Dutch RTL Nieuws is preparing itself for the arrival of smart speakers to bring news updates, sports updates and ‘gossip updates’.
Speaking to the Dutch SVDJ website, RTL Nieuws deputy editor-in-chief Marc Schreuder said that it is particularly important for video content companies to follow developments of this kind, as screens can also be controlled by speech in the future. Since last week RTL News is looking for a freelance audio editor, who will not only produce content for smart speakers, but will also contribute ideas about new audio concepts.
The right tone of voice is one of the things being considered. Smart speakers feel a bit like a friend in the house. “That’s why I am convinced that the tone of an audio update can be a lot more personal,” said Schreuder.
RTL is currently waiting for Google and Amazon to launch their smart speakers on the Dutch market. The Amazon Echo speaker is already available, but does not respond to the Dutch language yet. Google has announced that it will launch a Dutch Google Home speaker by the end of the year at the latest, but has not yet given a launch date.
