Basic terrestrial radio might be the last of the truly “free” media available, requiring no costly equipment, content subscriptions or on-demand fees. But local ad revenues have been eroding and the industry is fighting to respond to satellite radio, Internet radio and downloads, MP3, a music industry in chaos, new radio HD technology, and competition from multiple new sources. Therefore terrestrial radio is struggling to define its core mission and place in the information/entertainment landscape. What to do?
Dan Mason, president of CBS Radio division has said: “For years we tried to figure out how to make the product compatible for the audience, but the issue was the platform, not the content. In the near future, every radio station will have the ability to become a TV station. We will see webcast and webisodes. There’s no reason we can’t have our own webcast shows with talent. Radios will evolve and occupy more share of the digital space.”
One example of the radio trying to be visualized through the Internet is CBS’670 The Score, who has partnered with Paltalk to enable listeners to participate in live, interactive video streams of the station’s popular weekday sports talk shows. Listeners can see the on-air personalities live in the studio as well as other listeners who are streaming video of themselves. In addition, listeners interact with the hosts and each other through text, audio and video.
A great guide to find online clips of favorite TV shows
After being in beta since April, TV Guide officially has launched its online video guide at video.tvguide.com. Its goal it to filter out the just and present the best Internet video as it relates to favorite TV shows. “We are filling a niche that Google and YouTube are not because they are not strictly TV focused,” said TV Guide Online General Manager.
Other online solutions for finding TV shows, with less history and resources, are Daily Reel, WeShow, LocateTV, buddy.tv and Sling Media.
Adobe launches its own desktop media player and aggregator
Adobe has made available for free download its new desktop video player, still in beta. This Adobe Media Player combines a channel guide, streaming video player, and video podcast client into a single desktop application.
For publishers, of which CBS, PBS, Yahoo, Blip.tv, and others have already signed on, Adobe is offering measurement tools, monetization through targeted advertising, customized branding, and copy protection.
Analysts don’t see this 1.0 platform making much ground.
ABC News forming all-in-one reporters to lead foreign bureaus
ABC News is taking the one-man band news crews a step further. The network will open seven new bureaus around the world with only one person per bureau.
Reporters will write, shoot, edit and feed their material digitally from DV cameras and laptops wherever they are in the field.
