Latest / RedTech daily podcast - Powered by AI / Beasley and ORF's DAB+ Moves, Acast Acquires Wake Word Studios

Transcript

Beasley and ORF's DAB+ Moves, Acast Acquires Wake Word Studios · RedTech daily podcast - Powered by AI

• 0:00
  Welcome to the RedTech daily podcast, powered by AI.
• 0:03
  I'm Marguerite Clark, bringing you the latest in radio broadcast and digital audio.
• 0:08
  Today, we'll cover Beasley Media Group's new promotion, ORF's move to D.A.B.
• 0:13
  plus, and Acast's acquisition in Germany.
• 0:19
  Beasley Media Group has promoted John Coury to the position of vice president of treasury and
• 0:24
  corporate controller.
• 0:26
  Effective immediately, Coury will oversee treasury operations, accounts receivable,
• 0:31
  accounts payable, and traffic functions, which are key to Beasley's cash management and
• 0:36
  financial strategy.
• 0:38
  His leadership and financial expertise have been pivotal in strengthening the company's
• 0:42
  financial foundation since he joined in 2016 after Beasley acquired Greater Media.
• 0:49
  ORF, Austria's publicly funded national broadcaster, has launched a pilot broadcast of
• 0:55
  its flagship station Hitradio Ö3 on D.A.B.
• 0:58
  plus, marking its entry into digital audio broadcasting.
• 1:02
  This move comes after years of hesitance, with ORF previously refusing to join D.A.B.
• 1:08
  plus without additional program services.
• 1:12
  The pilot aims to assess technical performance, including reception handover between F.M.
• 1:17
  and D.A.B.
• 1:19
  plus, and involves national coverage via the MUX II platform operated by ORS.
• 1:25
  Digitalradio Austria has hailed this as a historic moment for Austrian radio.
• 1:31
  Roman Gerner, chairman of the association, noted that ORF's decision positions D.A.B.
• 1:37
  plus as a future-proof standard for radio distribution.
• 1:41
  The pilot is expected to significantly boost awareness and usage of D.A.B.
• 1:46
  plus among listeners, aligning with the Radio 2035 roadmap to lead Austria into a digital
• 1:52
  radio future.
• 1:55
  Acast has announced the acquisition of Germany's Wake Word Studios, a notable podcast
• 1:59
  studio known for its Podius media planning platform.
• 2:03
  With facilities in Munich and Berlin, the acquisition is part of Acast's strategic
• 2:08
  expansion in the German market.
• 2:10
  The deal is expected to close by year's end, with Wake Word's productions joining Acast's
• 2:15
  portfolio.
• 2:17
  Ruben Schulze-Fröhlich, founder of Wake Word, will lead Acast Creative Studios Germany,
• 2:22
  enhancing Acast's offerings for creators and advertisers.
• 2:27
  Acast's CEO, Greg Glenday, stated that this acquisition solidifies Acast's leadership in
• 2:32
  Germany, a mature and high-potential podcast market.
• 2:36
  By integrating Wake Word's renowned production capabilities, Acast aims to enhance its
• 2:41
  Creative Studios proposition.
• 2:44
  This move will leverage the expertise of both Wake Word and Podius teams, providing
• 2:48
  advertisers and agencies smarter access to podcasting, combining top-notch German content
• 2:53
  with Acast's global sales and technology.
• 2:57
  That's all for today's episode of the RedTech daily podcast, powered by AI.
• 3:03
  For more details on these stories, visit our website at redtech.pro.
• 3:08
  I'm Marguerite Clark, and thanks for listening.
• 3:11
  Join us again tomorrow for more updates from the world of radio broadcast and digital audio.