By guest blogger Benn Watson, Vice President, International Distribution, GRB Entertainment

Digital platforms are becoming even stronger in the Asia market – It doesn’t take much time walking around Seoul to realize that Korea is one of the leading manufacturers of mobile digital platforms in the world and a consequence it seems that everybody is consuming content everywhere. The challenge for content providers is whether to provide their content at the lower license fees offered by digital platforms or wait for the more lucrative linear license fees.

China is booming – really booming – everywhere! It’s starting with the Chinese film industry but it will soon move to television. The difficulty with the China is the massive control by their biggest state-run broadcaster CCTV. License fees are low but as competition gets greater expect to see more money competitive tendering by new digital players.

It's exciting to see new channels opening up in South East China. A&E's latest offering is the Lifetime channel which is targeting more female audiences. Female audiences in Asia are looking for more content specifically tailored to their needs and A&E is out to capture them.

contributed by Jennifer Irizarry
The only thing better than watching your favorite tv show is watching your favorite tv show while tweeting with a gaggle of strangers whose comments are often funny, insightful or snarky. These back channel conversations are useful for gaging and recording audience feedback and participation and Storify does a great job of capturing the mood while having the added benefit of strengthening relationships with fans on socials. The piece below was created for GRB Entertainment whose Emmy award-winning show Intervention premiered last Thursday. To follow GRB on Storify, visit their profile here.

contributed by Jennifer Irizarry

Spring break will come early for one talented college student this fall.  The International Radio Festival (IRF) announced the launch of the 2nd annual Search for Best College Radio Jockey, and this year the contest will be expanding to include Canada.

HD Radio™ developer iBiquity Digital & CMJ are teaming up to send one college radio jockey to perform “live” at the 4th International Radio Festival in Zurich, Switzerland September 4-8, 2013.

"iBiquity is thrilled that our partnership with the International Radio Festival will introduce the next generation of radio professionals to the enhanced sound and creative possibilities of HD Radio Technology," said Joseph F. D’Angelo, Senior Vice President at iBiquity Digital Corporation.

The Campus Radio Competition for Best Radio Jockey is open to all college radio jockeys in the United States and Canada who submit a radio show for consideration by the competition deadline of July 10, 2013.

"The International Radio Festival is the only one of its kind to celebrate the world’s most consumed medium - music radio - and offers an incredible opportunity for young college DJs to get a global view of the international radio scene, make industry contacts and learn about the business of radio," said Lisa Hresko, Editor-in-Chief of CMJ.

The International Radio Festival is a 4-day long celebration of global radio that brings hundreds of radio professionals together to network and share formats and audience preferences. DJs from over 30 countries will convene at the festival to broadcast their contemporary radio shows live September 4-8 in Zurich.

"The inclusion of emerging talent is a key value of the International Radio Festival and the USA/Canada College Radio Jockey Competition is the centerpiece of our commitment to nurture future leaders in the international radio industry," said Darryl von Daniken, Co-Founder of the International Radio Festival.

Entrants can upload their shows to mixcloud.com, an inaugural partner of the IRF.