This year’s CBAA conference had a good number of exhibitors all offering equipment, support and solutions for the community radio industry.

Studiio was a new exhibitor. The company displayed a new product that consolidates SMS, phone calls, social media, and messaging apps into single dashboard, eliminating the need for multiple communication systems. Early adopters of the rebuilt platform report a 40% increase in listener interaction and a 60% reduction in administrative overheads.

After seven years of operating the old system, called Broadcast Launch, the company realized “we needed to start fresh,” according to James Davey, Founder and Developer of Studiio (main picture). “This isn’t an update or enhancement – it’s a complete rebuild using modern technology and incorporating everything we’ve learned about what broadcasters actually need. Our team understands radio because we’ve lived it,”

Studiio launched at the conference with three pricing tiers starting at $49 per month for small stations. Website: https://studiio.io

Mike Crothers and Matt Brokenbrough were at CBAA for RCS, the world’s largest Broadcast Software Company. RCS supplies products including music scheduling, playout and other studio software in thousands of radio and TV stations, music channels, cable companies, ad agencies, satellite networks and streaming stations worldwide.

In the last decade, RCS has reinvented the way broadcasters approach their craft with the introduction of new and updated software services. Now there is a new generation of browser-based extensions to RCS software, designed for mobile devices such as laptops, smartphones and tablets. Alongside GSelector, Zetta and Aquira, RCS customers have access to the flexibility of Selector2GO, Zetta2GO and Aquira2GO. With its mobile initiatives, RCS is putting the power of its cutting-edge software into the hands of every user, no matter where they may be. And for customers who want cloud-based solutions, RCS is already there. Website: www.rcsworks.com

Chantelle and Bianca Pritchard were at the conference for Broadcast Components , a company that makes its priority ‘enabling stories.’

“We share our knowledge, experience and passion for each new chapter in your stations’ journey. From microphone to transmitter and outside broadcast, we offer reliable, tailored solutions with training and local support.”

The company is a multigenerational family business based in Newcastle NSW, supplying studio, broadcast, OB, podcast, vlogging and telephony solutions from a huge range of equipment vendors. Broadcast Components works with broadcasters from Australia to Oceania. Website: www.broadcastcomponents.com.au  

Richard Palmer was a popular guy in the exhibition hall… he supplied free coffee at the Triton Digital stand. Thankfully Richard didn’t make the coffee,  there were professional baristas for that, leaving him free to talk about Triton’s streaming, monetisation and measurement and enterprise podcasting solutions.

Triton Digital was founded in 2006 with one goal in mind – to make today’s audio better and tomorrow’s audio possible. The company is a leading technology and service provider to the digital audio, podcast, and broadcast radio industries. There is an agile, dynamic, and creative team that thrives on solving the unique challenges of the audio industry.  Website: https://tritondigital.com

Representing AVC were Ian Gunn and Greg Altena, who demonstrated the latest integrated information and playout deck, the Broadcast Unified Desktop,  in the warm sunny Crowne Plaza exhibition space.

AVC Group is an aggregator of products that integrate to provide in depth solutions for broadcasters.​ With a team of highly skilled hardware engineers and software specialists, the company offers support and technical consulting services and is adept in managing projects of all sizes, for large and small  companies engaged in broadcast communication. Ian Gunn has worked with the community broadcasting sector to provide a tailored news system to the community radio sector’s news service. Website: ww.avc-group.net/contact 

Natalie Pozdeev and Andrea Ho from AFTRS (with Edge Radio station manager Corey Stephen) pictured at the AFTRS exhibition booth.

Established in 1973 under an act of Federal Parliament, the Australian Film Television and Radio School (AFTRS) is the nation’s premier screen and broadcast school, the only Australian school consistently rated in the top 15 international film schools by industry publication, The Hollywood Reporter.

AFTRS’ purpose is to find and empower Australian talent to shape and share their stories with the world by delivering industry-relevant and future-focused education, research and training. Applications are open for next year’s course intake. Website: www.aftrs.edu.au

All in Media was represented by Richard Phelps. AIM offers a range of solutions for radio stations including apps, the AIM Player and Rapid, to add visuals to your station

AIM Radio allows you to create and customize your own premium radio station app. Choose from a selection of themes and features to create an app that will standout from your competitors and engage listeners. The apps include ongoing support for the duration of your agreement as well as regular new features and enhancements. RAPID adds visuals to your radio station. Enhance the user experience on the go and at home with images, text, station logos, and schedules. AIM is part of Xperi corporation. Website: www.thisisaim.com

Deutsche Welle (DW) is Germany’s international broadcaster and was represented by Esther Blank in Hobart. Esther also announced the winner of this year’s internship scholarship to work in Germany.

DW provides radio, TV and Online Services in 32 languages. The German national broascdaster’s aim is to foster a peaceful, stable global community. DW focuses on topics such as freedom and human rights, democracy and good governance, free trade and social justice, health education and environmental protection, technology and innovation. DW offers free multi-media content to our non-commercial partners in Australia and New Zealand.

DW has been a sponsor of CBAA conferences and journalism prizes for over 20 years. DW offers paid internships at its headquarters in Germany for young qualified CBAA journalists.

The CBF team and Media Realm’s Anthony Eden were constantly in demand for advice during the conference.

The Community Broadcasting Foundation receives funding from the Australian Government’s Community Broadcasting Program to redistribute in grants to community media organisations, content producers and sector organisations. Every year the foundatioin distributes more than $20 million in funding to strengthen and support over 450 community broadcasting services across Australia.

Media Realm specialises in technology for media organisations and non-profits. The company’s Radio Website and MetaRadio products deliver turn-key solutions to help radio broadcasters connect with their audiences. Media Realm also builds custom websites & software, and delivers other technical services such as studio and venue audio-visual installations. We use Anthony for our radioinfo websites, We recommend MediaRealm and can vouch for Anthony’s expertise, professionalism and responsiveness. Website: www.mediarealm.com.au

Technorama provides professional networking opportunities, training and resources for the community broadcasting sector. The organisation is a limited-liability not-for-profit membership organisation that supports the technical part of Community Broadcasting.  It was incorporated in 2015, and operates under the NSW Associations Incorporation Act 2009 and the subsidiary Associations Incorporation Regulation 2016. Website: https://technorama.org.au

The Centre for Volunteering is a not-for-profit organisation with more than 50 years’ experience providing leadership on volunteering in NSW. This involves playing a key role in advocacy, support services and sector development.

The Centre offers a range of resources, training, workshops and events which benefit both individual volunteers and volunteer-involving organisations. This includes best practice support services such as the Volunteer Manager Help Desk and Knowledge Base, and the National School of Volunteer Management, a registered training organisation providing professional development and nationally accredited volunteering qualifications. Website: www.volunteering.com.au

CTV+ is the home of Community TV across Australia, watch over 150 locally produced programs from diverse community groups. Made by the community for the community. Stream on demand programs from C31 Melbourne and Geelong and C44 Adelaide’s free-to-air broadcast. Watch community tv live broadcasts anywhere, anytime and on any device. Website: https://ctvplus.org.au

The Community Broadcasting Association of Australia (CBAA) is the peak body for community broadcasters, dedicated to supporting and championing community broadcasting in Australia. The CBAA is the organiser of the annual conference. Website: www.cbaa.org.au

Disclosure: Many of the companies profiles are, or have been in the past, advertisers on radioinfo. We are proud to support our advertisers.

Email [email protected] for our media pack and advertising details.