How To Start Your Own Television Network

Here’s how you can venture into the task of starting your own TV network:

Define Your Goal and Target Audience

Why are you starting your own TV network? The earlier you define it, the faster your television network will realize success.

You might be starting a TV network to genuinely fill a gap in the market, or you might want to use it to promote your business. Defining your goal will also determine the content you will deliver and hence, your target audience. You could focus on:

Live broadcasts
Original TV shows
Sports shows
Informative channels
Tutorials
Testimonials and case studies
Live events

And so on. It is best to niche down rather than to try all sorts of content to please everyone. Specializing will help you create a dedicated community or fan base.

Rent a Channel

In the industry, you will find many channels available for lease. Any cable operator that maintains the minimum threshold of the number of channels defined by the regional law must reserve a group of channels for leased access.

You can rent one of these channels at a monthly, half-yearly, or annual subscription. The cost to rent these channels is primarily determined by the number of channel subscribers — quite intuitively, the bigger the company, the more you will pay.

Set Up Your Technical Equipment

If you are mostly going to air purchased/rented content, you might not need any equipment. However, if you will need to air live content, it’s best to get at least the essentials:

Video source: At least one camera. Technically, you can use a webcam or even your smartphone to go live, but professional cameras get the job done most efficiently.
Audio source: Mainly a microphone. You can also use background music or a pre-recorded audio file.
Encoder: It is needed to stream from continuous image files. You can choose between a dedicated hardware encoder or a software encoder that runs on your computer.
Lighting: It’s crucial to get a suitable lighting system to assist your recording and live streaming sessions.
Mixing equipment: If you use multiple video sources, you will need a mixer to manage their video output.

Advertise Your Network

When it’s time for the big launch, you will want to make sure people are watching. Explore economical advertisement options like local promotional events or newspaper ads. Also, be more interactive on your social media accounts.

Use visually appealing, balanced, and captivating posts to generate high audience engagement. You can also organize giveaways to get the people talking!

If you are planning on starting your own television network, be sure to contact QES Malaysia because they are pioneers in offering broadcasting services including all the equipment needed for a television network.

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How To Start Your Own Podcast

Identify your niche

Before choosing your niche, you need to ask this question to yourself: why are you starting a podcast? Once you answer that, it will be easier to choose your niche as well.

Aside from knowing the ‘why’, you should also know what is the ultimate goal of your podcast. Is it to earn more income, or perhaps to build some sort of authority in your field? One thing to take note of is that generally, your podcast should help people in some way.

When choosing your niche, it should be aligned with your ‘why’ and ‘ultimate goal’. Studies have also shown that podcasts with a specific niche tend to do well compared to a podcast that talks about many different niches.

Then, you also need to build your target audience persona because you should know who your potential listeners are. Some of the things you should know about your target audience would be the kind of interests they have, activities and also their basic demographics.

Plan out your podcast structure

By this, we mean what kind of structure your podcast will have. For instance, you can have a mixture of interviews, news-based, educational, or even scripted podcasts (similar to TV shows or radio dramas).

You should also identify whether you’ll have a co-host, or if it’s just you alone running the show. The reason why you should make sure your podcast format is set in place is because it will affect the kind of equipment you’ll need.

Another factor to take note of would be the length of your episodes and how often you plan on publishing them.

This is a given – you should also come up with a podcast brand such as a good name (which represents your brand) alongside a good cover art.

Prepare all the equipment

After planning out how our podcast will be like, then you can decide what and how much equipment you need! The common equipment you need for your podcast would be as follows:

Dynamic Microphones: This type of microphones generally will prevent any background noise from appearing in the audio. It’s also a great option if you will have two people speaking at the same time. Hence, it is widely used by most podcasters.
Condenser Microphones: This type of microphones are useful if your environment is very quiet due to the fact that it is quite sensitive but offers great audio quality at the same time.

The below equipment is not a must to have, but it would be good to help improve the overall quality of your audio:

Microphone Stand/Boom Pole: If you don’t want to keep holding the mic, this would be helpful so you can move around without the need of bringing your mic with you everywhere you go.
Over-the-ear Headphones: Though you can simply use earbuds, using over-the-ear headphones tend to help with noise rejection alongside offering better audio quality.
Shock Mount: Vibration sounds from a microphone are pretty common so you will need a shock mount to prevent them from being recorded.
Pop Filter: If you regularly encounter those clicking noises while placing the microphone close to your mouth, this equipment will prevent that sound from being recorded.

Choose an editing and production software

Now that you’ve settled the hardware part, you need to decide on your editing or production software. Basically, the software will record your podcast from the microphone and then allow you to save it to your computer/laptop in the form of a MP3 file.

Some of the recommended free editing software would be Audacity, which is available for both Windows & Mac users and GarageBand, which is only available for Mac users. However, if you’re a total beginner, you might find it difficult to use.

You can consider a beginner-friendly alternative which is the Alitu. They make it easy for you to create your podcast episode with ease. It is browser-based so you don’t need to download the software either.

Publish and promote your podcast

Once you have finished editing your podcast episode, you need to publish it and show it to the world! You can choose to either upload your podcast episodes on various podcast hosting services or your own website (if you have one). Some of the popular podcast hosting services include Buzz Sprout, PodBean and Transistor.

You can also find various podcast directories where you can publish your podcast episodes. The popular ones that guarantee listeners would be Apple Podcast, Spotify, SoundCloud and YouTube.

Want to hire a professional to set up your podcast studio? Quickmedia offers various broadcasting services that are sure to set you up for success!

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Digital Advertising In A Nutshell: What You Need To Know

What is digital advertising?

Digital advertising is a form of marketing through various media platforms online such as websites, social media and so on. The content being advertised comes in a variety of forms such as text, audio or video.

The Different Types of Digital Advertising

Search Advertising

Search advertising can be separated into two parts: search engine marketing (SEM), which is the paid option and search engine optimization (SEO), which is the non-paid option. Although you don’t need to continuously spend money on ads every month for SEO, it does take a longer time to produce results.

Social Media

Social media has been booming the past recent years and becoming one of the pioneer digital advertising methods most businesses are gearing towards. Some of the popular social media platforms would be Facebook, Instagram and TikTok.

Whether it is through organic or paid efforts, social media has a wide reach as there are more than 2 million active users on a daily basis.

PPC (Pay Per Click)

Pay per click digital advertising is when you will have to pay a cost once someone clicks on your ad. Essentially, you won’t be burning money on customers who aren’t interested in your services or products but rather the ones that you can eventually turn into a paying customer.

Email Marketing

As the name suggests, this method of digital advertising is being done through emails. Though it is also known as one of the older methods, many people these days still open up their emails at least once a day.

When starting with email marketing, you need to build an email list and get your target audience to subscribe to your newsletter. You can either maintain a weekly or monthly newsletter and offer quality content to your audience aside from promoting your products or services.

A major tip when it comes to email marketing is to prevent spamming your subscribers with too many emails. They will just immediately choose to unsubscribe from your newsletter which causes you to lose a potential sale.

CPM (Cost Per Mile)

This type of digital advertising is based on impressions, meaning you will pay a cost based on how many times your ad has been viewed. Usually, you will have to pay based on every 1,000 impressions or views on a website.

Benefits of Digital Advertising

Less cost

Generally, when you compare traditional advertising vs modern advertising, you don’t have to spend a large budget on digital advertising because the strategies implemented are much easier to make changes and adjust based on what is working and what is not.

Able to measure results effectively

All of the digital advertising media platforms allow you to access a wide range of statistics including tracking your campaigns to know how effective it is. For every digital advertising campaign, you can view the analytics and get to know what the engagement or response is like from your customers.

Can narrow down target audience

With digital advertising, you are able to target a specific audience based on demographics such as age, location and so on. These advanced target methods could hugely benefit your business so that you can achieve the highest ROI possible while meeting your marketing goals.

Cons of Digital Advertising

Trends are constantly changing

One of the major downsides of digital advertising is that it is always evolving so you need to stay up-to-date with the latest updates or trends to continuously run successful digital advertising campaigns.

That also means regular upskilling is definitely needed to improve your current skills.

Can be too time-consuming

To successfully execute a digital advertising campaign, proper planning is required. You will be expected to track the campaigns and make certain adjustments whenever necessary in order to maximise your ROI.

Technology is required

Digital advertising is highly dependable on technology and the Internet. Without these two, it can’t be executed. This also includes the fact that your advertisements can only be viewed by those who have Internet access along with any form of technology such as mobile devices or laptops.

Planning on moving to traditional advertising? QES Malaysia is able to help your business by setting up various broadcasting services and equipment.

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Common Mistakes When It Comes To Broadcasting Equipment (And How to Avoid Them)

DON’T buy incompatible broadcasting equipment.

Most likely, you’re not buying a piece of standalone broadcast equipment. If it is part of a larger infrastructure — like a mobile unit, production studio, or flight pack — ensure that the new equipment sits well with other components of your production ecosystem.

Products bought from different manufacturers may not be compatible and often require specific interconnecting devices or additional engineering time to get them working with each other. You can:

either make sure that all pieces of your broadcasting equipment will work well together, or
make sure that there’s a solution that’ll make them work well together, or
forgo the purchase and find equipment with better compatibility.

DON’T buy outdated broadcast equipment.

Broadcasting equipment is always evolving. Manufacturers continually release updated models or new products with more sophisticated features and functionalities.

While staying on top of the curve may feel intimidating, researching what you want to purchase is important. One of the worst buying experiences is to purchase a piece of equipment only to see a better model released the following week. And while it’s true that the newest model isn’t always the best, it’s still important to not buy something outdated unless you’re convinced that it will do the job.

DO buy equipment that genuinely fills a need.

When it comes to purchasing broadcasting equipment, it’s appealing to focus on what you “want” instead of what you “need.” There’s an ocean of “fun” broadcasting gadgets on the market. You might see a piece of equipment that would be exciting to own, but is it worth the cost if there’s no justified use?

Stay focused on what you require, and ensure that your purchase genuinely fills a need. Ask yourself: Is this something I will use regularly? Only buy the equipment if the answer comes out to be a “Yes.”

DON’T buy from an unreputable source.

Depending on what you’re looking to buy, there are hundreds of options for purchasing equipment — maybe even more. However, purchasing your broadcasting gear from a reputable source has several upsides.

While cost is undoubtedly the central consideration for most buyers, you need to make sure you’re protected in case there’s an issue with your equipment.

If you’re buying online, check the seller’s return policy. It’s important to buy returnable equipment to ensure that you’re not stuck with an incompatible device. Further, read the product’s reviews before buying it to check if previous buyers had any issues.

DON’T buy equipment that can’t keep up with your content output.

The equipment that you’re buying should accommodate your current needs and more, so you don’t outgrow it in the future.

If you’re getting broadcasting equipment for a facility, it’s important to keep your growth potential in mind. In case you expect to expand your content output, factor it into your buying decision. You don’t want to find yourself with a new piece of broadcasting equipment that’s maxed out already.

Need more advice on choosing the right broadcasting equipment? Reach out to Quickmedia who are experts when it comes to broadcasting services.

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Building Requirements When Starting A Broadcast Facility

The Broadcast Facility Must Have Adequate Ceiling Height

Insufficient ceiling height is the most common problem linked to building a broadcast facility. Oftentimes, there’s just not enough headroom.

The height of the ceiling of your broadcast facility dramatically impacts the studio’s lighting. The infrastructure needs adequate space to hang a lighting grid suitably — you don’t want your lighting instruments clutching the ceiling. Further, there must be sufficient room for circulation.

Even the ceiling of a typical office building is not high enough to suitably install lighting grid and fixtures. So, when evaluating a building for your broadcast facility, give ceiling height the topmost priority.

Proper Ventilation and Air Conditioning Should be in Place

Broadcast equipment doesn’t fit well with heat or moisture. Therefore, broadcast facilities must always maintain a cold and humidity-free environment.

To ensure that, make sure your building has sufficient HVAC and venting to support your broadcast facility. You will also need a dedicated thermostat to control the facility’s temperature. Without these temperature-regulating instruments, you’ll never be able to provide your broadcast equipment with an optimal environment to function.

Another consideration regarding HVAC is the positioning of blowers and fans. They should NOT be in your studio or anywhere you plan to record content — as they cause unnecessary background noise that can be picked up on a microphone.

There Must be Sufficient Electricity to Power Your Broadcast Facility

Electricity is another huge aspect to consider. There must be enough electrical power to not only support all your broadcast equipment but also to accommodate equipment that the facility may need in the future.

Further, you want to make sure the power outlets are placed where you need them. This also includes the studio’s ceiling to support lighting instruments.

If possible, making arrangements for clean power is ideal. Meaning power drops exclusively reserved for your facility — not shared with other circuits in the building. It will help you avoid the dreaded situation of losing electricity in the middle of a broadcast.

Ensure Appropriate Connectivity

The final building consideration when starting a broadcast facility is connectivity. Unlike some of the factors detailed above, you have better control over the connectivity at your facility.

Make certain that you have a high-quality internet connection dedicated to supporting outbound transmissions and your operation’s overall IT network. Besides, redundant internet circuits are always advised. If your broadcast facility is situated in a commercial office building, you need redundant ISPs for maximum coverage.

Lastly, depending on where your broadcast facility is geographically located, look into the possibility of acquiring a fiber circuit to enhance the performance of your system. If active fiber isn’t available, look for dark fiber nearby that you can use to make a new fiber circuit.

Reach out to QES Malaysia today if you need more help on setting up a broadcasting facility as they are experts in knowing the dos and dont’s of broadcasting.

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Types of Radio Broadcasting You Need To Know

How Do Radios Function

Before introducing the types of radio broadcasting, you should understand how radios work as well. In short, electromagnetic waves are being transmitted and received which move really fast (as fast as the speed of light). With a human’s eye, you will not be able to catch it. However, that is why humans are able to catch it through music or audio.

Analog Radio

Analog radio comprises two types: AM (amplitude modulation) and FM (frequency modulation).

AM (Amplitude Modulation)

AM is also known as one of the earliest types of wireless radio broadcasting. How the radio waves get emitted is through the amplitude of the signal in conjunction with the amplitude which is currently being transmitted at the same time.

What enables the radio waves to be transmitted to all over the world would be considered as the ‘medium-wave band’. However, certain countries use the ‘long-wave band’ for their radio broadcasting. The sound emitted from the AM radio can easily be detected.

FM (Frequency Modulation)

FM is the type of radio broadcasting that is used in cars. Unlike AM which relies heavily on signal strength, FM focuses more on interfering with the radio waves. In other words, FM also produces a much better sound quality with less electrical interference like how AM would.

Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB)

Digital Audio Broadcasting is actually a type of radio broadcasting technology which is currently being used in most broadcasting radio stations. The system works by broadcasting various signals in a digital format with the end goal of reaching CD quality. In comparison with FM, DAB has lesser multipath effects.

Through DAB, you can not only transmit audio, but also images and text as well. Therefore, when it comes to music, the image, title of the song as well as music are being transmitted.

Internet Radio

These days, most radio stations are making use of online streaming to broadcast their radio signals to users who are using a browser to listen to the radio. Although sometimes the online audio streams may not be real-time 100% as they may experience a delay.

Satellite Radio

Satellite radios is where radio broadcasting services are produced through the help of satellites. With satellites, the broadcasting service can reach a wide geographical area without compromising the quality of audio, which is why they are used in cars. However, this is only available based on subscription – so it is not free for all to use.

The satellite stations which have ground stations will send over signals to satellites and then it will be reflected back to the radio receivers found in homes or cars. The satellite radios are encrypted, meaning you need to have a special receiver in order to have access to it. Though you need to pay, it’s worth it because you will receive perfect audio quality while also preventing the ban of using profanity.

Now that you have a much better understanding of the types of radio broadcasting, if you’re looking for a company that builds or consults radio broadcasting services or facilities, you may contact us and receive a free consultation! Even if you are not exactly familiar with radio broadcasting, our team of experts at QES Malaysia will be able to guide you from A to Z.

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Simplylive

Simplylive are remote production experts; in fact, you could say that it is in their DNA. Every one of their ViBox systems is designed at its core for remote production. Its modern, forward-thinking architecture allows the UI’s to operate independently of the server, enabling an unparalleled level of workflow flexibility. For example, the ViBox server can be located in-venue with your cameras, while your operators work from your production center – or even from home. What’s more, your remote operators don’t need to be in the same location; they can be in different rooms, buildings, or in completely different cities! And by significantly reducing the bandwidth required, the new UI Gateway adds the missing link to making these remote production workflows affordable.

Simplylive LTD
Unit B, 6th Floor, Success commercial building,
245-251 Hennessy Road,
Hong Kong

https://www.simplylive.tv

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Munich Media Intelligence GmBH

Munich Media Intelligence GmBH (MMI) is a software development company that has developed one of a kind lightweight workflow system for the Broadcast Engineering systems. This unique software integration framework (mmif) can be operated on a stand-alone basis or “hooked into” a Visual Studio environment and can be operated in a centralized or distributed environment . mmif contains media – specific activities, from simple activities like transcoding or transfer up to serving as complex connectors to broadcasting systems such as Interplay MAM. It also serves as a medium to design and implement software solutions in the media sector and to design and control workflows in a runtime environment.

Munich Media Intelligence GmBH
Seestrasse 10
85757 Karlsfeld

http://www.mmi-media.de/

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BroadStream Solution

BroadStream Solutions has been in the industry for over 60 years as a new media technology company. They started out with the pioneering OASYS software and have continued to provide advanced integrated playout solutions ever since. In 2018, BroadStream acquired Screen Subtitling Systems and started to provide both playout and subtitling solutions to our customers.

Today, BroadStream provides live and file-based playout, time delay, captioning and subtitling solutions to customers around the world. Although their solutions continue to evolve with the growth of technology, their values and dedication to providing the best customer ad technical support still remain the same. Now, more than ever, they are determined to provide solutions that are reliable and accurate, and that are backed by a team of experienced technical support professionals available in any moment that customers need our support.

BroadStream Solutions, Inc.
3039 Premiere Parkway
Suite 800
Duluth, GA 30097 USA

https://broadstream.com/

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Grass Valley

Grass Valley’s end-to-end ecosystem of reliable, open standards-based solutions helps content creators, broadcasters and media organizations to produce brilliant content and build successful media businesses. Our award-winning technology and trusted industry expertise empower our customers to create captivating experiences that connect people anywhere, on any device, through the magic of media.

As the industry’s R&D powerhouse, with the most comprehensive suite of solutions for compelling live content, we are the trusted partner to many of the biggest and most creative names in the media and entertainment business. We help our customers transition to IP and cloud-based infrastructures to enable flexible, scalable and smart workflows. Our advanced solutions enable the production of rich, high-quality content that brings the viewer closer to the action; engages them with the story and connects them with each other.

Grass Valley
3499 Douglas-B.-Floreani
Montreal, Quebec
Canada H4S 2C6

https://www.grassvalley.com/

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