Wired diz que podcasting está em força

«(...) The growth of the medium has been explosive ever since. Apple reported 1 million downloads of podcasts in the first 48 hours of the June 28 launch and now will only say that "millions and millions" of episodes of the 60,000-plus shows listed on the site are downloaded each month. By contrast, the largest podcast directory prior to the launch, Podcast Alley, listed just 5,400 shows as of June 28. (Podcast Alley now has more than 30,000 listings.) Six months after the iTunes 4.9 launch, the word "podcast" was named the new word of 2005 by the editors of The New Oxford American Dictionary. "Podcasts were popular around the office, so we wanted to create a better home for them," said Chris Bell, director of marketing for Apple's iTunes. "There really wasn't a truly easy-to-use experience until we created one (...).

Analysts are unfazed by the early returns. Walch said the next year will be "all about monetizing and the almighty buck," a belief the eMarketer study supported by predicting $150 million each year will be spent in advertising on podcasts by 2008. Thus far, Curry's PodShow network and another consortium, Podtrac, have each picked up a few network-wide advertisements from companies like GoDaddy.com, HBO and EarthLink, and one PodShow program, MommyCast, landed a $100,000 deal with the maker of Dixie brand paper products. Advertisers will continue to tread cautiously, Walch predicted, until someone devises a sensible means of tracking not just downloads but the portions of the files that are actually played. The only such programs out there, he said, amount to spyware, offering no incentive for listeners to allow them onto their computers."»

fonte: «Podcasting After ITunes», Wired News, Steve Friess, 02:00 AM Jun, 28, 2006

Radio Disney nos telemoveis

«In a move that will extend the reach of its broadcast programming, Radio Disney announced a partnership with mSpot on Tuesday. An aggregator of mobile music and video, mSpot will incorporate Disney Radio within its 100 channel lineup, and subsequently stream the programming to wireless users. Radio Disney president and general manager Jean-Paul Colaco touted the initiative as "another step" in his company’s strategy to keep "connected with kids and families, whenever and wherever they are." The mSpot lineup of music, sports and movie content is currently available to Sprint subscribers»

fonte: «Radio Disney Pushes Mobile-Based Distribution, Taps mSpot» Digital Music News

BBC acaba com o Top of the Pops por causa da concorrência digital

«The BBC in a statement said that "The decision to bring the show to an end after 42 years has not been taken lightly and over the past few years every effort has been made to maintain the quality and distinctiveness of the show".

"Over recent years the show has faced ever increasing competition from multi-media and niche musical outlets which enable viewers to consume music of their choice any time night or day in a way that Top of the Pops simply cannot deliver in its current weekly format."»

fonte: «BBC axe Top of the Pops following rise of digital downloads», Pocket-Lint, Stuart Miles, 20/6/06

 

Rádio ganha com novas ofertas digitais

(diz mais um estudo da Bridger Ratings...):

«“We saw in this study that traditional radio listening benefits from some digital media alternatives,” explained Bridge Ratings President Dave Van Dyke. “Peer-to-peer file trading, podcasting and MP3 player use can cause increased time spent listening to traditional radio depending on format, while satellite radio and Internet radio can cause reduced listening to conventional radio.”

“What’s most interesting,“ Van Dyke continued, “is that traditional radio can benefit from some of these competitive media. However, some individual formats are hurt more than others.”»

fonte: «Bridge Ratings: Digital Media's Impact Varies By Format», 28/6/06, Radio Ink 

As notícias (e o resto) no telemóvel

«Next time you miss the morning news, download it to your iPod and watch on the subway ride to work.

That's a likely possibility given one of the latest trends among local television news stations: distributing their programs via mobile devices and the Web as they try to hold onto fickle audiences. Local stations are following the example of broadcast and cable networks, which are rushing to make hits like ``The Sopranos" and ``Lost" available to viewers unwilling to be tethered to a schedule or their TV sets. Locally though, it's the news instead of mob dramas that is migrating to new devices.

Boston TV executives say their multimedia strategies are a response to viewers who are increasingly shifting their viewing to the Web and portable devices. Doing so, they say, is a relatively cheap way to expand the reach of their programming because it usually doesn't involve investing in new equipment or in many cases even the time it takes to produce new video.(...)

``Do I expect to make a ton of extra advertising money the day we launch it? No. But I do expect that this is absolutely going to be a vital part of any station's future," said Steve Safran, director of digital media at New England Cable News.(...)

CBS4 Mobile , a subscription service designed to give Sprint and Verizon Wireless customers access to news, traffic, and weather videos from the station and blogs written by some of its reporters, is days away from launch, said vice president and station manager Angie Kucharski. The service will cost about $3 per month and will be billed directly to subscribers by their cellphone companies.(...)»

fonte: «Local TV news when you want it», Boston.com, Keith Reed, Globe Staff  |  May 31, 2006

A emissão satélite no telemóvel

«ZING also announced it is working with SIRIUS Satellite Radio (...) to stream live digital SIRIUS programming over mobile devices.

Bob Law, Senior Vice President and General Manager Consumer Electronic Division for SIRIUS commented: “The market for digital audio on-the-go is exploding. We are working with ZING to expand the availability of SIRIUS content on new platforms and bring the best in satellite radio programming to an increasingly mobile audience.” 

fonte: http://www.orbitcast.com/archives/more-on-zing-sirius-partnership.html

 

Um rádio que é uma companhia de internet

A aposta da Clear Channel, o maior grupo de rádio dos EUA, na internet está a provocar uma série de alterações, a nível do investimento e também das receitas. Há mesmo quem lhe chame, mais do que uma empresa de rádios, uma companhia de internet...

«The radio company's network of Web sites collectively were among the top five most-visited online music sites in May, according to comScore Media Metrix, ahead of Apple's iTunes and MTV.com after a year of steady growth.

The company said it is building a strong range of national and local advertisers for its online services, with food and beverage, including Oreo and Hershey's, the most prevalent brand group advertising.

Other sectors which have shown strong support for online ad opportunities include auto and telecommunications advertisers, Clear Channel said, including Dodge, Ford, Comcast and Verizon.» (fonte: «Clear Channel grabs Web share with music videos», reuters, 19/6/06)

Mais 870 frequências FM em Espanha

«El ministro de Industria, José Montilla, ha anunciado en el Senado que el nuevo Plan Técnico Nacional de la FM dará origen en torno a 870 nuevas frecuencias de radio en toda España y que estará listo "mucho antes de las elecciones municipales y autonómicas" de 2007. Montilla ha explicado que Industria ha recibido 1.192 solicitudes de licencia del conjunto de comunidades autónomas, lo que supera el número de emisoras actualmente en funcionamiento, en torno a 1.092»

fonte:«Montilla anuncia que el Plan de FM estará listo antes de las autonómicas de 2007», 22/6/06, Europa Press

O medo do satélite...

«"Fear of satellite radio is prompting an unprecedented level of cooperation among broadcasters in their efforts to launch HD Radio and HD2," says Frank Viquez, director of ABI Research's transportation practice. Viquez adds that HD Radio multi-casting is especially attractive to broadcasters because of its ability to divide the radio signal into separate audio channels, allowing new programming opportunities. "Traditionally, many stations with dual formats have been forced to split their programming according to a certain time schedule; thus HD2 offers them many new possibilities."»

fonte: «Fear Of Satellite Forcing Terrestrial Stations To Work Together?», Droxy, May 22nd 2006 7:33PM by Grant Robertson

Sirius quer XM ou XM quer Sirius?

«Sirius Satellite Radio CEO Mel Karmazin said yesterday that Sirius would be interested in buying XM Satellite Radio at the right price, though regulatory issues "would be a question mark."

Karmazin added that he'd be less interested in being acquired, though he also would consider it if it were in the shareholders' best interest. Asked if he would consider a merger with a satellite-television provider, Karmazin said it would make more sense for DirecTV Group and EchoStar Communications to merge with each other than with Sirius.

Karmazin was speaking at a conference on media convergence at the Museum of Television & Radio.

"Regarding XM – would we like to buy them? Sure. We'd love to buy them. Price would matter, so that would be an issue (and) there would definitely be the regulatory issue," he said.

An XM spokesman said, "We do not comment on our competitors' wishful thinking."»

fonte: «Sirius CEO Karmazin ”Interested” In Buying XM», Radio Ink, 27/6/06

«mais de 100 milhões de assinantes em 2010?»

«Cerca de 102 milhões de utilizadores estarão dispostos a subscrever os futuros serviços de TV Móvel dentro de quatro anos, revelam os dados de um estudo efectuado pela empresa In-Stat.

Actualmente, o total de subscritores de serviços televisão móvel ascende aos 3,4 milhões em todo o mundo pelo que a previsão agora revelada parece demasiado optimista.

Para já, o maior desafio para os operadores de televisão móvel é a aquisição do espectro necessário para a oferta dos serviços, um factor determinante quer na escolha dos padrões de transmissão utilizados quer para o impacto que a implementação da rede terá depois no negócio dos operadores.

A televisão móvel começou no ano passado a ser implementada e testada em vários países do mundo estando previsto para breve que os fabricantes de telemóveis, os operadores de televisão móvel e os produtores de conteúdos iniciem os testes para equipamentos empresariais. Desta forma será apurado o tipo de assinantes dispostos a pagar o serviço e quais os anunciantes que pretendem investir neste novo mercado.

Entretanto, um estudo conjunto realizado pela Goldmedia e pela NBC revelou que 80% dos utilizadores de telemóvel estão disponíveis a gastar entre 5 e 12,5 euros por mês em serviços de televisão móvel»

fonte: «Televisão móvel terá mais de 100 milhões de assinantes em 2010?», Exame Informatica, 26/6/06

A pergunta clássica: isto ainda é rádio ou uma jukebox?

O editor do site Audiographics esteve a ouvir um dos canais HD2 dos EUA e saiu desiludido, uma vez que é apenas um computador pré-programado e muitos jingles a promover a estação:

«Since Saturday, 6/17, I've been streaming WSMJ-HD2 through its online link. That it is solid music won't be challenged here. Though I will challenge calling it "radio."

Here's what I've uncovered about Clear Channel's WSMJ-HD2. It has just 18 liners positioned [frases promocionais] between every other song, except at the top and bottom of the hour when, sometimes, you'll hear three songs in a row. These are the positioning statements they use:

The artists that gave birth to the cool - played 24/7 on Jazzville, 104.3 HD2
Jazz - America's own music, Jazzville, 104.3 HD2
When you hear music, after it's over, it's gone, you can never capture
it again - Jazzville 104.3 HD2 (...)

When the above play through, they repeat. That's enough said about the programming of this new, exciting, HD2 radio station.

You decide if this is "radio," or some variation of jukebox music. Then, ask why a person would spend money to buy a new receiver to listen to what's offered. Not being a jazz aficionado, I won't comment on the music other than to say the playlist was repeated. But, so what? Songs have to repeat, eventually» (http://www.audiographics.com/agd/061906-1.htm)

Mark Ramsey desenvolve, sem chegar a uma conclusão:

«It's an interesting point, and it's central to our HD radio plans (not to mention the plans for Internet radio and, dare I say it, good old-fashioned terrestrial radio).

When you take out (or never put in) the personality, when you lack the voices that connect us to the music and each other, when there is no promotion, no news, no traffic, no weather, no contesting, no feeling that what you're hearing is in any sense "live" or, for that matter even "living,"...

...is that really "radio"?

Is that what we want "radio" to be?

Is that what the audience comes to us for?» (http://www.hear2.com/2006/06/what_is_radio_a.html)

(via NetFM)

 

A lista dos canais HD2

Esta lista permite perceber quais são as apostas das rádios EUA no multicasting (os tais nichos mais apertados) e permite também ouvir as que transmitem estes segundos canais de HD em streaming...

No entanto, a lista não condiz com a da iBiquity, a empresa detentora da tecnologia HD:

«Meanwhile, back at Radio & Records, this trade mag brings up a point of contention in its newly-posted "comprehensive HD Radio Station Links page." As of 6/18/06, R&R has 285 HD Radio stations listed which claim to be "on air" with HD signals. But the number of stations there does not jive with what iBiquity Corporation is telling us at its web site - that there are "822 HD Radio stations on the air in the US."

I trust Radio & Records. It would never print a negative story about the radio industry and, therefore, must be telling the truth when it says this is a "comprehensive" list of HD2 stations» (http://www.audiographics.com/agd/061906-1.htm)

Ouvintes de rádio satisfeitos nos EUA

«A new survey from audio strategy firm hear2.0 finds that the vast majority of terrestrial radio listeners are satisfied with the job that the medium is doing. One thousand radio listeners between the ages of 12 and 54 were surveyed, with 74 percent saying they were satisfied by what radio has to offer.

Hear2.0 EVP Harve Alan said, "Given that some media prognosticators claim radio is dead or dying, we were pleasantly surprised at just how strong radio is; even with the youngest age groups." He added, "With only one format falling below 70% satisfaction and despite ongoing challenges from new media the American public still loves their terrestrial radio.  This research illustrates the power of radio to entertain, inform, and satisfy."»

fonte: «Study: Radio Listeners Satisfied», FMQB, 7/6/06

contar com telemóveis e iPods para as audiências

«Nielsen Media Research said Wednesday (June 14) that it would integrate TV and Internet measurement, add ratings for viewing on such portable devices as cell phones and iPods, and gave a firm date of 2011 for the end of paper diaries in even the smallest markets. (...) Nielsen's multifaceted approach will begin to answer many of the questions that are swirling around the industry these days, which is being reinvented around the digital revolution in video. One of the most intriguing is the integration of TV and online measurement, by tracking video programming delivered on the Web through its Nielsen//NetRatings unit, and adding the Internet to its People Meter sample that will give the industry what could be its first comprehensive look at viewing on TV and broadband(...)»

fonte: «Nielsen Ratings To Add Net, Cell Phones, iPods» June 15, 2006,Paul J. Gough, The Hollywood Reporter

Vodafone lança radio DJ

«O serviço Vodafone Radio DJ permite-lhe, através de um sistema de personalização simples, criar os seus próprios canais de rádio com base na selecção de géneros e ambientes musicais da sua preferência. Basta, para isso, que o seu Vodafone live! 3G seja compatível com o serviço. Com dezenas de milhares de temas das maiores editoras discográficas ou de pequenas editoras independentes, poderá também aceder a vários canais pré-definidos (ex. Hip Hop, Jazz Club, Rock Alternativo…) e a colecções temáticas (ex. Colecção Especial Shakira, Hot Music, etc.), com cerca de 10 temas cada, concebidas por especialistas e actualizadas regularmente. Se associar as faixas da sua preferência às Músicas Favoritas, poderá fazer o download de músicas completas, que ficarão disponíveis no telemóvel e no PC, com qualidade digital. Para experimentar gratuitamente o serviço basta aceder ao Radio DJ no portal Vodafone live! e activar a subscrição mensal. Caso pretenda fazer download de faixas completas, o preço ser-lhe-á apresentado antes da compra.»

Mais: «A Vodafone Portugal acaba de lançar, em parceria com a Sony NetServices, o serviço Vodafone Radio DJ, que permite aos seus clientes 3G criarem o seu próprio canal de rádio, com base na selecção dos géneros musicais e ambientes da sua preferência. A audição deste canal poderá ser feita através do telemóvel e computador pessoal»

Não mais de dois spots num écrã

«GCap is extending its two-ad policy to digital station Planet Rock from next week. The broadcaster [GCap] introduced the policy, which promises listeners that there will never be more than two ads in a row, on Capital Radio in January.
GCap said that it had improved ad effectiveness on Capital by 38% since it began, according to research by Ipsos.
Simon Daglish, national sales director, said: “We want to continue to drive the radio market with innovative programming and this gives us the platform to deliver this.
“We believe it provides a cleaner, clutter-free environment for advertisers and listeners and further encapsulates GCap Media’s pledge to drive radio’s digital future.”

fonte: «Planet Rock to adopt new GCap ad policy», Media Week, 22/6/06

Conteúdos da TVI para os telemóveis

A propósito disto, «É intenção da Media Capital apoiar o sucesso televisivo da TVI com outros negócios e apostar na produção de conteúdos televisivos para telemóvel, segundo o responsável, citado hoje pelo Correio da Manhã.

«Queremos transformar a Media Capital no principal fornecedor ibérico de conteúdos», afirmou o administrador delegado do grupo, sublinhando a necessidade de alargar a estratégia não ficcional». (via NetFM)

As lojas de discos passam a ser virtuais?

Não demorará muito tempo até que toda a música seja virtual e que os formatos fisicos sejam para revivalismo. Isto significa uma revolução a muitos níveis - por exemplo, o que acontecerá às lojas de discos?

A FNAC, em França, já vende downloads. E agora é a Tower Records:

«Tower Records will soon deliver a digital download store, according to early information received by Digital Music News. The store is officially slated for launch on Tuesday, though a sneak peek can be found at tower.com/digital. The store will carry a catalog of 1.2 million tracks, all encoded in a higher bitrate of 192 kbps. That edges the compression level of 128 kbps found on competing stores like iTunes, which sometimes draws complaints from audiophiles. And unlike iTunes, Tower Records Digital will be web-based, and optimized for the IE browser. That approach is decidedly low-tech, but will allow Tower to mimic a "standard e-commerce site," according to the company.»

fonte: «Tower Records Prepares Digital Download Destination», Digital Music News, 23/6/06

Satélite via HD? (act)

É a confusão total...

«XM wants to transmit its signal into HD Radios. The satcaster applied for a patent in December 2005 to send its signal - as well as that of MP3s, CDs and other digital sources - via IBOC. Such a scheme would keep its signal digital throughout the entire transmission path, and eliminate the need for analog FM modulator add-ons, it says in the application published this month by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.»

fonte: «XM Wants to Co-Exist With IBOC», 22/6/06, http://www.rwonline.com/dailynews/one.php?id=9242

Act a 26/6/06: Assim percebe-se (um pouco) melhor:

«Washington - Jun 15, 2006 - The idea of modulating an audio signal to a radio frequency so that it can be heard via a traditional radio receiver is not a new idea. When FM was young, there were plenty of converters to receive the FM and remodulate it to an AM frequency. Today, every media player offers an option to listen to the device via an FM radio.

In an ironic twist of the idea, XM Satellite Radio has filed a patent application that describes a system to receive an XM broadcast and then remodulate it on an FM HD Radio signal. The process would keep the audio signal in a digital form through the entire chain instead of converting it to analog at the input to the add-on transmitter.»

fonte: «XM Files Patent for HD Radio Converter», 19/6/06 Radio Currents Online