Japan Commercial Broadcasters Association Holds Ceremony to Commemorate Launch of "Radio Smile"
The Radio Committee of the National Association of Commercial Broadcasters in Japan (NACB) held a "Radisma Launch Commemoration Ceremony" on March 6 at the Urban Center Hotel in Chiyoda Ward, Tokyo.
"Radisma" is the collective name for new smartphones pre-installed with the "radiko+FM" app, which allows users to switch between FM broadcasts and the internet simulcast radio service "radiko.jp" (Radiko). This spring, NTT Docomo and au launched the "Rakuraku Smartphone me F-01L" and "URBANO V04" respectively.
Launching the app on a Radisma device displays an FM tuner on/off switch, allowing users to select pre-registered commercial radio stations. Users can also manually tune in to stations not supported by Radiko. This offers advantages such as the ability to access information even if internet radio becomes unavailable during disasters.
Chairman Masayuki Iwasaki (President of Nippon Broadcasting System) addressed the challenging environment surrounding radio, stating, "Next year marks the 100th anniversary of radio's birth. Radio is a medium with a long history, deeply rooted in people's lives, and we take pride in its role as a lifeline during disasters. However, it faces the crisis of potentially being overshadowed in today's diversifying media landscape." He also noted the significant success of the "radiko.jp" has achieved significant success. He stated emphatically, "The advent of Radisma, which combines the best features of broadcast waves and internet reception, is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity."
Toru Kunishige, Parliamentary Vice-Minister of Internal Affairs and Communications, read a message from Minister Masatoshi Ishida: "Radio is a familiar means of obtaining information in daily life and plays a valuable role in gathering essential information during disasters. Radisma is a highly convenient service offering benefits from both communication lines and broadcasting, such as one-touch switching between them. We hope it will become widely adopted."
Guest performers Momoiro Clover Z performed "Radisma '19," the campaign PR song based on Pink Lady's "Carmen '77," on stage.
Member Kanako Momota commented on radio: "I feel listeners are closer to us than with TV. I think we can deliver a more relaxed version of ourselves. Radisma is convenient. It makes getting information easier, and being able to listen to radio anywhere is helpful in emergencies."
At the event's conclusion, personalities from Tokyo's five major radio stations appeared: TBS Radio announcer Takayuki Hasumi, Cultural Broadcasting announcer Naomasa Terashima, Nippon Broadcasting announcer Koji Iida, TOKYO FM announcer Akihisa Suzuki, and J-WAVE DJ TARO. They shared their thoughts on Radisma.
Official website: https://radisma.com/
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