Digital distribution and the radio industry
How have digital technologies affected how audiences can respond to radio?
- The podcast is easily accessible and downloadable for free!
- Easier for the audience to talk to each other about it, using social media. Therefore the issues and themes are more easily spread
- Complicated techniques that engage audiences such as overlapping sound are extremely easy to accomplish
- In addition to BBC Sounds, the podcast can be streamed through Youtube and Spotify. Allows audiences a variety of different points of access
- The use of digital editing software such as Adobe Audition makes editing audio significantly easier than before. Also, accessibility of digital recording equipment has liberalised the production of audio media
How does BBC Sounds use its web portal to maximise audience engagement?
- If the website looked unappealing and was difficult to use, it would minimise audience engagement. However, the website has been designed to effectively engage audiences.
- From the top of the page: high contrast colourful images with high engagement
- The colour orange has connotations of hope and energy, and constructs a clear brand identity.
- The thumbnails on the top strip are colourful and easy to access. The majority of audiences will default to live broadcasts, and this ensures that audiences get what they want.
- However, as audiences move from left to right, they can access more niche shows, and therefore this allows the BBC to address plurality
- Simple, straightforward, web 2.0 layout will appeal to many target audiences
How have digital technologies affected how we listen to radio?
- Digital tech has made radio far more accessible.
- Use of integrated apps allows for remote listening around the country and the world
- Everything is digital, everything is connected. For example social media integration allows audiences to instantly share their thoughts with a huge audience!!
- It allows audiences a huge variety of shows, allowing audiences to access niche shows
- Digital convergence has allowed for ease of access, and allows younger audiences an enjoyable experience when interacting with media such as radio
- Freedom to access shows at any time, rather than relying on scheduled releases
- Easier to produce radio shows!
- Accessibility! Mobile phones make listening to radio as easy as simply downloading BBC Sounds and creating an account. This allows radio to appeal to a winder and more diverse audience
- Personalisation. Using a service like Spotify, algorithmic optimisations allows platforms to present audiences with more of what they want to listen to. However, this arguably only presents audiences with a narrow viewpoint of media, as certain companies are able to pay to be included in this optimisation
- Mobility. Due to the fact that podcasts can be downloaded, they can hypothetically b listen to on other planets
- Quick, easy, convenient. HYHGP is hosted on Sounds, Spotify and YouTube, which provides audiences with options
- Allows audiences to repeat, rewind, fast forward
- Allows audiences to distribute, share and edit the podcast themselves