RAIN: Radio And Internet Newsletter: RAIN NEWS 04/09: STREAMING TO INCREASE AM/FM REACH

RAIN NEWS 04/09: STREAMING TO INCREASE AM/FM REACH
·Apr 9, 12:09 PM
Posted by: Paul Maloney

STREAMING BUMPS AM/FM REACH, STUDY SHOWS: As people spend more and more time online, it’s not surprising that broadcasters that offer an online simulcast of their over-the-air programming are able to measurably increase their market reach. The “Radio Next” study [see prior coverage here], which will be formally released at our RAIN Las Vegas Summit on Monday, reports that AM radio weekly reach increases from 28% of American adults to 30% when online streaming is included. Likewise, FM radio’s weekly reach increases from 76% to 79%. Overwhelmingly, the top reason respondents gave for listening to broadcast radio online was “more convenient to listen on computer/no radio where my computer is.” Broadcasters should be interested to know that 22% of respondents said they listen online so they can simultaneously check the station website, and 21% said radio reception problems lead them to listen online. The study was cosponsored by Solutions Research Group, Ando Media and RAIN.

DETAILS ON RAIN SUMMIT IN KURT’S BLOG: Speaking of the RAIN Las Vegas Summit, you can see the latest agenda updates and link to the registration page in Kurt’s blog, in the right-hand column of the RAIN homepage.

“WAIT ‘TIL NEXT YEAR” — BIA SAYS RADIO’S REVENUE TURNAROUND SHOULD COME FROM DIGITAL: BIA Financial estimates that total radio revenues decreased 2.3% last year, and will probably fall about 3.1% this year, but “will begin [their] rebound in 2009, as the marketplace improves, and the industry starts to see increased income from digital opportunities online and through the airwaves.” Checking 2007 revenues by market: BIA believes L.A. did $1.1 billion, New York $755 million, Chicago $555 million, Dallas $416 million and Atlanta $398.5 million. It’s no surprise to read that “small and mid-size markets have retained some stamina due to the value of radio stations recognized by local advertisers.” Thus Wilkes-Barre/Scranton grew 8%, Des Moines rose 6% and Poughkeepsie gained 5.4%. More from analyst Mark Fratrik and BIA in Radio-Online here.

ARBITRON/EDISON “INFINITE DIAL” STUDY PRESENTED ONLINE TODAY: Today at 2pm Eastern/1pm Central, Arbitron and Edison Media Research will present the latest installment of their annual study, “The Infinite Dial: Radio’s Digital Platforms,” in an online webinar (free, but registration required here). The presenters will examine trends and demographics for online radio usage; changes in awareness and usage of satellite radio, podcasting, and HD radio; and the impact of Internet video and social networking on different radio platforms.

CEA EXEC URGES B’CASTERS TO “BAND” TOGETHER WITH ONLINE STREAMS: Dave Wilson, Director/Technology and Standards at the Consumer Electronics Association, writes in Radio World Online, “It is incredible that, this far into the Internet Age with each satellite radio company offering more than 100 channels, free local radio hasn’t banded together on the Internet to fight back… The radio industry… should band together to form a common Web site where streams from all free local radio stations can be found… The end result would be an easy-to-use Web site that lets consumers tune in to thousands of free local radio stations… There are roughly 14,000 free local radio stations in the United States. Instead of panicking about the possibility that two satellite radio companies, each with 100+ channels, might become one satellite radio company with 200+ channels, they should be working together to make their 14,000 signals easily available to consumers in one place. Fourteen thousand channels shouldn’t be afraid of 200.” Read more of Wilson’s commentary here.

GOSSIP BLOGGER HILTON GETS RADIO SYNDICATION DEAL: Sarah McBride in the Wall Street Journal (here) reports that celebrity gossip blogger Perez Hilton will host a syndicated twice-daily (drive times), three-minute segment starting on stations in the New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago markets. McBride characterizes the development as “a move that shows how the blogosphere is generating new talent for traditional media.”