A couple of weekends ago, my wife’s nephew – a sophomore at Indiana University – spent a couple of days with us. During his two-day visit, he didn’t pick up a newspaper nor did he watch TV. However, I noticed he spent considerable time on a video on-demand web site, www.abcnews.go.com.
If you’ve never spent any time there, click the above link and check it out. ABC is gambling that by offering virtually all its news online whenever Web surfers feel like stopping by, they can lure a new generation of consumers. Based on this sample of one, it may be working.
So where’s the application for us? www.npr.org has had the same thing going for years, and it works – their entire operation is archived, allowing their audience access to everything they do.
Why wouldn’t we want to provide the same on-demand access to morning show bits, rock reports, concert updates, and any content we produce that is worth the listener’s time? And why not podcast this content?
The premise is clear – providing anytime access to our content only strengthens the relationship between our listeners and ourselves.
Jacobs Media has consistently walked the walk in the digital space, providing insights and guidance through its well-read national Techsurveys.
In 2008, jacapps was launched - a mobile apps company that has designed and built more than 1,300 apps for both the Apple and Android platforms. In 2013, the DASH Conference was created - a mashup of radio and automotive, designed to foster better understanding of the "connected car" and its impact.
Along with providing the creative and intellectual direction for the company, Fred consults many of Jacobs Media's commercial and public radio clients, in addition to media brands looking to thrive in the rapidly changing tech environment.
Fred was inducted into the Radio Hall of Fame in 2018.
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Fred,
Your Seattle Alternative client, 107.7 The End introduced its “All Access Player” one month ago. We strip all the commercials from our specialty shows and put them on the player so listeners can hear On Demand.
Additionally we do a weekly Morning Show podcast with a secret phrase for those who download the podcast. We encourage to tune in Monday, give us the phrase and wina prize. We have gotten winners every week. Podcasting is catching on with our early adopter morning show listeners.
On Demand is now. Take your content and put it everywhere your listeners are. Content for the phone should be next for radio.
Thanks for the tip above. Now that I have WiFi at home, getting content at my whim is becoming the norm in my life.
Hi Fred,
I agree with what you are saying and I’ve always been one to embrace technology. I’m glad to see that Phil and the guys in Seattle are doing some cool things. However, while at MMR there were times when we would go for days, dare I say a week without even updating the website. (not counting sales updates – Ha Ha)
If stations are to benefit from this kind of technology they need to make the website a real priority, not just an after thought. Those who “get it” and have some vision of where it can lead them will benefit the most.
Cheers
Kz