Trend Watch

Thursday, July 19, 2007

Internet Talk Radios: Gaining Popularity Worldwide

Discussion on various topical issues ranging from sports to entertainment, or hardcore politics has long been a major draw among the audience. Such discussions conducted with a panel of experts on a talk show are something that most of us find irresistible. What has made the talk shows click is the increased degree of listener participation involved in a show. The audience can voice their opinions and pose questions to the panel anytime during the show. With the introduction of Internet based talk radio stations, talk shows have now become even more interactive and cost effective in terms of production.

Internet talk radios are flexible and have a wider accessibility. Listeners can be stationed anywhere in the world but still can listen to and interact on the talk show programs. All they need is a computer and Internetconnection to begin with. Apart from that the cost effective nature of Internet talk radios has made it a profitable business option for many entrepreneurs. As compared to the traditional radios, Internet talk radios are a way ahead in technology and usability. The advertisements can be transmitted in between the breaks of a program as well as during the show at a corner of the webpage. The increasing Internet usage among the audience can only improve viewership count and increase the page views thereby resulting in more ad revenues.

The technology involved in the distribution of Internet talk radio shows is through streaming technology. The data are transmitted over the network in the form of small data packets (TCP/ UDP), which are then compiled together, and played. The streaming technology uses audio codecs (a program that compresses and decompresses digital audio data). The common way to stream is by using lossy audio codec. Among the most popular codecs is the MP3 codec along with Ogg Vorbis, Real Audio and Widows Media Audio.

Internet talk radios will evolve in terms of technology and interactivity in the years to come. A few years back, not many had even heard of an Internet talk radio, but this is now turning into an entertainment and advertising medium as well. A wide audience base, increasing popularity, superior technology and good advertisement revenues will surely make Internet talk radios a way of life.

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Source: http://www.a1articles.com/article_181451_21.html

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