and ends on the 17th March 2010. They have recommended that the maximum membership fee will be CHF2.000,- (which approximates to USD1,800, GBP1,200, AUD2,000). The actual fee will likely be lower, once the costs are clearer.

You can continue to join as a member, and get a vote, until 31st March. From 1st April, the normal RadioDNS Membership Process will apply.

If you want to join, fill in the membership application form and we will be in contact.

Nominating Candidates

If you commit to becoming a member, you can nominate individuals for the roles of Chairperson, Secretary and Steering Board member. Nominations close at 17:00 GMT on 16th March 2010, and we will be circulate the candidates on the 17th March. You will be sent the electronic nomination form when you have confirmed your membership.

Elections

The election will happen on the 1st April, and we  will circulate an electronic ballot paper to all members prior to then.

We hope to see many of you move from being supporters to members (as it makes membership cheaper for everyone), but we’ll like you just the same as supporters too.

We will keep you updated on this blog and on the mailing lists.

At our first General Assembly,we started the process of turning RadioDNS from an adhoc grouping of supporters into a formally established body – the first steps of turning RadioDNS into permanent service, accountable to and run by its members.

The Second General Assembly is approaching (16th February 2010 in Geneva), and the primary agenda items for that meeting will be the discussion of the proposed Statutes and Trust Model for RadioDNS, followed by a vote from the meeting on whether to adopt those and officially form RadioDNS.

We had hoped to publish the draft Statutes and Trust Model this week for you to review ahead of the meeting. Some areas have generated a lot of discussion within the Statutes Drafting Team, and the deadline slipped.

I expect to publish the draft Statutes and Trust Model on Monday 8th February, giving you a week to go through them.

These documents are absolutely core to the way RadioDNS will be run, and please find an hour or so during next week to read them, even if it’s so you understand what is being proposed.

Registration is now open for the RadioDNS Second General Assembly, on the 16th February at the EBU in Geneva.

You can get more details, register, and find accommodation information on the Second General Assembly page.

Please register as soon as you can, as it makes it easier to plan the arrangements.