The internet provides radio with a way of staying in touch with loyal listeners when they're out of town or on vacation. It allows people who've moved the chance to stay tuned to the station they love.
But does this really help much, Radio is a local thing, so you can argue that it really doesn't matter if Joe or Jill in Thompson, Manitoba are tuned into the Blaze in Cornwall. Unless one of Cornwalls clients are planning on opening a new store in Thompson and even then.
One plus is for Sports stations, such as the TEAM 1200 in Ottawa, or the FAN 590 in Toronto....or any station with the broadcasting license for a sports franshise, they have the chance to grab listeners who want to hear their team, after all everyone knows someone who loves a team thats 1000 miles away. Will national advertisers take note off this, probably, but how soon? This plus come's with a built in minus however, just ask the FAN 590 how many listeners they get over the internet for a Toronto Raptors game......the answer zero, the NBA wants to make the money from their games so the fan can't braodcast the game. I imagine this will bring some legal questions, we'll see what happens down the road.
So now your thinking shouldn't Q107 be worried that people in Toronto might decide they like the New York feed of Howard Stern better and just listen to it. Probably, already happens......ditto for Dr.Laura et al.
What about that big contest thats running in say Kelowna, BC and get's won by Joe from Truro, NS....not exactly rewarding your listeners.
This barely scratches the surface but hopefully is giving you something to think about. Bottom line....to keep an internet audience your probably going to have to be original, creative and up-to the minute with new's etc.....sound familiar?
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