Antex Electronics, manufacturer of satellite and Internet appliances, has entered into a partnership with Private Label Radio (PLR), a division of DMI Music & Media Solutions, in which the two companies will provide two restaurant chains with their own brand-specific radio networks.
Making this network possible is Antex’s Media Director 2 (MD2), an audio server and software management system that will manage the delivery, storage, and processing of PLR’s customized programming. Using Antex’s Internet-capable MD2, Private Label Radio will program brand-specific audio content from its Pasadena, CA-based headquarters for restaurant locations nationwide. The programming will include in-store music, promotional messages, crew training, and other corporate communications.
“This is a great example of how the Media Director 2 can provide businesses with an opportunity not only to entertain, but also to communicate with their customers and employees,” said Dave Antrim, president of Antex Electronics.
Linked and controlled by a central server running Antex’s system management software, each MD2, located in each restaurant site, downloads content and playback instructions at set times during the day. Once downloaded, the instructions are automatically integrated into the system and the content is stored into the unit’s 40 GB hard drive. At the appropriate time, the MD2 initiates playback of the music or other content. The Media Director 2 also includes additional features, such as a programmable volume level and lockout control.
In addition to using the system for customer entertainment, the system is also an effective tool to communicate new promotions and menu changes to its customers, as well as for broadcasting human resource and training announcements to its employees. The programming flexibility of the MD2 also creates ancillary revenue streams for businesses, as it can be used to broadcast sponsored messaging from outside companies.
