More Competition

[Radknowski]

Is this the beginning of the end of satellite radio? For quite some time, posters on this board, notably Sir Roxalot, have presented a case for the demise or at least the cooling off of satellite radio, citing Wi-Fi and cellular streaming.

Today's Inside Radio brings word of cellular's reality:

The era of hearing a local station on your cellphone has arrived in a major way.
It's a $2.99-a month subscription thing, as Clear Channel puts CHR Z100, New York - and eventually 100 other stations - on the phone through a new deal with Cingular. It gives the user both streaming and on-demand content (to hear a favorite tune, recent interview or phone bit). Among the perks for subscribers - the ability to see song titles and artist names for the last 10 songs played and to receive text messages about upcoming songs. The first sponsor of the mobile radio service is DKNY Jeans. CC's Jeff Littlejohn says "if we get even 1% of Z100's audience of 2.5 million [to subscribe], it would be quite a
large number."
[/Mike]

 

[Yeziknoradio]

Is this the beginning of the end of satellite radio? For quite some time, posters on this board, notably Sir Roxalot, have presented a case for the demise or at least the cooling off of satellite radio, citing Wi-Fi and cellular streaming.

Today's Inside Radio brings word of cellular's reality:

The era of hearing a local station on your cellphone has arrived in a major way.
It's a $2.99-a month subscription thing, as Clear Channel puts CHR Z100, New York - and eventually 100 other stations - on the phone through a new deal with Cingular. It gives the user both streaming and on-demand content (to hear a favorite tune, recent interview or phone bit). Among the perks for subscribers - the ability to see song titles and artist names for the last 10 songs played and to receive text messages about upcoming songs. The first sponsor of the mobile radio service is DKNY Jeans. CC's Jeff Littlejohn says "if we get even 1% of Z100's audience of 2.5 million [to subscribe], it would be quite a
large number."
[/Mike]

This is just a joint venture right? Cingular and Clear Channel are still two different companies?
In Canada, for example, if Rogers Cellular were to toss 100 stations on their cell phone service, I'm pretty confident all 100 stations would be rogers owned stations. (like, CHFI, or Jack FM etc.)

 

[Mike Sheridan]

I think it's a really cool idea and I hate to be a wet blanket....but:

I'm lucky to get enought talk time on my cell phone's battery as it is!

Eventually 100 stations....I assume CC stations? More of the same old stuff I can hear on the radio for FREE? So I guess there won't be any all news, classical, big band, smooth jazz, or oldies formats. After all someone over 50 might listen and they can't have that!

The reason most go to Satellite Radio is for content,content, content.

I'd say Wi-Fi has more and better posibilities. Given professional programmers and amateur programmers, I have to give the amateurs my vote. At least they provide something different and most amateurs do it because they have a passion for it.