NEWSFLASH
NETDYNAMIX WILL BE INTERVIEWED LIVE ON AIR LATER TODAY
CLICK HERE FOR MORE ABOUT THAT 

South Africa’s online community was rocked by stunning allegations made on Monday, as local IT practitioner, Shaun Dewberry, released a damning report challenging the listenership figures claimed by radio stations including 2oceansvibe Radio and Ballz Radio. In it’s conclusion, Dewberry stated:

I first became aware that it seemed as though 2Oceansvibe were fabricating listener numbers. I verified that these numbers were false using technical knowledge of the solutions in use. When Ballz Radio launched and they too started publishing incredibly inflated listener numbers – it became apparent that NetDynamix is supplying false listener statistics.

Netdynamix have been handling the streams of a number of high-profile radio stations for ‘close on a decade’.

All 2oceansvibe Radio’s published listenership figures are provided by Netdynamix. As a result, 2ov.fm immediately acknowledged on Twitter that while these allegations are very serious, Netdynamix should be given the professional courtesy to respond to the methods employed and findings of the Dewberry report – which they have now done.

Click ‘continue reading’ below to see their response.

They (Netdynamix) also sent a lawyer’s letter to Shaun Dewberry, which he published here.

This is Netdynamix’s response to the allegations:

NetDynamix Online Solutions CC – Members: C. Grant
P.O. Box 4266, Edenvale, 1610
Tel: (087) 350-3523
Fax: (086) 648-0686
Email: sales@netdynamix.co.za
Web: www.netdynamix.co.za

PRESS RELEASE REGARDING RECENT ALLEGATIONS AGAINST NETDYNAMIX

In response to the recent statements made against ourselves (NetDynamix) and our clients (Ballz Radio, 2oceansVibe Radio and Kingfisher FM) we would like to clear up a few points.

NetDynamix is a technology supplier to the radio broadcast industry and our core business is the distribution of our clients content over the internet. At present we service 73 clients on a regular basis, some of these being FM/AM stations that simply relay the terrestrial broadcasts on to the internet and the balance are internet only radio services.

The technology and means used to distribute our clients radio stations is not something that we are willing to make public as this enables us to deliver a cost-effective solution to our clients where others find it difficult. We believe that this is not an unreasonable statement, as the technology in question does not contravene any laws or codes of conduct. We therefore suggest that the figures quoted in the published statements are not a reflection of the bigger picture as the general public do not have access to all of our systems. Prior to the issue being raised on the internet, NetDynamix started investigating the possibility of finding an external “auditor” to confirm the accuracy of our numbers. This is still part of our strategy and we see the importance of this “certification” process as an added benefit to our clients, and the industry as a whole, and
we are more than happy to engage with the correct parties going forward. In the meantime, NetDynamix has identified a few independent industry experts, who we will be engaging with today, and will setup a forum to verify our stats. The process has already started and the names will be released as soon as the people identified confirm their availability.

We do not agree with the basis and method that Mr Shaun Dewberry has used to arrive at his findings simply because he does not have full and unhindered access to our entire network, nor does he have an understanding of the methods that we employ to manage our network and it’s resources. We are further aggrieved that 1) we were not invited to engage with Mr Shaun Dewberry during his process of researching his article at which time we would have been able to illustrate to him that his view was not holistic, and 2) the defamatory nature of his article towards NetDynamix following the release of his article.

As with any research related to defining audiences there are many variables to consider with collating data and the interpretation of this data. NetDynamix, on request, provide their clients with numbers based on “sessions”. A session is defined as a connection to the server(s) in order to receive the audio/video stream. This does not take into account that a listener could change devices or lose their connection to the server, at which point it needs to be reestablished, or the change in IP address of that connection or change in route from point of connection to breakout onto the internet; to name just a few examples of multiple sessions being initiated to the service.

It would not be in the interest of NetDynamix to give their clients any information other than the raw numbers generated by these “sessions”.

The following is a random day in May 2012 (which is not their highest figure set available) for Ballz Radio which shows the hour by hour total number of sessions which were initiated to our servers for the Ballz Visual Radio Stream:

08:00 – 6 012
09:00 – 8 408
10:00 – 15 359
11:00 – 26 579
12:00 – 48 599
13:00 – 49 337
14:00 – 59 764
15:00 – 57 364
16:00 – 54 359
17:00 – 46 666
18:00 – 10 953
19:00 – 8 121
20:00 – 8 137
21:00 – 2 338
22:00 – 2 102
23:00 – 2 666

On average our systems reflect that the audience for Ballz Visual Radio is composed of 31% International listeners and 69% Local. 

NetDynamix have no reason to inflate these numbers as the clients are not remunerating us on a per listener basis, they pay a fixed monthly fee in order to use our system. We standby what we have presented and reiterate that we are investigating a way to independently verify these figures and methodology via an impartial technical specialist, auditor or journalist.

Similarly 2oceansVibe figures have also been raised. Their session statistics show a different session spread, typicaly known as a trend, but essentially make up a similar number of sessions at particular broadcast hours.

On the matter of Kingfisher FM, we cannot entertain a comparitive view of a partial month of figures (the month that they moved to us) coupled with a total peak in that we do not have access to their listenership figures prior to them moving their audio streaming service to our company, as this was not provided to them by their previous hosts.

NetDynamix would be interested in getting involved with the development of a “standard” that could be used to define the audiences on internet radio. We encourage robust debate on this and other subjects related to internet radio.

For any questions related to this release, please do not hesitate to contact our General Manager, Mr Hanz Stricker on hanz@netdynamix.co.za or telephonically on 081 316 6143.

_______________________________
Chris Grant
CEO: NetDynamix Online Solutions CC
[source]

_______________________________

BELOW, FROM 2OCEANSVIBE MEDIA – ON BEHALF OF 2OCEANSVIBE RADIO

1) For the sake of transparency 2oceansvibe Media would like to clarify the format in which 2oceansvibe Radio receives the data from Netdynamix. As an example, here is an exact screenshot of the reporting we have received in the past from Netdynamix.

2) Along with furnishing this information, 2oceansvibe Media would like to state in no uncertain terms that we think a thorough audit should be undertaken with the greatest urgency, as suggested, in order to:

a) ascertain whether the quoted ‘sessions’ are correct and

b)) define an industry specific ‘standard’ which we can use going forward so as to avoid any further confusion in the market.

3) As we enter our third year of operation, 2oceansvibe Radio pledges to follow-through with its mission to change South Africa’s desperate radio industry for the better and we thank all our loyal listeners and clients for their support. It should be mentioned that most of our current clients are return customers who have received nothing but satisfactory, affordable results working with 2oceansvibe Radio. That will never change as we continue to challenge the status quo.

4) While we wait for the urgent audit as above, here are some stats that 2oceansvibe can categorically declare are 100% accurate and available for scrutiny upon request.

a) Our 2oceansvibe Radio app (for mobile listening) has been downloaded over 45,000 times.

b) The combined Twitter following of our Radio presenters and 2oceansvibe entities is 137,000 followers.

c) A recent survey (here) which received 1,035 individual responses, revealed that 77% of the 2oceansvibe News readers, tuned in to 2oceansvibe Radio. We used Google Forms to conduct the survey.

d) in the last month 2oceansvibe News received 247,805 unique visitors.

Join the conversation and tune in to 2oceansvibe Radio online or on your phone at www.2ov.fm (you can download the app there as well) to see what the fuss is all about – it only uses 20mb/hour!

We’re streaming music 24/7 with live programming (DJ+tunes) from 8am to 10pm Monday to Friday.

Our studios are situated in Cape Town’s de Waterkant and Johannesburg’s trendy Melrose Arch!