COMM 3353: Communication Web Technologies I

1. COMM 3353:Communication Web Technologies I • Chapter 3a: • Internet Radio www.class.uh.edu/comm/classes/comm3353/ppt/_Pres3a.html

2. Internet Radio • The Growth of Internet Radio • Internet Radio Versus Over-The-Air Radio • Real-Time Audio • Netcasting Networks • Cybercasting Radio Stations

3. The Growth of Internet Radio • The Internet provides the ability to own, program, and operate a radio station with relative ease • December 1994: KU Student-run radio first to go live on the Internet • September 5, 1995: Birth of “Live” Internet Audio with sports netcast • September 9, 1995: Dallas KLIF-AM first commercial station on the Internet full-time.

4. The Growth ofInternet Radio, continued… • Rise of Internet Radio and Over-the-Air Radio • Similar development • HAM (amateur radio operators) turned into commercial radio • Amateur netcasters paved the way for professional, commercial web radio • Internet Radio is becoming increasingly noticeable in the communication industry, although it has a long way to go

5. Internet Radio vs. Over-The-Air Radio • Over-Air radio use is slowly decreasing among internet users and IT professionals. • Amount of time spent listening to radio has decreased as a result of time spent surfing. • Reciprocity rather than accommodation. • Now a general move toward accommodation. • With this move comes the demand for faster, more reliable service

6. Internet Radio vs. Over-The-Air Radio, continued… • Benefits of Internet Radio • Potentially better than Over-Air Radio • Web audio files can be accessed at any time, regardless of when first aired • Netcasts can be listened to anywhere in the world, regardless of origin • Netcasts include visual and sound stimulus as well as printed text. • Allows Multitasking

7. Internet Radio vs. Over-The-Air Radio, continued… • Challenges of Internet Radio • Sound Quality • Based on connectivity • Biggest problem with Internet Radio • Main reason adoption is slow • Download delay • A 15 min. audio program can take 1-2 hours to download • Although it’s getting increasingly quicker

8. Internet Radio vs. Over-The-Air Radio, continued… • Challenges of Internet Radio, Cont. • Limited number of server connections at any given time • Licensing (NT, Novel, etc.) • Per connection user rate • Software capability (NT Workstation) • Only allows 10 simultaneous connections • Lack of portability • No network connection on the beach

9. Internet Radio vs. Over-The-Air Radio, continued… • Challenges of Internet Radio, Cont. • Portability, Cont. • Recent Dateline NBC interview with Bill Gates • Microsoft’s Billion Dollar R&D • Satellite technology beaming signal directly into cars and portable lap tops • The cars of the future will have console style computers, resembling a car radio, which will allow radio listing and email access, among other things.

10. Real Time Audio • RealAudio • First application to bring real-time audio-on-demand over the internet. • Uses streaming technology to transmit live, real-time, continuous audio • STREAMING: technology that sends data through the net in a continuous flow so that information is displayed on a user’s computer before the entire file is downloaded • Since inception, many radio stations have adopted netcast technologies

11. Real Time Audio, Continued… • RealAudio, Cont. • Does not require a great deal of computing expertise • Relatively inexpensive • With RealAudio, users (surfers) do not have to wait for big audio files to download, but rather get data seemingly instantaneously

12. Real Time Audio, Continued… • Internet Sound has actually been available since mid ‘80s. • Problematic due to packet-switching errors and long download times • RealAudio developed UDP (User Datagram Protocol) • Works just like (and in conjunction with) TCP/IP, except eliminates the “talking” between computers

13. Real Time Audio, Continued… • MPEG (Motion Pictures Experts Group) • Compresses graphic and sound files for internet transmission • Quicker because files are 1/10th normal size • Files must be decompressed once received by the user • RTSP (Real-Time Streaming Protocol) • Industry standard for streaming • RTSP is to Audio what HTML is to Text • In other words, RTSP is expected to be the primary audio programming protocol

14. Real Time Audio, Continued… • Multicasting • Technology that allows one audio file to be sent out to multiple receivers at any given time, rather than point-to-point file delivery

15. Real Time Audio, Continued… • How does Real-Time Audio Work? • Encoder vs. Player • RealAudio Encoder is used to send audio netcasts over the internet • RealAudio Player is the software technology used to receive encoded audio files and display them in a format understood by the user.

16. Real Time Audio, Continued… • RealAudio Encoder • Digitizes audio files for data packet and Real-Time player compatibility • Uses streaming and a buffer scheme to send digitized binary audio files • Generally associated with the server side of media streaming

17. Real Time Audio, Continued… • RealAudio Player • Decodes digitized audio sent from the server, initially created by RealAudio Encoder. • Greatly reduces waiting time for downloaded audio files • Generally associated with client side media steaming

18. Netcasting Networks • Radio vs. Netcast Networks • Radio Networks • A Radio Network supplies radio stations with programming, news, commercials. • Ex. Westwood One, ABC, etc. • Netcast Networks • Derived from parent radio networks • Assist radio stations with developing online sites • Supplies netcast stations with current, breaking news, weather, sports, etc • Ex. ABC RadioNet, CBS Radio Networks Online

19. Netcasting Networks, Continued… • Netcast Networks, Cont. • In addition to general support, some netcasts offer real-time cybercasts • Ex. ABC RadioNet’s OJ Simpson trial, Bill Clinton’s Presidential Radio Address • Netcast Networks use streaming technology to deliver real-time news, in some cases quicker than conventional media methods.

20. Cybercasting RadioStations • Broadcast Stations on the Web • Can excel online by providing the only radio link to locations unable to receive conventional radio signals. • Allow users to select any radio station, anywhere in the world • Could result in new arena for competition as Broadcast Stations attempt to attract new advertising markets

21. Cybercasting RadioStations, Continued… • Broadcast Stations on the Web, Cont. • Radio Web Sites compete with local radio stations and newsprint by providing consumer information and advertising • The larger the audience, the greater the market, the greater the advertising dollar share • Web Radio keeps the public informed • Used as a “tie-in” to promotional events by allowing a larger audience to “attend” than physically possible

22. Cybercasting RadioStations, Continued… • Broadcast Stations on the Web, Cont. • Deciding what should be on a Radio Station's Web Site: • Internet Radio • Station profile • Photos of on-air personalities • Program schedule and Play List • Method of feedback (email) • Downloadable audio clips • DJ Biographies

23. Cybercasting RadioStations, Continued… • Broadcast Stations on the Web, Cont. • Internet Radio makes a radio station “Global” • Netcasting allows for an unlimited audience • A radio station’s profit margin can be inflated by offering enhanced advertising packages to virtually any company in the world, provided the Web Radio Site is popular enough.

24. The Internet and theWorld Wide Web • End Chapter 3, Part I.