Spot Radio, an in-store broadcasting network, launched by Venturenet Partners

Spot Radio is a digital in-store radio network that offers audio branding services to a variety of clients across multiple industries including retail, hospitality, food and beverage, and fitness.

Venturenet Partners has announced the launch of Spot Radio, an in-store broadcasting network. Spot Radio works with various businesses to create a playlist for brand outlets as per the requirement. It claims to have a vast database of music that spans across several dialects and genres, ranging from instrumental and electronic ambient music, to tracks from Indian cinema and the latest chartbusters from across the world.

Spot Radio can also be used to insert promotional messages and inform a captive in-store audience about on-going sales, events and promotions. Spot Radio will look after producing strips, creating content and producing shows.

Anil Srivatsa, director, Venturenet Partners, tells afaqs!, "Spot Radio gives business owners complete control, customisation and flexibility. It helps them retain consistency across businesses." Srivatsa adds that the backend technology is no different from any other radio station in the world.

"Spot Radio's most powerful attribute is its ability to deliver the same experience in all stores, nationwide, with the capability of local ad insertions. This means that a store in Tamil Nadu could play the same music and different in-house promotions and ads from those played at a store in Punjab. Thus, while the music remains consistent, the messages can be altered," says Harvinderjit Bhatia, co-promoter, Spot Radio.

Spot Radio can also be leveraged to generate revenue by offering advertising space to third party advertisers. It can be used for intra-company communication, as well.

Spot Radio offers clients three models, namely the Standard Model, which includes a pre-set playlist, Branded Model, which includes a custom playlist and audio branding with promotional ads, and Hybrid Model, with all the attributes of the Branded Model, along with a revenue-generating opportunity to insert ads of non-competing, third party advertisers, which wish to target an outlet's footfall.

Spot Radio's service is powered by its own facilities based in USA. It is powered by Spotplayer, a proprietary player designed especially for the retail operations.

The core promoters of Spot Radio are Srivatsa and Bhatia. Srivatsa has been a media veteran since the past 20 years and had his own radio show called Anil Ki Awaaz, running for more than 10 years in New Jersey, USA. He has also been executive vice-president of new business and affiliate sales at ImaginAsian Entertainment Inc., a NYC-based multi-media company.

After moving back to India, Srivatsa went on to become chief executive officer of Kings XI Punjab, and was also chief operating officer of Meow 104.8 FM.

Bhatia is a certified chartered accountant by profession, and was chief financial officer of Radio Mirchi. He has vast experience in retail, media content and distribution.