Internet Broadcasting Basics

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Sound on your computer

• In Feb. 1993, the average computer had fewer than 4 MBs of RAM, less than 200 MB hard drive, processor speed at less than 66 Mhz
• Few people had ever seen a Web page or a CD-ROM
• Dominant OS was text-based DOS

Sound on your computer

• Today
• Listen to and record favorite CD’s
• Download compressed digital audio files from WWW
• PC can compose documents by voice
• Teleconference
• transmit audio across internet
• Etc.

Evolution

• The first personal computers that made sound came out in the late 1970’s and early 80’s
• Tone generators and 2 inch speakers
• Alerts
• Game developers tried to work around limitations by manipulating electrical frequency that activate tone generators

Evolution

• Sound cards became popular in mid-80’s
• 8-bit cards
• FM synthesis

From Revolution to Reality

• By early 1990’s, sound cards had begun to improve on shortcomings
• 16-bit sound
• Wavetable synthesis
• More realistic sound production
• 16 bit card + Wavetable synthesis = CD quality

From Revolution to Reality

• Problem was that the average PC didn’t have big enough hard drives
• Sound cards required more built in memory
• Not enough RAM for Wavetable synthesis
• Computers not sold with external speakers, CD-ROM Drives, microphones or sound cards
• Software not designed to take advantage of audio capabilities

From Revolution to Reality

• Time Passed
• Computer technology advanced
• Hard drive capacity
• Faster, more powerful chips
• Price of memory decreased
• By 1996, new computers equipped with audio features

Beginnings of
Internet Broadcasting

Progressive Networks

• 1993, formers Microsoft manager, Rob Glaser, founded Progressive Networks
• Progressive developed RealAudio
• Buffering Technology
• Streaming vs. downloading
• Now RealNetworks

Broadcast.com and the Aggregators

• Two Indiana U. alumni in Dallas wanted to listen to Hoosier BB
• Used RealAudio to rebroadcast games
• Started Broadcast.com
• Gathered contracts & rights to rebroadcast radio stations & sports venues via Web
• Now - Yahoo Broadcast!
• Aggregators

Beginnings of Personal Radio

• Justin Frankel used upstart MP3 technology to develop Winamp
• Real focused on proprietary RealAudio Format
• Winamp and others chose MP3 which many flocked to from 1996-1998
• SHOUTcast (MP3 streaming) more conducive to the personal broadcaster
• Real is now giving away a twenty-five-user version of Basic RealServer

FUTURE OF BROADCASTING?

Traditional Broadcasting?

• How will terrestrial radio be affected?
• Portable internet devices
• Increasing quality and selection on the internet
• DAR (digital audio radio)
• Video/TV Services

Future of Broadcasting?

• Traditional broadcasting - to an audience based in a specific geographic region
• Internet broadcasting goes global the second it is started

Future of Broadcasting?

• Traditional broadcasting overseen by FCC and other governmental agencies
• There is minimal regulatory control over Internet broadcasting
• Copyright laws are primary regulatory issue

Future of Broadcasting?

• Traditional broadcasting targets a much broader audience
• Internet Broadcasting is much more about one-to-one communications and can provide extremely narrow formats

Future of Broadcasting?

• Internet broadcasting tends to combine itself with other media and communications found on the Web
• Web pages, graphics chat, e-mail, instant messaging
• Same technology that enables your broadcast, enables many other forms of communication.

Future of Broadcasting?

• Traditional broadcasting requires a license and large capital investment in equipment and rights fees.
• Anyone can start Internet Broadcasting as long as he or she has a computer, a connection to the internet & the right software.

Conventional Broadcasters

• Radio stations say their local flavor gives them a leg up on the internet-only competition
• Power of on-air promotion as a significant competitive advantage

Internet Broadcasters

• Not the constraining scheduled content programming
• Modular and on demand

Internet Radio status

• More than 1,500 terrestrial radio stations are streaming their signals
• Some syndicated programs won’t allow Internet Broadcast
• For many stations, streaming produces minimal revenue initially
• Good first step toward an integrated broadcast/webcast
• Web presence that can be tied to promotions

To Webcast or Not to Webcast

• Expand audience beyond drive time listening
• Take local brand and make it global
• Draw listeners to your site and keep them
• Create additional ad inventory with Internet only advertisement insertions

To Webcast or Not to Webcast

• Generate e-commerce revenue
• Interact with online listeners
• Create new niche formats
• Re-purpose content you already own

Times are changing

• Revenue restriction lessened
• FCC Licenses, finite ad inventory space
• Interactive technologies allow listeners to drive programming
• Statistics
• Hits, visitors, audience size, how long each stayed, participants, e-mail addresses, company names. Etc.

Internet Broadcasting

• Entirely new content types and formats will be enabled because of its relatively inexpensive nature and capability to reach even smaller communities of interest.
• What type of station?
• Available streaming servers
• Wide or narrow audience
• Extended or Set period of time