COMM 3353: Communication Web Technologies I Chapter 3b: Internet Radio Chapter 3b: Internet Radio

Internet Radio, Continued…  Internet Radio Programs  CyberMusic  Internet Radio and the Federal Communications Commission  Producing an Internet Radio Show  What the future brings  Internet Radio Programs  CyberMusic  Internet Radio and the Federal Communications Commission  Producing an Internet Radio Show  What the future brings

Internet Radio Programs  Internet Radio = Alternative Radio  Wide range of styles to meet a wide range of audience types  News, Music, Graphics from all over the world available across the net  Finding a Niche  Appealing to a target audience for increased capital or market share  Many cyber stations offer specific programming in order to do this  Internet Radio = Alternative Radio  Wide range of styles to meet a wide range of audience types  News, Music, Graphics from all over the world available across the net  Finding a Niche  Appealing to a target audience for increased capital or market share  Many cyber stations offer specific programming in order to do this

Internet Radio Programs, Continued…  Web-Only Radio: Networks and Stations  Many internet radio stations exist only on the web  Cost Comparison:  Cyberstation vs. Conventional Over-the-Air Station  $10K vs. > $250K  Other than cost, why?  No legal licensing or insurance requirements  The internet is totally unregulated and as such internet radio is unsanctioned by government rule  Web-Only Radio: Networks and Stations  Many internet radio stations exist only on the web  Cost Comparison:  Cyberstation vs. Conventional Over-the-Air Station  $10K vs. > $250K  Other than cost, why?  No legal licensing or insurance requirements  The internet is totally unregulated and as such internet radio is unsanctioned by government rule

CyberMusic  Audio-on-Demand  Transforms the internet into a music marketing Mecca  Most major record labels support and influence the use of the internet as a major source for “free” music to the public  Great marketing tool  Studies show record sales climb exponentially when certain clips are pre-released on the Web.  Audio-on-Demand  Transforms the internet into a music marketing Mecca  Most major record labels support and influence the use of the internet as a major source for “free” music to the public  Great marketing tool  Studies show record sales climb exponentially when certain clips are pre-released on the Web.

Internet Radio and the FCC  Big Brother’s listening, but not touching  The FCC has not stipulated any licensing requirements for web radio  Truly uncensored  Complete freedom for both artists and producers  This could change, though.  Big Brother’s listening, but not touching  The FCC has not stipulated any licensing requirements for web radio  Truly uncensored  Complete freedom for both artists and producers  This could change, though.

Internet Radio and the FCC, Continued…  The music industry and RealAudio influence on the net.  With increasing speed and accuracy, combined with streaming technology, the music industry is concerned about piracy.  Streaming technology is such that no file is ever copied, so music files are “temporary.”  There are ways to copy files “permanently,” but come on...you cant have your cake and eat it too...  Music Industry benefits from making audio available online  The music industry and RealAudio influence on the net.  With increasing speed and accuracy, combined with streaming technology, the music industry is concerned about piracy.  Streaming technology is such that no file is ever copied, so music files are “temporary.”  There are ways to copy files “permanently,” but come on...you cant have your cake and eat it too...  Music Industry benefits from making audio available online

 Internet Radio is not, like its counterpart, subject to ownership restrictions  FCC regulates how many over-air stations can be owned by any one company…not so for Web Radio.  Internet Radio is much less restrictive when compared with broadcast radio.  You want to start a web radio station, start one:  No One Cares...  Internet Radio is not, like its counterpart, subject to ownership restrictions  FCC regulates how many over-air stations can be owned by any one company…not so for Web Radio.  Internet Radio is much less restrictive when compared with broadcast radio.  You want to start a web radio station, start one:  No One Cares... Internet Radio and the FCC, Continued…

Producing an Internet Radio Show  Internet Radio vs.. Broadcast Radio  Both can be produced similarly, but with one fundamental difference: Digitizing  Digitizing: The process of converting analog files into 1s and 0s in a digital file format.  Encoding: storing a digital file in several different formats, depending on the need for the digital output.  Internet Radio vs.. Broadcast Radio  Both can be produced similarly, but with one fundamental difference: Digitizing  Digitizing: The process of converting analog files into 1s and 0s in a digital file format.  Encoding: storing a digital file in several different formats, depending on the need for the digital output.

 Encoding methods:  Two basic types...  Use dedicated Hardware, called an Encoder.  Limited functionality of resource (computer).  Use any computer with a Sound Card and appropriate software for file conversion  Encoding compresses large files so that memory allocation is considerably smaller than normal, allowing for ease of transfer over the network, and lessening download times.  Encoding methods:  Two basic types...  Use dedicated Hardware, called an Encoder.  Limited functionality of resource (computer).  Use any computer with a Sound Card and appropriate software for file conversion  Encoding compresses large files so that memory allocation is considerably smaller than normal, allowing for ease of transfer over the network, and lessening download times. Producing an Internet Radio Show, Continued…

 Internet Radio Signal Path  Original file (analog/digital)  Digitizing  Encoding  File transfer  Server storage  Replication server  Providing mulitfeeds  IP Multicasting  Signal replication which occurs on the Internet  Internet Radio Signal Path  Original file (analog/digital)  Digitizing  Encoding  File transfer  Server storage  Replication server  Providing mulitfeeds  IP Multicasting  Signal replication which occurs on the Internet Producing an Internet Radio Show, Continued…

 File Transfer  Downloading  Storing a file in a digital format on a client computer for multiple usage  audio.wav  Streaming  Files are used in “real-time” but not stored digitally on the client computer  The server sends digital data in a continuous “loop” until the client disengages it’s connection  Uses Encoding and Reading technologies  File Transfer  Downloading  Storing a file in a digital format on a client computer for multiple usage  audio.wav  Streaming  Files are used in “real-time” but not stored digitally on the client computer  The server sends digital data in a continuous “loop” until the client disengages it’s connection  Uses Encoding and Reading technologies Producing an Internet Radio Show, Continued…

 Program Delivery  Internet radio delivers live radio through streaming technology  Production process of Internet Radio and Broadcast Radio are virtually the same, with two exceptions:  Mode of delivery  Signal processing  Program Delivery  Internet radio delivers live radio through streaming technology  Production process of Internet Radio and Broadcast Radio are virtually the same, with two exceptions:  Mode of delivery  Signal processing Producing an Internet Radio Show, Continued…

 Program Delivery, Cont.  Basic advantages of Internet Radio:  On-demand programming  Live audio streaming  Flexible, prepackaged programming  Can be listened to anytime  Program Delivery, Cont.  Basic advantages of Internet Radio:  On-demand programming  Live audio streaming  Flexible, prepackaged programming  Can be listened to anytime Producing an Internet Radio Show, Continued…

 Producing an Audio File  Audio quality  The same with any media production  Many different levels of quality  Skill, equipment levels determine quality of output.  The fastest, most powerful computer is only as good as the knowledge and skill of the user  Producing an Audio File  Audio quality  The same with any media production  Many different levels of quality  Skill, equipment levels determine quality of output.  The fastest, most powerful computer is only as good as the knowledge and skill of the user Producing an Internet Radio Show, Continued…

 Producing an Audio File, Cont.  Garbage in, garbage out.  Expensive and sophisticated setup will not automatically equate to quality audio  You get out of it what you put in to it!  Producing an Audio File, Cont.  Garbage in, garbage out.  Expensive and sophisticated setup will not automatically equate to quality audio  You get out of it what you put in to it! Producing an Internet Radio Show, Continued…

What the future brings...  Internet Radio is easy to set up, maintain, and program.  It’s likely that there will be more Internet Radio “stations” than Broadcast Radio stations in the near future  Internet Radio is easy to set up, maintain, and program.  It’s likely that there will be more Internet Radio “stations” than Broadcast Radio stations in the near future

What the future brings, Continued…  The many aspects of Internet Audio  Web Radio is just one.  Corporate Information Systems  Web Kiosks (virtual news stands)  Inter-geographical training sites  Long-distance education centers  UH Pioneering in Web Courseware  With increasing technology, Internet Radio is aiding the transformation of cyberspace into a “multimedia social environment.”  The many aspects of Internet Audio  Web Radio is just one.  Corporate Information Systems  Web Kiosks (virtual news stands)  Inter-geographical training sites  Long-distance education centers  UH Pioneering in Web Courseware  With increasing technology, Internet Radio is aiding the transformation of cyberspace into a “multimedia social environment.”

The Internet and the World Wide Web End Chapter 3, Part II.