Video didn’t kill the radio star, what about the internet? – by Tania Snuggs

07Jul

New stats out show more of us are listening to our favourite radio stations on the internet. In the last six months another 2.5 million have tuned in via the web, bringing the total number to 14.5million, with Golden Square still the most listened to commercial station on-line in the UK. It’s perhaps not a huge surprise though to those of us in the industry, as we all know the internet’s become so much more accessible.

Most people work in an office with access to a computer so if they’re not allowed to listen to a radio, they can easily tune in via the web. But I personally think that the rise in the number of people doing so does not necessarily mean the end of the traditional radio. Only recently more figures out showed sales in DAB’s have actually gone up with more people listening this way than ever before. Big mistake then in my opinion, for rival groups to get rid of their digital output because they think it’s not making them any money.

I don’t know about you, but the first thing I do when I get up in the morning is put my DAB on in my room, when I hit the shower another radio goes on and then I’m back to my DAB when I’m getting ready for work (before watching Sky News when I have my breakfast!).

I sit in front of a computer a lot in the office so certainly don’t want to do the same when I go home if I want to hear my favourite station. I also think I would feel confined to the screen and would rather be free to do more things as I listen.

I don’t think ‘video killed the radio star’, and I don’t think ‘the internet will worry the wireless!

Tania Snuggs
Broadcast Journalist, Golden Square

Comments (3)

Marty from new yawk @ July 7, 2008 at 9:45 pm | Permalink

As an international online listener, my greatest fear is that management will jettison online listening capability.

What would replace those 20 hours of listening during my day?

I don’t even want to think about it.
Michelle in Minneapolis @ August 4, 2008 at 3:27 pm | Permalink

I agree with Marty from New Yawk – this was my greatest fear when I read Virgin was sold / bought / changing. I listen all day at work during the week, and at home on many weekends. It’s the ONLY station I listen to, aside from a local one for half an hour in the morning while getting ready for work (gotta hear the traffic chaos and the weather). As sad as it sounds, I will be severely depressed if I can no longer listen. Although that’s also a terrific testament to what a first-rate station you are.
Allie in Minneapolis @ August 4, 2008 at 6:00 pm | Permalink

I completely agree. I used to live in London and became addicted to Virgin while there. When I returned back to the states, I was thrilled that they allowed international listening. I’ve listened everyday at work and at home (like Michelle… us Minneapoltans we know good music). Fingers crossed.