Traditionally, audio programs have been available via dedicated terrestrial networks broadcasting to radio receivers. Typically, they have operated on
Amplitude Modulation (AM) and Frequency Modulation (FM) platforms but, with the move to digital broadcasting, audio programs are also available today
via Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB), Digital Rights Management (DRM) and IBOC. However, this paradigm is about to change. Radio programs are
increasingly available not only from terrestrial networks but also from a large variety of satellite, cable and, indeed, telecommunications networks (e.g. fixed
telephone lines, wireless broadband connections and mobile phones). Very often, radio is added to digital television platforms, e.g. Digital Video Broadcast-
Satellite (DVB-S) and Digital Video Broadcast-Terrestrial (DVB-T). Radio receivers are no longer only dedicated Hi-Fi tuners or portable radios with whip
aerials, but are now assuming the shape of various multimedia-enabled computer devices (e.g. desktops, notebooks, PDAs “Internet” radios, etc.).
These sea changes in radio technologies impact dramatically on the radio medium itself – the way it is produced, delivered, consumed and paid-for. Radio
has become more than just audio. It can now contain associated metadata, synchronized slideshows and even short video clips. Radio is no longer just a
“linear” flow emanating from an emission mast – audio files are now available on demand or stored locally for time-shifted playout. It is convenience for the
user, rather than the broadcaster-imposed schedule, which matters now. You do not need to sit glued to a conventional radio at a particular time to listen to
BBC Urdu news and curse the occasional fading of the signal. You can do it at your convenience in your own time on your PC.
Internet Radio (IR) is a relatively recent phenomenon. Nevertheless, during the past ten years, the Internet has become a very important distribution
mechanism for audio and video streams and files. Audience statistics show that IR is increasingly popular, especially among young people and users in
offices.
Some IR Peculiarities
Radio over the Internet differs from other delivery media in three ways:
1. It is a relatively new way to experience radio via a computer device. The consumer uses a new interface (screen, keyboard, and mouse) and is able
to search and select different content according to the station name, country of origin, genre or style, as well as viewing the currently played program “Now
Playing”. The station’s frequency (as in FM or AM) or multiplex (as often in DAB) is irrelevant. The users can shortlist their preferences by compiling
personalized favorites lists. In addition, it is possible to generate a virtual station schedule according to one’s preferences. An “on-demand radio” is also
offered by many traditional broadcasters on their websites; this allows the user to click and play the archived program items which were broadcast via
conventional terrestrial channels during the previous seven days or so.
2. IR widens the choice of service providers. These can be traditional radio broadcasters, new (Internet-only) stations, portals or independent users.
3. Radio content on the Web can differ from radio broadcasting that has evolved over the last century. Whereas on terrestrial networks the choice of
stations is relatively limited, there are thousands of IR stations. It is often possible to choose from a list of most popular stations or to find a station which is
playing a particular song from a ‘Top 50” list. Since computers can use hard disc memory, it is possible to time-shift the play out.
One of the fundamental differences between IR and conventional radio is the absence of barriers to public transmission. Consequently, even a small local
station can potentially become a global player, or at least an international station.
IR as a complement to established radio services
Since 1995, most traditional broadcasters have set up websites in order to provide complementary information for their listeners and viewers. These
websites can provide a variety of textual and pictorial on-line services, as well as on-demand audio or audio/video clips associated with news events and
live (continuous) reproduction of existing radio and television programs. For conventional broadcasters, IR could usefully complement existing on-air
broadcasts. IR works best as a narrow-cast medium targeting a small number of concurrent users. Should this number increase to more than a thousand
(or several thousand), the Internet streaming servers are generally not capable of providing the streams economically. In other words, IR is only really
useful if it is kept relatively small.
IR is best suited to niche content, such as education, specialist music, and programs aimed at ethnic minorities, which may be of interest to a relatively
small number of people. Often it is considered too extravagant to use scarce spectrum for such programs. IR can offer a solution for communities scattered
across the world. For example, there may not be enough fans of gypsy music in a given part of the world to justify a local broadcast station, but if we add
listeners around the world who are interested in this kind of entertainment, the potential audience will look a lot healthier. While it is easy to introduce a new
IR stream for niche radio programs, it is more difficult, if not impossible, to find spectrum for new FM stations, particularly in some large agglomerations
where spectrum is already very congested.
The scalability of IR is a major issue. When audiences are relatively small (e.g. several hundred concurrent listeners), the required bandwidth – and thus
the cost – is reasonable. However, when audience increases, the operational costs may escalate. In a way, a station may become a victim of its own
success. A peer-to-peer (P2P) approach may help reduce the distribution costs. Multicast is also an option, but it requires multicast-enabled routers which
may not be readily available everywhere. Also, multicast excludes on-demand delivery. IR is inherently interactive. IR websites are places for listeners to
interact not only with the station, but also with each other. These interactions are usually achieved through text messages, e-mail forums or chat rooms as
well as, in a growing number of cases, audio and video messages. Indeed, listeners may become active contributors to the website audio-visual content.
For example, program files could be mailed in from around the world direct from artists or music groups.
IR websites have a unique possibility to offer both live and on-demand audio programs. Many radio stations have created on-demand online archives
enabling their listeners to hear program items that were originally broadcast on-air, for example, up to seven days before. One example is the BBC Radio
Player. This is on-demand service allows users to time shift broadcasts and frees them from the constraint of adhering to station schedules. On-demand
services transfer control to the listeners: they can create their own schedule of programs.
Web radio has the advantage of allowing broadcasters to measure audience directly. Broadcasters using a Windows Media Server, or other streaming
media, will have detailed reports of the streams played, while those using Web servers can estimate audience sizes by viewing the traffic statistics found in
the web-server log file, an automatically-generated list of all the files served.
IR adds a global audience which may be important for ethnic minorities scattered around world. While terrestrial radio is generally limited to a certain
geographical territory, IR’s audience is effectively global and is redefined according to shared interest. IR radio introduces a concept of a multitude of niche
audiences spread globally and not necessarily limited to one geographical region or country.
Internet-only stations: IR portals and music portals
There are a number of Web radio sites that offer customizable programming using their own players or ones already loaded onto your PC. Most sites
feature dozens of different musical genre from baroque to zydeco and some allow you to tune in to live broadcasts from around the globe.
There are also Internet portals which help the user find a suitable IR station. Portals such as radio locator.com allow users to search for stations according
to genre (or format), name, location (city, province or country), frequency (if the station is already on the air) or even the owner. Often several thousand
stations are available on such portals. Lists of FM and AM radio stations can be made available over the Internet to mobile devices such as a Palm OS or
Windows CE handheld computer using suitable software.
Streaming technologies for radio services
With recent technological improvements such as rapid adoption of high-speed connectivity and ever increasing computer processing and storage power,
streaming over the Internet (sometimes called Webcasting) has become a mainstream media delivery platform. Universal standards for audio and video
delivery have emerged to gain widespread adoption in the marketplace. In addition, user experience of watching video and listening to audio online has
improved dramatically. Issues such as incompatible formats and versions, or browser incompatibility, are now less critical.
There are different standards for encoding and delivering audio files and streams online. Following the pioneering developments of Real Networks,
Windows Media and Quick Time, it now seems that MPEG-4 will dominate. MPEG-4 represents a major step forward in audio/video coding as it supports
new types of media objects like 3D and synthetic objects. It supports interactivity at the client and server side. It is highly scalable and covers video
resolutions from a thumbnail size suited to mobile applications to HDTV for home cinema and from monophonic audio at 20 kbit/s to multichannel audio in
the Mbit/s range.
The streaming system architecture comprises four elements: capture and encoding, serving, distribution and delivery, and media player. Capture and
encoding takes the source audio from the microphone and exports it into a compressed (encoded) computer file. These files are stored on a content server
which controls the real-time delivery of the stream. The distribution channel (usually the Internet) connects the server to the player. The media player
renders the media on the PC or another device (hand-held wireless devices, games consoles, interactive TV, etc). As the Internet is overlaid on
telecommunication infrastructure, IR is now widely available via a variety of two-way communication networks; both wired and wireless – narrow-band (dial-
up) at home and broadband connections in offices, and via WLAN hot spots in airports, hospitals and other public places. The number of listening hours is
staggering. Broadband access is obviously a big plus and some of the streams are so good you can enjoy them over your home stereo system.
1. Server Client: Unicasting is a classical approach to radio streaming. Requests from clients (users) to receive a stream are managed by a server or a
cluster of servers. In the case of clustering, load balancing is used to improve reliability of the stream delivery, especially if one of the servers breaks down.
The server cluster feeds a common Internet line used to transmit the streams to the clients. The total bandwidth provided by such a server farm is
proportional to the number of clients and the bit rate of the streams. This means that doubling the number of clients or doubling the bit rate will double the
system capacity and thus the costs. Unicasting also has a “scaling” problem. Since all the streams are transmitted to the Internet from one source, a server
quickly hits its upper capacity limit, resulting in a “server busy” message.
2. Distribution Networks: The Content Delivery Network (CDN) consists of a large number of “edge” servers (typically several thousands) situated
around the world. Each server uses the same home page and is uploaded with the same content. The user gets content from the nearest server, so that
the access delay is minimal. The CDN approach distributes the load among the geographically separated servers and increases the possible number of
concurrent requests and streams that may be handheld. The CDNs can potentially cater for several thousand simultaneous streams but are very costly.
3. WiMax: WiMax is a new IP-based communications technology based on the IEEE 802.16 standard which will provide broadband wireless access to
portable devices such as laptops, Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs) and smart phones. WiMax will complement fixed DSL and WiFi networks by providing
mobility and portability. It will offer seamless hand-over between WiMax, WiFi and mobile 2G/3G networks. It will bring a new dimension (mobility) to
broadband TV and Radio.
4. Multicasting: Multicasting is a solution to serve a single stream to multiple users. The multicast-enabled network routers clone (replicate) the Internet
datagrams (packets) for each user requesting the stream. Therefore the same content is conveyed to a group of users. Multicasting cannot use automatic
rate changing and is not suitable for on-demand services. If multicasting is to be used for several sites at the same time, then Virtual Private Networks
(VPNs) should be used to bring the stream from the originator to these sites, and then multicast it locally.
5. P2P Networks: Peer-to-Peer (P2P) networks refer to computers that communicate directly with other computers without passing through
intermediaries. It enables users to pool resources, such as processing power, storage capacity and bandwidth to overcome the problems of congested
Internet links and server crashes. Internet radio broadcasters are beginning to use P2P systems to distribute their content in what looks like developing into
a win-win situation, with consumers obtaining a more reliable service and broadcaster benefiting from drastically reduced bandwidth fees.
Since P2P networks have the potential to create distribution channels which are more efficient than traditional broadcasting, some analysts have gone as
far as to suggest that this will inevitably bring about a massive paradigm shift. In a P2P scenario, runs the argument, there would be no need for the
“middlemen” – consumers would download content directly from program producers. This would lead to a massively reduced role for traditional
broadcasters who would be relegated to providing only live sport and breaking news.
P2P systems use several distinct techniques to distribute files more efficiently. One of the most widespread is “swarming”. In this technique, peers
share portions of data: files are broken down into small pieces and then distributed randomly between peers who exchange the
pieces in order to complete a sort of jigsaw puzzle.
6. Podcasting: Podcasting is a way to “subscribe” to radio programs and have them delivered to your personal computer. Subscribers to Radio
podcasts can automatically receive the latest edition of the program in the form of a file. This file can then be easily transferred to a portable mp3 player.
To do this, users need an Internet connection and a piece of podcast software which is usually available free of charge. This software can check the radio
station for content updates and automatically download them to the player as soon as they are available. As a general rule, program files can be made
available shortly after broadcast, but in some cases this may be several hours later.
Internet Radio terminals
Internet Radio terminals are user devices which can reproduce streaming content. In the beginning, streams could be played by a software application on
the PC. Now we are seeing media players in mobile devices and in home entertainment products such as the set-top box. Today, a PC user may have
three or more players installed to provide support for different codecs available on the market. Thankfully, PC makers have made it easy with pre-loaded
music players, from Apple’s iTunes and QuickTime, to Real Player and Windows Media Player.
Players can be used in three different ways: as a content portal, a stand-alone player or a plug-in to a Web browser. In the latter case, the streaming
content may become an integral part of a synchronized rich media experience, combining text, graphics, audio and video (using SMIL). Audio-only players
are still very popular, as there is huge demand from music lovers to download tracks over the Internet. They serve as a jukebox to organize music libraries
and set up playlists. They can also rip CDs, store mp3 files on the hard drive and download to portable music players such as the iPod. Examples include
WinAmp (from NullSoft), iTunes (from Apple) and MusicMatch Jukebox (now owned by Yahoo!).
Music download is now a feature of 3G mobile phones. Motorola and Apple joined forces to market a device combining an iPod with a mobile phone – the
Motorola ROKR. For the moment, downloading songs from the iTunes music store still has to be carried out via the Internet and the user’s PC, although in
the near future the mobile phone could do it direct via 3G networks. It is also worth mentioning the possibility of attaching a small FM transmitter to a
portable iPod player for listening on car radios. This is important, as radio listening in the car may be affected. Some people may choose to listen to their
personal collection of pre-recorded files on iPods, rather than listening to local FM or AM stations. Just as commuters are catching up to the idea of satellite
radio for their cars, a new wireless approach called “Roadcasting” will allow you to tune your radio to music playlists coming from other cars on the
motorway.
A special category of IR terminal devices are the disguised computers which look like old radios but can connect to Internet Radio stations. Other emerging
terminals that do not need to be connected to a PC (but do require you to have a home Wi-Fi network in order play radio or music through a home stereo
system) include Acoustic Energy’s Wi-Fi Internet radio (in partnership with Reciva).
Internet Radio’s relationship with traditional radio
The comparatively low entry barriers for broadcasters have led to a proliferation of Internet Radio sites. This has increased the importance of promotion
and product differentiation. However, public service broadcasters enjoy a significant competitive edge. They benefit from both strong brand recognition and
the ability to cross-promote across Internet, radio and TV networks. In order to promote their Internet services, broadcasters must communicate the all-
important web addresses to listeners. It is not the aim of this article to explore marketing techniques, but suffice to say that broadcasters can achieve this in
a variety of ways: during programs; in advertising campaigns on radio, TV, the Internet or in print; and with e-mail marketing campaigns and press releases.
Where Internet Radio really comes into its own is as a marketing tool in its own right. Radio is an “experience product” which the consumers must sample
before they become regular listeners. There is evidence from the BBC and others that Internet Radio players can boost listening figures for traditional radio
by encouraging listeners to experiment and discover new programs. In addition, some shows already have as many “catch-up” listeners online as they do
for the original live broadcasts. One way that the BBC encourages uses of its radio player to discover new shows is by providing links and lists of the most
popular programs by topic and genre. It is likely that later versions of the player will offer a suggestive service, along the lines of the “if you liked that, you
may enjoy this” feature of Amazon and Q-Magazine. As things stand, the BBC claims that its player adds millions to the overall listening figures.
Internet Radio is also a useful platform for collecting data and for building communities of dedicated listeners. Message boards and chat room create
communities, with the added benefit that in order to register; listeners must fill out customer profile forms and give their contact details. Information
gathered in online competitions can also contribute to listener databases for the purposes of market research.
Modern media monitoring statistics
Modern media monitoring statistics also provides a possibility for visitor to use “bookmarks” and measure how often Web pages are being are added to the
“favorites” of visitors. In addition, the measurement of visitor loyalty has been improved. For every visitor, it can now be determined (often using cookies)
whether they are visiting the site for the first time, or they have been there before.
In providing streaming media there are several parameters that are analogous to those mntioned for the websites. If we replace “Web pages” with
“Streams” and “Visitors” with “Requests”, we may consider the following parameters for media monitoring:
● Number of requests for each stream (per day, week, month, etc);
● Origin – where do requests for streams come from (e.g. which IP number, organization,
country);
● Most demanded streams or most demanded parts of streams;
● Peak number of successfully provided streams.
Some additional specific media-related parameters are those related to media players, quality delivered and user behavior, as follows:
● Which Media Player (Audio/Video/Graphics)?
● Which speed (bandwidth for a combination of audio and video program?
● Start-up time;
● Audio quality for a given bandwidth;
● Video quality, including video frame rate for a given bandwidth;
● Connect time;
● Redirect time;
● Initial buffer time;
● Recovered, lost and dropped packets;
● Number of successful buffering attempts;
● Duration of buffering (average);
● Total playing time for each user/average playing time for each stream;
● Hits and Duration Chart for each stream/all streams;
● Number of finished Streams (who and how many have seen it to the end);
● Number of linear Hits (without Stop or Pause);
● Number of loops made.
Conclusion
Conventional radio broadcasting on AM has been around for about a century and on FM, since the 1950s. New digital broadcasting technologies such as
DAB, XM radio, DRM and in Pakistan different FM channels on Web and specially DoDear Radio operating from Karachi which is a pure cyber radio and
others are becoming very popular in many parts of the world, you can listen the DoDear Radio by visiting http://liveradio.dodear.com/. Traditional on-air
radio has much strength and is still a vibrant medium. It is likely that it will remain the principal delivery mechanism of radio content for quite some time.
The Internet has opened up a new possibility for radio enthusiasts. During the last ten years or so Internet Radio has been a major focus of technical
innovations and operational experiments. Now Internet Radio has become a mature medium with its distinctive characteristics. There are tens of thousands
of Internet stations worldwide, ranging from big portals down to small local and individual streaming stations.
The main assets of Internet Radio are its global reach, interactivity and personalization. While today the users need a computer device and a broadband
connection to access Internet radio stations, in future they will be able to enjoy it on a number of portable wireless devices. Internet Radio will become
ubiquitous.
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| Cover Story (Mar-Apr 2009) |
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