O segundo choque é mais grave do que o primeiro (II)

«El nuevo siglo se abre nuevamente con transformaciones técnicas importantes que han de suponer cambios pora la radio, superiores a los que en su momento significó la FM, el nuevo contexto configura lo que se ha denominado convergencia digital y esto para la radio puede significar cambios importantes en los lenguajes que utiliza, los contenidos que emite que van a aproximarse al multimedia y la diversidad y la calidad de los soportes por los que van a difundirse las programaciones» (Marti in Esteban, 2000: 243) 

«Internet Radio Station of the Year»

Uma análise ao que está a fazer a Indie 103.1, considerada pela Plug como a estação de rádio na internet do ano.

De acordo com o boletim RAIN, que alerta para esta rádio, ela conjuga muito bem a emissão FM com o webcasting, aprofundando no site assuntos que não são explorados no hertz. O próprio site na net já é disso exemplo, dando voz aos ouvintes, através do blogue.

Alguns execertos do texto de DANIEL MCSWAIN:

«Indie 103.1 doesn't really fit in. As an FM broadcast, Indie 103.1 represents what some might call a bold programming move. It's multi-format approach provides a very broad, albeit slightly unfocused, swath of musical genres, personalities, and weekly shows. Indie 103.1's website, home to the online webcast of their FM signal, takes those unfocused tendencies and converts them into a very engaging and feature-filled digital media depot.»

«In addition to streaming, Indie 103.1's site features podcasts, digital downloads, videos and photos of DJ's and events that cover every page of the site. The site's player is basic but sleek, and listeners can tune in using external software or the self-contained web player (pictured right). One of the site's most popular features is a section of downloadable,  quasi-legal "mash-ups", tracks created by grafting constituent parts of dissimilar tunes into one mutant song.»

(ACT) Washington Post vai ter uma rádio

A apetência multimédia dos grandes grupos de comunicação pode ter como consequência a necessidade de atacarem outras frentes, até agora desvalorizadas por falta de vocação.

O facto de o Washington Post ter anunciado o lançamento de uma rádio não pode deixar de ser saudado. Falta saber o formato que seguirão. (ACT): estive dois dias a ouvir: é claramente um all-news, em formato de horas-relógio:

CBS News		:00-:04 past each hour
Top Local Stories		:04-:08 past each hour
Traffic & Weather Together		:08, :18, :28, :38, :48, :58 past each hour
Sports		:15, :45 past each hour
Money News		:25, :55 past each hour
Live Interviews		:20, :50 past most hours

Receptor HD com segunda antena

para melhorar a recepção!

A internet como fonte de informação

Um estudo mostra que a Internet se está a afirmar como fonte de informação privilegiada. O que tem duas consequências de sentido contrário: por um lado significa uma desvalorização da rádio como meio informativo; por outro, a rádio - on line - pode e deve aproveitar para ocupar o «espaço vago»: ouvir a rádio enquanto se navega na internet (e isto remete para uma constatação: pode ser a rádio a afirmar-se como fonte de informação privilegiada na internet; em vez de se demitir de concorrer nesse campeonato, a rádio pode ser uma boa web-fonte)

«Os jovens alguma vez pagarão?»

«As a range of paid music solutions struggle to gain traction, an underlying question is whether or not younger listeners will ever pay for their tunes. The proverbial genie in the bottle may have been uncorked in the late 90s, thanks to a paradigm-shifting application called Napster, created by then-college student Shawn Fanning. That disruption plunged the traditional industry into chaos, though a wide range of new, paid models are now percolating. But the younger demographic remains elusive, especially with tight wallets and a super-savvy internet outlook. Several digital music executives addressed the issue on Wednesday at Digital Hollywood, offering different takes on the matter. "At some point in the life cycle, people have more money than time," commented Karin Gilford, director of On-Demand Services at Yahoo Music. But will younger buys simply go legit once factors like time-constraints kick in? Or will this super-digitized generation always tap-dance around paid gateways? "The kids are not going to pay, and at some point some of them will convert into a buying audience," said Mercora chief Srivats Sampath, who seemed bearish on the possibilities. Others, including RealNetworks executive Drew Denbo, pointed to a strategy that courts an older demographic, which may be a better fit for a carefully-cultivated subscription service like Rhapsody.»

fonte: Digital Music News, «Courting the Younger Listener: Will Kids Ever Pay?»)

A utopia de ver... a rádio

«‘See’ iSeeRadio

iSeeRadio will demonstrate its IP broadcasting and advertising product for radio stations at the NAB show. iSeeRadio says it enables stations to broadcast live interactive video and audio through a customizable media player. The Continental Vista Broadcasting Group Inc. company says iSeeRadio’s advertising features include sponsorship banners; interactive ads in Flash, static or video formats; and ads targeted by demographics or geography, and e-commerce. iSeeRadio recently expanded its relationships with Clear Channel and Budweiser. The company is exhibiting under its parent company's name, WhiteBlox.»

(fonte: 'See' iSeeRadio, RWO,2006-03-29)

(act) iRadio quase a chegar...

«An ubiquitous radio experience from Motorola is getting closer to launch, according to a top executive with the company (...). iRadio uses Bluetooth connectivity to port streaming music channels and personal collections across multiple environments, including the home and automobile. And during activities like exercising, the phone simply broadcasts directly. If successful, the strategy will position the Motorola device as the nucleus of a broad listening experience, offering an alternative to the market-leading iPod. Already, content relationships have been finalized with both Universal Music Group and Warner Music Group, and deals with the remaining two majors are forthcoming. Meanwhile, more announcements are slated for CTIA in Las Vegas next week, including a slate of talk radio programming channels».

fonte: Digital Music News, «Motorola iRadio Bubbles, More Content Deals Imminent», 29/3/06)

ACT: a 6/4/06: «Sony BMG has just licensed its catalog to Motorola for its upcoming iRadio initiative»

Novidades sobre o terceiro sistema

Quando a Clear Channel anunciou que escolheu três sistemas para a fase final daquilo que pretende que venha a ser o seu sistema de medição alternativo, houve um do qual nada se soube (os outros dois são o PPM e o telemóvel da MediaAudit/Ipsos). Finalmente, a Mediamark Research esclarece pormenores: vai apresentar-se com o já conhecido Eurisko Media Monitor:

«Mediamark's entry is based on the Eurisko Media Monitor, developed by a related company in Europe. Unlike Arbitron's PPM, which requires stations to encode to be counted, the Eurisko device uses sound matching, where snippets of sound from the device carried by a panelist are compared against electronically monitored broadcasts. Mediamark Research's VP of Research and New Ventures Jay Mattlin says the system will be able to calculate shares for all stations, regardless of whether they subscribe or wish to participate. As for the third competitor, The Media Audit/Ipsos system using Smart Cell Phones, Mattlin questions whether it is a good idea to use the microphones built into cell phones "which are really designed to block out extraneous noise" to better pick up the user's voice. While Arbitron has been testing for months in Houston and The Media Audit/Ipsos is preparing for a spring test, also in Houston, Mediamark Research doesn't have any US test on the drawing board. "That's really up to the industry. We are not planning to fund one on our own," Mattlin said. As for proof of performance, he points to the results of tests by RAJAR, which has been comparing PPM and the Eurisko device for radio ratings use in the UK. Mattlin says his company has talked with Clear Channel (which launched the RFP process) about a potential US roll-out schedule, but that's not being disclosed outside the evaluation process.

"I think that our device has the advantage that I mentioned before - - it doesn't rely on the cooperation the broadcaster, and at the same time has a slightly longer track record than the Ipsos/Media Audit one," Mattlin said, noting that the Media Monitor has gone through RAJAR field testing, while the Ipsos system has not. "I also, just from my perspective, think that the look of the device is very appealing," he added. And he noted that there are ways for the battery life to be extended so it does not have to be recharged every night. "It would still pick up as much audio as the PPM does, but doesn't have to be recharged as frequently," Mattlin said.

RBR observation: Now this is where the fun begins and it comes down to the Next-Generation Electronic Ratings Evaluation Team but for the most part only two are the real keys to opening this lock. As for one of the keys RBR has stated from the beginning - Money - and lots of it as this quote from Jay Mattlin sums it up - "That's really up to the industry. We are not planning to fund one on our own," just as Nielsen said it was not interested in being a part of the funding or Money»

fonte: «Mediamark Research says its device trumps cell phones, PPM», RBR, Volume 23, Issue 61, Jim Carnegie, 28/3/06)

A portabilidade não é fundamental no podcasting?

«According to a recent consumer survey conducted by Bridge Data, the relevance of portability to podcast usage has been vastly overstated. In fact, more 80% of podcast downloads never make it to a portable player or another device - they are consumed on the PC (or, worse, never listened or deleted)»

(fonte: «Recasting the Concept of Podcasting: Part I», TDG ResearchMarch 23rd, 2006

Podcasts chegam aos telemóveis

«National Public Radio has begun delivering 45 of its podcast programs to mobile phones using a service called Mobilcast. The Mobilcast service, run by Melodeo, offers various podcast channels that users can choose to stream their preferred program. No downloading is involved»

(fonte: Billboard Radio Monitor, Mobile Podcasting Gains Momentum, March 28, 2006, By Antony Bruno)

Um aviso muito sério: a rádio tem de se preparar!

«While upbeat about the future, Kaline said the medium could squander its opportunity if it doesn’t act quickly. Radio needs to embrace culture change, put consumers first – “don’t lose sight of the listener” when embracing new technologies -- and “get comfortable with being uncomfortable,” he said.

To that latter point, Kaline urged broadcasters to consider alliances it may have never dreamed of before. “Maybe you need to reach out to online, to mobile, even to satellite,” he suggested.» (fonte Billboard Radio monitor, Top Advertiser Says Radio Needs To Act Quickly, March 15, 2006, By Paul Heine)

Informação local domina rádio dos EUA

«57% do tempo das rádios noticiosas nos Estados Unidos é dedicado a histórias de enfoque local, e 16% a assuntos regionais, o que deixa perceber a vocação da rádio enquanto veículo de um jornalismo de proximidade. Os conteúdos locais são dominados em grande parte pelas informações de meteorologia e trânsito» (obercom)

Novos modelos da Panasonic têm rádio!

«Panasonic a présenté trois nouveaux modèles qui seront disponibles le 21 Avril au Japon. Ces trois modèles ne disposent pas, comme c'est souvent le cas chez Panasonic, de mémoire interne. Ils sont également tous déclinés en version "V" c'est à dire avec tuner FM et microphone!»

(obrigado E.)

O PPM fora dos EUA

«PPM is now in use in Singapore, Belgium, Canada (Quebec) and Norway, with deployment planned in Kenya and Kazakhstan.» (RBR news 27/3/06)

Por que é que as rádios devem apostar no podcasting

«About the same time the internet gained measurable use audiences seemed to tune out traditional “one-to-all” programming. Narrow-casting to tightly defined audiences was a distribution problem, among other stressful issues. Broadcasters, public and private, depended on big audiences. Narrow-casting meant finding more distribution points. Digital services, from the internet to DAB (et alii digitalis), seemed to be the answer. The worst for the broadcasters, now narrow-casters, would be that audiences in aggregate might carry the same weight (...).

It was idyllic when TV was offered a bit on cable and a bit free-to-air or when radio was offered on FM and AM. Of course, now everything is everywhere. And, to confound anybody trying to pin down the one, perfect distribution point, thousands of clever techies – some with a lot of money – are creating new possibilities every day (...)

Broadcasters now offer podcasts by the thousands. Most downloads are previously aired programs. Marks believes that simply offering archive material for retrieval misses the plot. Broadcasters have, he says, succumbed to the popular assumption that listeners want to interact with the station. “No,” he says emphatically. “They want to interact with their friends.” (...)»

(fonte: Podcasters (And Broadcasters) Are Losing the Plot, Follow The Media, Michael Hedges March 27, 2006)

 

Telemóveis vão matar LAD

A previsão é de um responsável da Nokia: tal como aconteceu com as máquinas fotográficas analógicas, e vai acontecer com as digitais, os telemóveis vão matar os leitores de audio digital (ou será que, como se fala com o iPod, este também será um telemóvel?):

«O sucesso dos telemóveis, enquanto dispositivos multimédia, vai provocar o desaparecimento de muitos fabricantes de leitores de áudio e câmaras digitais. Quem o afirma é um responsável da Nokia, em declarações ao Financial Times.
Anssi Vanjoki, director da divisão multimédia do maior fabricante mundial de telemóveis, recordou antigas previsões da Nokia, em 2000, relativamente à "morte" da indústria de fotografia.
Para o responsável, as empresas que se dedicam apenas ao fabrico deste tipo de equipamentos têm o futuro em cheque, na medida em que os telemóveis, se convertem, cada vez mais, em opções de compra.
Mais avançados e versáteis, os terminais actuais cruzam aparelhos de telecomunicações com leitores de áudio e câmaras digitais. É este "tudo em um" que poderá condicionar a opção dos consumidores. Os musicphones , por exemplo, poderão vingar no mercado, em detrimento dos leitores específicos.
A Nokia produziu, em 2005, 100 milhões de telemóveis com câmara, tornando-se assim a maior fabricante deste tipo de componentes no mundo. Em Janeiro, a Konica Minolta anunciou o abandono do mercado da fotografia (ver link). A Agfa-Gevaert, por sua vez, vendeu en 2004 a sua famosa divisão fotográfica.
«Nos próximos 6 a 12 meses, virão a público mais anúncios destes. Os próximos a desaparecer serão os fabricantes de aparelhos de música», disse Vanjoki, citado pela Reuters.
No ano passado, a Nokia produziu 40 milhões de telemóveis com capacidade para reproduzir música e pretende duplicar as vendas em 2006. Funcionalidades como a gravação de vídeo, outrora disponível apenas nos terminais mais caros, são hoje comuns. A tendência é para que a qualidade melhore e a tecnologia se torne mais acessível». (fonte: «Nokia prevê desaparecimento dos leitores de MP3 e câmaras», JC, 2006/03/25, Ciberia)

Bill Gates disse o mesmo há um ano!

LAD são bons no trabalho?

«Portable music players such as iPods are increasingly showing up on the job, a trend that's being praised as a boon to productivity as well as criticized as a safety risk and employee distraction (...) The use of MP3 players isn't music to everyone's ears. While many employees who use the miniature music players believe they help them focus on work by blotting out background noise or revving up their energy, some employers see MP3 players as creating a distraction from work — and a safety and security risk.»

(para quem interesse) As rádios de internet mais ouvidas nos EUA

Monday-Friday 6a-8p
Rank	Station	Name (Format)	Monthly Cume	AQH
1		Digitally Imported (Electronic/Dance)	n/a	40,595
2		AccuRadio (Multiple formats)	838,897	16,589
3		EMF Broadcasting (Multiple formats)	160,158	13,230
4		Club977 (Multiple formats)	n/a	12,725
5		RadioIO (Multiple formats)	486,412	12,543
6		202.fm (Multiple formats)	210,863	11,850
7		ESPN Radio (Talk)	138,926	11,583
8		Big R Radio (Multiple formats)	210,489	10,425
9		Soma FM (Multiple Formats)	n/a	6,362
10		Air America Radio (Political talk)	197,481	6,080
11		BroadcastUrban.com (Multiple formats)	34,032	3,477
12		BoomerRadio.com (Multiple formats)	27,343	3,035
13		Beethoven.com (Classical)	55,336	2,815
14		GotRadio (Multiple formats)	96,518	2,313
15		WOXY.com (Alternative rock)	34,760	1,822

(fonte: Webcast Metrics, via RAIN)

Receptores via internet impressionam

Já aqui se falou no Roku, um aparelho que recebe, em qualquer parte da casa, webradio, libertando-a do computador e dos fios.

Agora é o Wall Street Journal que se deixa impressionar:

«Many folks would rather listen to Internet radio in rooms where their computers don't live, or where they'd rather not lug a laptop. To do so today, you have to buy a device that transmits music from a computer to remote speakers... None of these devices includes its own built-in speakers...

"But, this week, we tested a new Internet radio product that's totally self-contained and requires almost no setup. It doesn't depend on a computer to bring in Internet radio, but does the job itself, wirelessly connecting to your broadband service, just like a computer does. And it doesn't require an external audio system. It has its own built-in subwoofer and speakers, just like a traditional radio. It even looks like a traditional radio, but it does much more.

"This new product is called the SoundBridge Radio, and comes from Roku LLC. It's due to hit store shelves in a few weeks at around $400, which includes a remote control.

"By including speakers, Roku eliminates the intimidating extra step of fiddling with wires to attach the device to a separate sound system. With its own sound system, the SoundBridge Radio can also function as an alarm clock, and it can receive your local AM and FM stations over the air, in addition to Internet radio.

"And, even though it doesn't require a computer for radio, the SoundBridge can pull music off your computers wirelessly and play it. It can even play music stored on a SecureDigital memory card.

"In addition to playing roughly 100 preprogrammed Internet radio stations, the SoundBridge Radio also detects and plays music from all libraries within range of your wireless network — without having to install any special software on your Windows or Mac computer...

"To add your own Internet radio stations onto the SoundBridge Radio, you must use a convoluted method involving iTunes. This summer, Roku plans to upgrade its software so as to include many more preprogrammed stations on each device... (...) (fonte: RAIN)