iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Ann Charles @sparkyannc.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

A story in itself - the ‘Future of the BBC’ session is so short (a mere 15 minutes) that it doesn’t display properly in the app. #AudioFestival26

Festival timetable on the app with no title displayed as the session is only 15 mins.

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Ann Charles @sparkyannc.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

At the Audio Festival today. After our industry charity abandoned the word ‘Radio’ in its title last year, the first session is on whether the ‘R’ word still matters. #AudioFestival26

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Ann Charles @sparkyannc.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

We sold out last year - tickets on sale NOW! Please join us 😊 #radtechcon

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Ann Charles @sparkyannc.bsky.social · 13/09/2026

Research from @worlddab.bsky.social: radio is the most important feature people look for in terms of in-car systems. More important than eg SatNav when people are buying cars. #IBC2026

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Ann Charles @sparkyannc.bsky.social · 13/09/2026

The UN recently updated how the world map is usually displayed. @worlddab.bsky.social seems to have gone one stage further… #IBC2026

World map completely missing North/South America.

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Ann Charles @sparkyannc.bsky.social · 12/08/2026

Any European radio station who forgot to schedule Total Eclipse of the Heart this evening = fail. ☀️ 🌒

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Ann Charles @sparkyannc.bsky.social · 07/07/2026

Reminder: You are an adult. Absolutely no one can stop you from having three ice creams before tea if you want.

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Reposted by Ann Charles

Radio TechCon @radiotechcon.com · 29/05/2026

Save the date! Radio TechCon is back - Monday, 23rd November 2026 at IET London: Savoy Place. Be the first to hear when session info and tickets are available by signing up at radiotechcon.com/updates #radtechcon #radio #audio #BroadcastEngineering #BroadcastTech #conference

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Ann Charles @sparkyannc.bsky.social · 24/05/2026

Dear technology billionaires: it’s a Bank Holiday in the UK. I want to spend it with my friend. Don’t do anything weird(er than normal). cc @zsk.bsky.social

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Ann Charles @sparkyannc.bsky.social · 21/05/2026

At the #Arias2026. The sound is a unique combination of being too low to hear at the back, whilst also over-modding. 3,245 hours of ceremony await…

Purple-flooded interior of the Roundhouse with hundreds of guests seated at round tables.

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Ann Charles @sparkyannc.bsky.social · 17/05/2026

As someone who is very fond of singing in Bulgarian - hooray! #Eurovision 🇧🇬

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Ann Charles @sparkyannc.bsky.social · 16/05/2026

Lordi x Save All Your Kisses for Me is #Eurovision perfection 😘

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Ann Charles @sparkyannc.bsky.social · 23/04/2026

Me: It is very important to get lots of rest this week. You have a marathon to run. Also me: I just need to finish creating a reel to gee up the fundraising… 1am is earlier than 2am, right? #LondonMarathon Fundraising for WAGGGS: 2026tcslondonmarathon.enthuse.com/pf/ann-charles

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Ann Charles @sparkyannc.bsky.social · 03/04/2026

Easter PSA for radio people…

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Ann Charles @sparkyannc.bsky.social · 24/03/2026

And Radioholidays Europe 2027 is… Palma! 🇪🇸 #RDE2026 #RDE2027

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Ann Charles @sparkyannc.bsky.social · 24/03/2026

Unofficial post-Radiodays Europe run club: gentle 5-6k to see the sights of Riga. Shorter walking option available. Meet at 17:45 Radison Blu Latvija Conference & Spa hotel. (Tues 24th March). #rde26 #rde2026

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Ann Charles @sparkyannc.bsky.social · 24/03/2026

Back in the @radiodayseurope.bsky.social conference rooms after a morning of breaking playout systems. We're hearing how @npr.org is being targeted by the US government through funding cuts. It's affecting freedom of speech and democracy. #rde26 #rde2026

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Ann Charles @sparkyannc.bsky.social · 23/03/2026

Also pro tip for a ‘silent’* disco: don’t have one of the tracks blaring on full blast over the main speakers… *90dB. #rde26 #rde2026

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Ann Charles @sparkyannc.bsky.social · 23/03/2026

We’re watching the lady who is representing Latvia at @eurovision.tv this year. She is fab. There is a jolly video of a woman being kidnapped and buried alive behind her. I don’t understand pop music. #rde26 #rde2026

Singer in stage with video of woman in white dress in a grave behind her.

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Ann Charles @sparkyannc.bsky.social · 23/03/2026

Abosulte hysterics from part of the audience that the BBC can be "quick" to move towards the latest shiny thing... (More serious point is that it's important not to throw out things that are older but brilliant just because they aren't new. Absolutely spot on!) #rde26 #rde2026

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Ann Charles @sparkyannc.bsky.social · 23/03/2026

I think listening to any episode of @onambridge.bsky.social would belie the idea that the user experience of BBC Sounds is universally loved by the Radio 4 audience... #rde26 #rde2026

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Ann Charles @sparkyannc.bsky.social · 23/03/2026

I'm still rather unclear on what the BBC's speech audio strategy is after this session (apart from carry on making amazing content and putting it on BBC Sounds and R4?) We were treated to a lovely screenshot of a behind-the-scenes spreadsheet, which is always a treat. #rde26 #rde2026

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Ann Charles @sparkyannc.bsky.social · 23/03/2026

It turns out that I'm Sorry I Haven't A Clue smut jokes do not translate to a European audience (apart from to the Irish delegation), judging from the reaction in the room. #rde26 #rde2026

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Ann Charles @sparkyannc.bsky.social · 23/03/2026

Mohit Bakaya from BBC Radio 4 talks about the importance of public spaces and conversations for democracy. “If you don’t know what’s true and not true, you don’t believe anything.” #RDE2026 #RDE26

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Ann Charles @sparkyannc.bsky.social · 23/03/2026

Radiodays Europe now moves onto a session called What Radio Can Learn From Donald Trump. I presume it's going to be make sure you have baseball caps as part of your prize cupboard and how to declare war in a tight 30s without crashing the news in ident? #rde26 #rde2026

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Ann Charles @sparkyannc.bsky.social · 23/03/2026

Next up: Danish Radio shows how they work together across platforms to generatre fewer stories that have more impact. Coverage can continue for weeks as items are initially planned using e.g. a tv doc as a catalyst but with each other platform knowing how they will do their own version of the story.

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Ann Charles @sparkyannc.bsky.social · 23/03/2026

As is traditional for radio conferences, the opening keynote explains why we are all going to die and our industry will be no more. AI = people making their own content and not listening to ours, apparently. #RDE26 #RDE2026

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Ann Charles @sparkyannc.bsky.social · 23/03/2026

Baiba Zuzena from Latvian Public Service Broadcaster - people will spend 60 minutes+ with a story if it matters to them. Maybe the problem is not attention span, but relevance. #rde26

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Ann Charles @sparkyannc.bsky.social · 23/03/2026

Day two (or possibly Day one, depending on how you count) of @radiodayseurope.bsky.social begins! #rde26

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Ann Charles @sparkyannc.bsky.social · 22/03/2026

I don’t know how I ended up with biscuit crumbs in the *inside* of my phone case, but …standard. 🍪

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Ann Charles @sparkyannc.bsky.social · 22/03/2026

Marianne Bouchart is absolutely worth the #RDE26 ticket price alone. If you are working out AI strategies and tricks for your newsroom, HIRE THIS WOMAN! (Company is HEI-DA).

Marianne on stage at Radiodays Europe. hei-da.org

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Ann Charles @sparkyannc.bsky.social · 22/03/2026

Very excited to see Marianne Bouchart from Hey-Da speaking again. She knows all things AI and audio workflow and did a cracking session at @radiotechcon.com last year. #RDE26

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Ann Charles @sparkyannc.bsky.social · 22/03/2026

Was sitting in the middle of a row with several empty seats on either side. Two men just pushed past me (ignoring empty seats on one side) and then sat next to me (ignoring empty seats the other side). Very intimidating. I’ve just had to move. Don’t do this! #rde26

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Ann Charles @sparkyannc.bsky.social · 22/03/2026

Radio people like free food. So @radiodayseurope.bsky.social delegates need to get to the Visit Latvia stall at the back of the #rde26 exhibition area pronto before all the delicious free samples of local food are gone. The ginger honey, birch vinegar and birch kombucha get my vote 😋

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Ann Charles @sparkyannc.bsky.social · 22/03/2026

EU rules are changing. AI transparency will come into effect in August. Proposed Code of Practice is currently in draft but isn’t quite workable yet - eg first suggestion was an audio warning about AI content upfront, repeated for any audio over 30s. Audio industry is lobbying on this point #RDE26

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Ann Charles @sparkyannc.bsky.social · 22/03/2026

Nicky Birch has asked the room who uses synthetic voice on air. Room is split between companies who are using it, and companies who are actively decided NOT to use it. #rde26 #GenerativeAI

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Ann Charles @sparkyannc.bsky.social · 22/03/2026

I’ve done this in previous years and can recommend!

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Ann Charles @sparkyannc.bsky.social · 22/03/2026

First up at @radiodayseurope.bsky.social: the marvellous Nicky Birch from the BBC explaining the BBC’s AI strategy. Everything must be human supervised. Audiences are worried about trustworthy content and knowing what they see is real. #RDE26

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Ann Charles @sparkyannc.bsky.social · 22/03/2026

I’m at @radiodayseurope.bsky.social! Come to say hi, especially if you want to chat all things production / technology workflow and find out about object-based media and how it’s going to change the way we create and consume content. #RDE2026 #obm

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Ann Charles @sparkyannc.bsky.social · 02/03/2026

I had a bit of pre-admin admin to do before my admin day. Only just finished the pre-admin admin. Sigh...

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Ann Charles @sparkyannc.bsky.social · 26/02/2026

Google Workspace upping its price in order to add AI features I don’t want on my account 🫠

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Ann Charles @sparkyannc.bsky.social · 21/02/2026

Do I know anything about curling? No. Am I watching the #WinterOlympics final anyway? Of course! 🇬🇧 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

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Ann Charles @sparkyannc.bsky.social · 24/12/2025

Yes, yes I was doing @radiotechcon.com admin until the train arrived at the station. Next stop: Christmas! 🎄

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Reposted by Ann Charles

rudy.ca @rudydotca.bsky.social · 01/12/2025

who decided to call it Secret Santa when Nondisclosure Claus was right there

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Ann Charles @sparkyannc.bsky.social · 01/12/2025

After 14,000 hours spent making a sourdough loaf dense enough to cause several deaths in a @richardosman1.bsky.social novel, I’m starting to think the artisanal bakeries that sell them for £5.60 are massively undercharging.

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Ann Charles @sparkyannc.bsky.social · 25/11/2025

We’re off to Glastonbury - as you’ve never heard it before. Simone Lombardi is explaining how the BBC is using new AI techniques to separate stems live. This is much harder than it sounds! #radtechcon

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Ann Charles @sparkyannc.bsky.social · 25/11/2025

From horses to dogs, as Dan McQuillin talks about future software standards in a way you might not expect…

Dan with a presentation slide that says £10,000.

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