Posted by Ken Haelig on September 21, 2005 at 15:30:03:
In Reply to: Re: Article on the failings of terrestrial AND satellite radio posted by Marty Glenn on September 21, 2005 at 14:04:05:
>> Where on terrestrial radio can you hear jingles into "The Streak" or "Julie Do Ya Love Me" on a regular basis? Where on terrestrial radio can you hear stereo 60's style PAMS jingles into "Dizzy" with a screaming talk-up in reverb?
But these are all programming decisions, it has nothing to do with competing technologies. The current state of terrestrial radio is narrow playlists. Satellite can afford to experiment with wider playlists, and if they find success, then there's no doubt that terrestrial radio will be quick to emulate them.
Also don't forget that subscription radio is in its infancy. Like the early days of Internet, the proprietors of satellite radio are making promises that in the long run they won't be able to deliver profitably.
For example, it's widely known that Sirius has contracted Stern for more money than Wall St expects they'll be able to earn from subscriptions alone. How will they make up the deficit? Just like cable television: they'll gradually creep into 1) advertising / sponsorship, and 2) multi-tier subscriptions where specialty listeners will have to buy premium memberships in order to hear their shows.
>> no censors breathing down their backs
No such thing -- unless I'm mistaken, content has always been a matter of the station management's discretion.