But why would anyone want to listen to radio on a computer when there’s a perfectly good radio in the car? “It’s audio on demand,” said Richard Liebhaber … “The Internet is becoming the ultimate special interest magazine.” Cyber-radio could end up being a passing fad or could be a significant new form of communications. While Internet broadcasts are now commercial-free and designed to market regular shows, the broadcasts could ultimately be commercially viable for advertising to millions of people. In any event, radio via computer is a tangible demonstration of the convergence of communications that is fast-arriving as the lines between computers, television, radio and other media are being blurred. Tomorrow’s radio and television could be your home computer.
Predictor: Ruiz, Frank
Prediction, in context:In a 1995 Tampa Tribune article, journalist Frank Ruiz discusses how radio will change with the Internet. He writes:”On Christmas Eve 1906, Reginald Aubrey Fessenden made history with the world’s first radio broadcast at Brant Rock, Mass. On Tuesday, a new era started with the first live broadcast via the Internet worldwide computer network of a Major League Baseball game, the 6-5 Seattle Mariners’ victory over the New York Yankees. While the computer, telecommunications and cable industries are racing to be the first to bring video into America’s homes, a revolution in cyber-radio is already here. So far, more than 300,000 people have downloaded the free software necessary to listen to radio over the Internet. With the click of a mouse button, through a computer’s speakers, they can listen to ABC Nightly News with Peter Jennings, music, talk shows, or more than 100 other radio or television programs. But why would anyone want to listen to radio on a computer when there’s a perfectly good radio in the car? ‘It’s audio on demand,’ said Richard Liebhaber, managing director of the investment research firm, Veronis, Suhler & Associates in New York. ‘The Internet is becoming the ultimate special interest magazine.’ Cyber-radio could end up being a passing fad or could be a significant new form of communications. While Internet broadcasts are now commercial-free and designed to market regular shows, the broadcasts could ultimately be commercially viable for advertising to millions of people. In any event, radio via computer is a tangible demonstration of the convergence of communications that is fast-arriving as the lines between computers, television, radio and other media are being blurred. Tomorrow’s radio and television could be your home computer.”
Date of prediction: January 1, 1995
Topic of prediction: Getting, Sharing Information
Subtopic: General
Name of publication: Tampa Tribune
Title, headline, chapter name: Radio’s Newest Wave; With the Click of a Mouse, Through a Computer’s Speakers, Listeners Can Tune into Radio Via the Internet
Quote Type: Direct quote
Page number or URL of document at time of study:
Page 8
This data was logged into the Elon/Pew Predictions Database by: Guarino, Jennifer Anne