MGI installs VidiGo’s visual radio solution at Clouds FM

Media Systems Integrator Media Group International (MGI) has assisted Tanzania’s Clouds FM radio station to give its audience a totally new, interactive experience by installing VidiGo Visual Radio software. The new software will go live on air at Clouds FM within the next few weeks.

The Clouds FM project is the first major radio installation MGI and VidiGo have completed in Africa since meeting at CABSAT 2012 and subsequently forging a partnership. The two companies are now working together to give MGI’s television and radio customers much greater access to VidiGo’s revolutionary range of broadcast software products.

VidiGo Visual Radio was the ideal solution for Clouds FM, one of four stations operated by Tanzania’s Clouds Media Group. Affectionately referred to as The People’s Station, Clouds FM is annually rated the number one station in Tanzania for the youth segment. 

 

MGI’s Sales Director Paul Wallis, who brokered the Clouds FM deal in conjunction with Sales Assistant Diana Velikova, says: “Thanks to its strong reputation for delivering trendsetting programming, dynamic presenters and innovative promotions, Clouds FM is widely regarded as the ‘coolest’ radio station in Tanzania by the country’s 18 to 35 year olds. Given this demographic, the station wanted to incorporate interactive graphics that could be overlaid onto the video feed of its radio broadcasts and used to enhance its internet presence and Twitter, RSS and social media feeds. Diana and I felt that VidiGo Visual Radio was ideal for Clouds FM because it will be able to deliver all the elements station staff need in a very simple to use and intuitive package.”

VidiGo Virtual Radio combines the strength of VidiGo Live and VidiGo Audio Director. VidiGo Live is a full blown software solution for multi-camera TV production.  The VidiGo Audio Director is an intelligent extension to VidiGo Live that makes automatic decisions by analyzing audio signals with its advanced algorithms, allowing it to make decisions like a real television director. Finally, the graphics and text overlays are automatically inserted within VidiGo Live, which makes it possible to superimpose content in a live situation using a station’s own designed Flash application.

 

Joseph Cusago, Managing Director, Clouds Media Group, says: “We are really thrilled with the workflow VidiGo Virtual Radio has provided and our audiences will love the fact that we will soon offer an interactive visual radio experience via the internet and social media feeds. The system is incredibly easy to operate and, because the cameras are switched automatically on the basis of which microphone input is being used, there is very little for our presenters to do. This

 

 

means they can concentrate on the job of presenting, leaving VidiGo’s clever software to take care of everything else.”

VidiGo CCO Reinout Lempers adds: “With VidiGo’s background in radio, we understand the culture and needs of a radio station. We knew from the start that we shouldn’t bother radio presenters with creating video. That’s why we developed an automated software workflow that is fully compatible with existing radio workflows. With our solution presenters to do what they are good at, which is making radio, while VidiGo’s automated workflow creates an entire TV show, just like a real director would.”