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It seems that streaming content via the Net is in the news again.
In the UK, British Telecom is gearing up start trials of a "TV over broadband" (TVOB)
service early next year. This service will reportedly offer video on demand
and also carry some live to air content.
This comes hot on the tail of the BBC's move to put an increasing amount of
its audio and video content online for Net users.
Meanwhile, way down here in the antipodes, there's news from Radio NZ which
indicates that they'll be bringing NatRad and Concert FM into the 21st century too.
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Right now, NatRad listeners can catch up on some key programmes via the
Xtra website but there appears to be no long-term archiving or realtime
streaming.
Our own TV broadcasters have been pretty slow off the mark too -- with
only a few lousy advertorial programmes such as
"Good Morning"
being streamed live.
But what's the point of streaming NatRad content anyway?
There can hardly be a town or settlement in NZ that isn't covered by one
of Radio NZ's transmitters so there seems little point in carrying live streams
within the country. And before someone says "but I want to listen at work" then
it's worth remembering that cheap personal radios are very cheap and
quite inconspicuous these days.
But what about live streams to the wider world?
Well the chances are that ex-pat Radio NZ listeners might be more than
happy to have an audio-on-demand version due to timezone differences.
And as for Concert FM content, such as live concerts, this material would
be much better delivered in a medium to high bitrate MP3 format which is
downloaded as a file by the user. A 48-64Kbps live stream just isn't going
to cut it for an orchestral concert!
To be honest, I love Radio NZ's content -- it's fresh, diverse, interesting
and sometimes addictive. I'm still left wondering however, exactly why
on earth they want to spend money and tie up resources by streaming it live
over the Net.
Quite frankly I'd rather see that money and resource put into ramping up
the interactivity of RNZ. No, don't mean that it should be turned into
another form of talkback radio (shudder) -- but that it might be nice to
have a discussion forum or chat area where interested listeners could
share opinions, perspectives and information on content that had been
broadcast.
Has RNZ missed the boat a little with their online strategy by focusing
on streaming?
Would you find streamed RNZ content (as opposed to archived "on demand"
material) useful?
Would you bother listening to a live orchestral concert over a 48Kbps
audio stream?
If so, why?
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