Singapore Press Holdings (SPH) has harnessed its extensive range of audio offerings through its newly launched free digital audio streaming app, Awedio. To reach out to a wider digital audience, the platform provides all-day local entertainment with uninterrupted live streaming of SPH Radio stations, SPH news publications’ audio offerings, and local podcasts.
Apart from tuning in to SPH Radio stations (MONEY FM 89.3, ONE FM 91.3, Kiss92 FM, 96.3好FM, and UFM100.3) live, users who missed their favourite radio shows and segments can also catch up via the stations’ podcasts on demand.
In addition, Awedio delivers original and exclusive local podcasts, with topics ranging from health, entertainment, true crime, supernatural phenomena, and even bedtime stories for children through 'The Land before Bedtime’ podcast narrated by radio personalities Tim Oh, Carol Smith, Desiree Lai, Angelique Teo and Charmaine Phua.
Listeners can also stay up-to-date with current affairs, lifestyle, local and international news, business and personal finance by listening to podcasts from The Straits Times, Lianhe Zaobao and The Business Times. This includes The Business Times’ Mark To Market and Berita Harian’s #NoTapis podcasts.
This new feature is significant as SPH Radio’s podcast numbers have seen a twofold increase in 2020, showing a growth in audience who are interested not only in traditional linear radio programming, but also non-linear on-demand quality audio content.
Designed around consumers’ preferences and consumption habits, the app offers users the following key features: Easy podcast discovery: Onboarding screens and intuitive categorisation allow users to do a quick search on available podcasts based on topics of interest. Push notifications: Listeners will be notified just before their favourite radio show is starting, or when a new episode of their favourite podcast show is released. Podcast downloads: Favourite podcasts can be downloaded to reduce mobile data usage and queued on users’ devices for listening on the go. Seamless user experience: Registered users can manage their Queued, Downloaded Podcasts and 'Following’ content in one view. Sleep timer: The app turns the audio stream off at the desired time. Biometric login: Registered users with a mySPH account can log in seamlessly to enjoy exclusive features such as adding shows to queue and podcast downloads.
Users of the app can look forward to more features over the next few months. This includes the integration of social elements such as in-app messaging, uninterrupted access to the radio shows’ Facebook Live streams, the ability to cast audio on other broadcast devices and more.
The app is now available for download on the App Store and Google Play.
Mr Sim Hong Huat, General Manager of SPH Radio, said: "The pandemic has brought about a resurgence in national pride and digital content consumption, and Awedio certainly fits the bill in paying homage to the local culture with its hyperlocal digital audio content. The team is constantly devising ways to enrich our users’ experience and will continue to deliver value to our unwavering base of listeners and advertisers."