News

AudioNow® Named Key Mobile Tech Partner in BBG 2016 Annual Report

June 28, 2017 – Washington, D.C. AudioNow®, the world’s largest mobile distribution platform for in-language broadcasters, was cited for its technology partnership with Voice of America (VOA) and Radio Free Asia (RFA) in the BBG 2016 Annual Report to the U.S. Congress.

The report noted AudioNow®’s development of two mobile apps featuring nearly 50 languages total, that allowed users across the world to access audio content through mobile data or cellular connections, saving money and bandwidth for its listeners.

The full report can be viewed here: BBG 2016 Annual Report.

“Since beginning our first service with VOA in 2010, it’s been an honor to launch several apps with BBG and access numbers in 22 countries,” said Rebecca Walker, Director of Digital Partnerships for AudioNow®. “Currently AudioNow® is building six additional single-language apps for VOA, and we are looking forward to expanding its global audience on mobile.”

PaseLaVoz® and AudioNow® Launch First Community Reporting for Broadcaster-Based Mobile Apps

A First-of-its-Kind Digital Tool Keeps Immigrant Audiences Informed

May 8, 2017 – Washington, D.C. PaseLaVoz® and AudioNow®, in partnership with Spanish-language radio stations across the United States, have launched a first-of-its-kind digital reporting tool in broadcaster mobile applications to keep immigrants better informed in their communities.

The PaseLaVoz® module, a user-generated incident reporting mechanism inside AudioNow® broadcaster apps, is designed to reduce the spread of adverse rumors in immigrant communities while providing quick, accurate and vetted reports of law enforcement activity and pressing news affecting these communities. The announced partnership expands distribution of PaseLaVoz®’s widely subscribed-to and principle SMS service on digital.

App users can track by ZIP Code verified PaseLaVoz® incident reports. Users also have the option to subscribe to PaseLaVoz® at the push of a button, and speak directly with trained professionals in-language about events occurring in their vicinity. Call-center operators are available 6:00 AM to 2:00 AM eastern time (5:00 AM to 1:00AM central time).

Access PaseLaVoz® in these participating broadcaster apps:

Sin Censura con Vicente Serrano Chicago, IL Android iOS
Radio Sagrado Corazon Queens, NY Android iOS
Radio Cadena Mi Gente Washington, DC Android iOS
Fiesta 1390 AM Silver Spring, MD Android iOS
La Autentica 1600 AM Silver Spring, MD Android iOS
Radio La Reyna Del Sur Houston, TX Android iOS
La Jefa 94.9 FM Greenville, SC Android iOS

“PaseLaVoz® is an indispensable daily tool for many living in vulnerable communities who already know about our service. But thanks to this new partnership, AudioNow® will bring awareness to others who have not yet come across our content nor had the opportunity to sign up,” said David Iberkleid, Managing Partner at PaseLaVoz®.

“AudioNow® continues its commitment to innovative mobile applications designed to increase broadcaster engagement with their in-language audiences in changing times. PaseLaVoz is a great example of that,” said Natalie White, Director of New Business Development in the Americas at AudioNow®.

If you are a radio or television broadcaster and would like to include PaseLaVoz® in your mobile app contact Natalie White at natalie.white@audionow.com, 202-621-2285.

For more information about PaseLaVoz® contact David Iberkleid at david@paselavoz.net, 1-800-551-8464 ext. 236

Sin Censura Launches Mobile App On AudioNow® to Provide Important News Affecting the Latino Community

First Broadcaster App to Feature PaseLaVoz® Incident Reporting

April 4, 2017 – Washington, D.C. Chicago’s morning talk-show Sin Censura, with three-time Emmy award winning journalist Vicente Serrano as host, is now available 24/7 via a dedicated mobile video application. Launched in partnership with Washington D.C. based AudioNow®, the app facilitates two-way audience engagement and includes PaseLaVoz® community reporting, designed to keep immigrant audiences safe and informed.

Free to download for Android and iPhones, the app features Sin Censura’s daily morning TV program live from 8am – 12pm CST, as well as the week’s on-demand episodes.

Viewers can send photos, video and text messages direct to Sin Censura via the app’s Radio Reporter feature, as well as receive programming updates and promotions directly from the show hosts.

Sin Censura will soon be the first broadcaster app integrated with PaseLaVoz® incident reporting, with the aim to help confront the spread of adverse rumors in immigrant communities concerning ICE check points and raids. App users will be able to track, by zip code, verified reports and speak with trained professionals about incidents occurring in their vicinity at the push of a button.

“At Sin Censura we are trying to reach as many people as possible with high quality reporting on the issues of today. AudioNow® has helped us grow quickly with leading mobile tools,” said Vicente Serrano, CEO of Sin Censura.

“While Sin Censura works hard to keep the community informed, AudioNow® is glad to be able to increase their reach and impact with mobile innovations,” said Natalie White, Manager of Business Development at AudioNow®.

For more information, contact Natalie White at: natalie.white@audionow.com

Persian Broadcasting Leader, Radio Hamrah, and AudioNow® Announce New Multimedia App for Persian New Year

March 20, 2017 – Washington, D.C. and Los Angeles, CA – Radio Hamrah, the flagship station of the global Persian community and under the leadership of Dr. Farhang Holakouee — one of the most beloved and respected figures in the Persian community — has re-launched an expanded app with AudioNow®.

Download here on Google Play and the App Store:

With listener engagement at the forefront, Radio Hamrah worked with AudioNow®, the leading mobile developer of in-language apps for global broadcasters, to launch a new version of the app, in stores now.

The update also coincides with the Persian New Year. Included in the app are live and on-demand programs, push notifications, native integration of Radio Hamrah’s social media channels, and for the first time, the ability for listeners around the world to send news and updates directly to the station using AudioNow®’s state-of-the-art Radio Reporter feature.

The app’s modular design allows each user to quickly hone in on the content that matters most to them. Daily recorded programs feature popular shows, Razha va Niazha and Hamrah Ba Alireza Meybodi.

“We are honored to expand Radio Hamrah’s app into a multimedia platform that can serve their global audience in over 30 countries,” says Alexandra Moe, Director of Strategic Partnerships for AudioNow®.

“This app is a New Year’s gift to the global Persian community. Radio Hamrah listeners expect the highest quality programming and we believe they deserve an app of the highest caliber. Working with AudioNow®, we can now offer our listeners an optimal mobile experience, whether they’re in Los Angeles or using the app from any other part of the world,” said Dr. Parham Holakouee, Chief Strategy Officer of Radio Hamrah.

For more information, contact Rebecca Walker at: rebecca.walker@audionow.com

Radio Romania International Mobile App Now Available from AudioNow®

February 10, 2017 – Washington, D.C. – AudioNow®, the leading mobile distribution platform for global broadcasters designed around listener engagement, and Radio Romania International, a department of the Romanian national public radio, announce a new mobile app featuring live local updates, news and reporting from the leading international broadcaster in Romania through a partnership with AudioNow®.

Download here on Google Play and the App Store:

Radio Romania International (RRI) broadcasts 54 hours of programmes daily, in 12 languages and dialects across the world. Dialects in the app include Romanian, Aromanian dialect, English, Chinese, Spanish, Italian, Russian, German, Ukrainian, Serbian, Arabic and French.

“Working with the highly professional team at AudioNow® was a great choice and, in record time, Radio Romania International (RRI) was able to offer its users, on both iOS and Android platforms, a new app focused on live broadcasting and on demand shows,” said Eugen Cojocaru, Head of RRI. “We’re now able to interact more with our listeners through Radio Reporter feature and to make sure they are up to date with all our news on social media. It allows our audience to reach us by using the communication and technical methods they like most.”

RRI’s first radio programs produced for audiences abroad were aired from Romania in the early 1930s. Featured programs on the app include: Totul despre România; RRI Interactiv; Veşti de acasă; Cum ne place; Weekend cu prietenii etc.

“Listeners can now easily access news and information from RRI, anywhere in the world,” said Rebecca Walker, Director of Digital Partnerships at AudioNow®. “Additionally, more than 500,000 Romanians reside in the U.S. and we are proud to partner with RRI to provide this bridge home.”

For more information, contact George Cernat at: george.cernat@audionow.com

AudioNow® and Outernet Reach Agreement, Opening New Mobile Satellite Distribution Channel for Broadcasters

February 7, 2017 – Washington, D.C. – AudioNow® the leading mobile distribution platform for global broadcasters designed around listener engagement, and Outernet, a global broadcast data company, have entered into a strategic partnership to connect AudioNow® to mobile listeners even in the most remote parts of the world, through a simple satellite device.

Outernet can be received with a low-cost receiver from any part of the globe. The pilot with AudioNow® allows Outernet to deliver audio content from all over the world to any Wi-Fi-enabled mobile phone; the Outernet device creates a Wi-Fi hotspot which delivers offline content and updates to mobile devices.

“This strategic partnership with the world’s largest in-language mobile audio platform allows Outernet the opportunity to broaden connectivity where access is limited but the desire for information is great,” says Syed Karim, CEO of Outernet.

Broadcasters on the AudioNow® platform will now be accessible via a truly cutting edge satellite delivery service. “Many of our broadcasters have listeners in areas of the world where bandwidth is low or too expensive to access regularly, in Africa, India, and elsewhere,” says Alexandra Moe, Director of Strategic Partnerships at AudioNow®. “We are looking forward to providing a new level of mobile connectivity for our broadcasters, and stay ahead of the curve in our commitment to open new distribution channels.”

AudioNow® partners include BBC, VOA, CGTN, RFI, WTOP, RFA, Deutsche Welle, Radio America, Multimedios, Radio Television Caraibes, United Nations, and apps in over 50 languages.

ICN Chinese American Voice Launches Groundbreaking Mandarin Radio App with AudioNow®

February 1, 2017 – Washington, D.C. – New York’s oldest Mandarin language radio station, ICN Chinese American Voice, breaks new ground with a cutting-edge mobile application exclusive for its radio programming and especially designed for diaspora audiences. This exciting new app is developed in partnership with Washington D.C.-based AudioNow®, the leading developer of innovative, in-language apps for global and local broadcasters.

The app, Chinese American Voice, is free to download from Google Play and the App Store.

The Chinese American Voice app allows listeners access to the 24-hour live broadcast of ICN radio around the world, as well as podcasts of their favorite programs, and access to show hosts via the app’s Radio Reporter feature. The tool allows listeners to send photos, videos and text direct to the station in response to breaking news, public polls or promotions.

Coming in 2017, listeners will have access to licensed remittance services in Chinese American Voice’s mobile app. This service gives customers a simple, secure and low-cost way to send money home through their mobile phone. AudioNow®,’s mobile money transfer feature represents the first-ever payment system in media apps aimed at lowering consumer fees while benefiting broadcasters and their audiences. Helping provide innovative new services to the community like mobile money transfers has been a distinguishing tenet of ICN Chinese American Voice Radio.

Based in Flushing, New York, Chinese American Voice was founded in 1986 by media entrepreneur, Richard Hsueh. The station broadcasts news from China, the U.S., and the New York tri-state area in Mandarin, also providing programming covering arts and culture, politics, and current events of particular interest to the diaspora community.

Popular programs include, “Let’s Discuss it Together” hosted by Richard Hsueh, “Mercy Community Forum” hosted by Peter Tu, “Looking Left, Right, Forward” hosted by YingJun Lin, “Sporting World” hosted by GuangYang Peng and Women’s Magazine” hosted by Belinda Hsu, among others.

The Chinese American Voice app enables users to:

  • Listen to Chinese American Voice radio programs live and on demand;
  • Choose between listening to live radio streaming via telephone call or internet connection to save money and bandwidth;
  • Save on data costs via the “Low-Bandwidth Mode”;
  • Share audio content by e-mail, Twitter, Facebook, Google+ and other social media platforms;
  • Download podcasts, allowing listeners to access programs offline; and
  • Submit text, photos, audio files, and videos directly to station staff, essentially creating a legion of citizen journalists who can serve as the eyes and ears of Chinese American Voice.
  • Forthcoming: Listeners will soon be able to send money via the app.

For more information, contact AudioNow® Director of Digital Partnerships – Rebecca Walker at: rebecca.walker@audionow.com

CGTN Expands U.S. Mobile Video App on AudioNow®

February 3, 2017 – Washington, D.C. – China Global Television Network (CGTN), formerly known as CCTV, has re-launched, with the English channel as its flagship. With their mobile-first initiatives, CGTN America worked with AudioNow®, the leading mobile developer of in-language apps for global broadcasters, to launch a new version of the app, in stores now.

The update puts engagement and accessibility at the forefront. CGTN is a multi-platform media group and the latest version of the app reflects just that. Now included in the app are both live and on-demand video content via YouTube, native integration of CGTN America’s social media channels, and the ability for users around the world to send news and updates directly to the station using the state-of-the-art Radio Reporter feature.

The app’s modular design allows each user to quickly hone in on the content that matters most to them. “It’s our pleasure to take our experience in creating apps for global broadcasters and use it to ensure CGTN’s audience still receives the top-notch content they’re accustomed to,” says Elan Blutinger, AudioNow® Chairman and CEO.

Headquartered in Washington, D.C. since 2008, AudioNow® has become the leading developer of unique innovative apps for global and local broadcasters designed around listener engagement unique to communities and broadcaster genres. In addition to CGTN America, AudioNow® app partners include WTOP, VOA, BBC, Radio America, Multimedios, Radio Television Caraibes, United Nations, and apps in over 50 languages.

For more information, contact AudioNow® Director of Digital Partnerships – Rebecca Walker at: rebecca.walker@audionow.com

AudioNow® and BBC World Service Announce Launch of the First BBC Somali App

BBC Somali news headlines and radio programmes are now available globally via the free BBC Somali App. Launched by BBC World Service and the in-language mobile distribution platform AudioNow, the app can be accessed on mobile phones, tablets or other connected devices. It is available through the iOS and Android app stores (via the AudioNow Digital account).

The light-touch BBC Somali App provides free radio programmes globally through an audio player, or via a standard-rate telephone call in selected territories. Headlines and news summaries in text are also available globally free of charge.

The app takes callers to BBC Somali radio content via a standard-rate telephone number (free with many mobile call bundles)* using Interactive Voice Response (IVR) technology. The IVR feature is available to app users in the UK, US, Nigeria, Kenya, South Africa, Sweden, Norway and Australia. A visual and audio prompt is given before the first phone call is made, to ensure listeners are aware of any costs they may incur.

Users can also play BBC Somali radio programmes using the app’s audio player. This gives the choice of listening via the IVR or streaming the content, while using the least possible amount of mobile data.

The BBC Somali App gives access to top news headlines and summaries from bbcsomali.com. Additionally, by clicking on the summary, users are taken to the website where they can read stories in full.

BBC World Service Business Development Director, Simon Kendall, says: “The World Service is keen to connect with audiences on the devices and platforms most relevant to them, and the launch of the BBC Somali App will help us reach Somali communities living all over the world.”

BBC Somali Editor, Caroline Karobia, comments: “BBC Somali has a strong radio presence, with around 3.4 million people – in Somalia, Ethiopia, Kenya and other countries – tuning in every week, while the vast majority of traffic to bbcsomali.com comes via mobile phones. Digital audio mobile technology such as the new BBC Somali App serves this mobile-first audience, providing them with a direct way to access our content in audio and text.”

AudioNow is a US-based company, building targeted, in-language phone services and apps for broadcasters globally. Its mobile platform links various language broadcasters to diaspora audiences worldwide. This new app builds on the existing call-to-listen service provided by AudioNow, which, in the US alone, already delivers around one million calls a month to BBC Somali radio content.

“BBC World Service and AudioNow are focused on expanding the reach of the BBC’s world-class content to mobile audiences on any device,” adds Elan Blutinger, Chairman and CEO of AudioNow Holdings. “Since 2008, we have been a partner of the BBC, developing new ways to engage listeners, and let them discover and share multilingual content.”

BBC Somali is part of BBC World Service.

*Users are recommended to check call charges with their service provider.

Radio Free Asia Launches Audio Mobile Streamer App with AudioNow

December 7, 2016, Washington, D.C. – Radio Free Asia, a private, nonprofit multimedia news corporation broadcasting in 9 East Asian languages, and AudioNow®, the leading mobile platform for broadcasters, today announced a new start-of-the art mobile app to expand the reach of RFA’s global audio content, “RFA Mobile Streamer”.

The centerpiece of the AudioNow®-produced app is RFA’s award-winning investigative brand of domestic journalism via its audio programs, serving audiences in six Asian countries who otherwise lack access to reliable news and information. In-language programming by RFA Cantonese, Khmer (Cambodian), Korean, Lao, Mandarin, Myanmar, Tibetan, Uyghur, and Vietnamese is streamlined for an “audio-only” experience, where listeners can choose how to hear favorite programs over voice or data plans.

“RFA’s mission is to bring reliable, accurate news and information to people living in closed Asian countries,” said Rohit Mahajan, RFA’s Director of Public Affairs and Digital Strategy. “This app, which RFA is proud to launch with AudioNow®, provides a great way for people in Asia to access RFA’s programming and audio content through their mobile phones and devices.

RFA’s Mobile Streamer is available for download here:

Headquartered in Washington, D.C. since 2008, AudioNow® has become the leading developer of innovative, in-language apps for global and local broadcasters designed around listener engagement unique to communities and broadcaster genres.

RFA Mobile Streamer includes features that enables users to:

  • Listen to dozens of radio news programs in all of RFA’s nine languages on demand;
  • Choose between listening to audio over your phone cellular connection or data connection to save money and bandwidth;
  • Save on data costs with the Low-Bandwidth Mode in the settings;
  • Share audio content by e-mail, Twitter, Facebook, Google+ and other social media services;
  • Download podcasts, allowing listeners to access programs offline; and
  • Users will soon be able to submit their citizen journalist content to RFA (allowing users to send text, photos, audio files, or video –- giving access to content in a variety of forms). This specific feature will be available in the upcoming weeks.

In addition to RFA, AudioNow® app partners include VOA, BBC, ESPN 980, WTOP, Radio America, Multimedios, CCTV, Radio Television Caraibes, United Nations, and apps in over 50 languages.

For more information, contact Rebecca Walker at:  rebecca.walker@audionow.com