7.8 mil seriously?

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jonathan18

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#1189189 5-Dec-2014 10:36

gnfb:
jonathan18: There doesn't seem to be a particularly wide range of internet radio devices around - have they never really taken off? Would the internet not be a more efficient (if not effective) way of distributing 'radio' via such devices, compared to AM, FM or DAB?

My UE Smart Radio is one of the last devices I'd be prepared to give up - with the Squeezebox firmware it not only acts as a variation on a conventional radio (to satiate my National Radio addiction, the stream of which is great compared to that on the Nat Rad app) but also for podcasts as well as Pandora, Spotify (Premium only), and my our music collection via Squeezeserver/NAS.

This great device isn't even readily available anymore - are there equivalents around?

A while ago i had a hankering for a internt digital radio There seemed to be very few about. I see the UE has been dicontinued. You see I would have thought everyone would have one but no
I wonder what else is about?

Perhaps look out for one second-hand? (eg http://www.ebay.com/itm/Logitech-Squeezebox-Radio-all-in-one-network-music-player-/271693599337?pt=AU_MultiFormatMediaPlayers&hash=item3f42335269 , though they don't say if they ship to NZ).

I'd really recommend the Smart Radio - it's not the most powerful (so it's not for parties!) but the sound quality is good. It's also got a decent-life battery, meaning I can use it anywhere around the section or elsewhere in the house. Can be controlled via iPad apps (ours has the Squeezebox firmware so using the Squeezebox app in this case). My father (82) has one and loves it.

There's also the Squeezebox Boom - that's older and I don't think it has a battery, and doesn't have a colour screen - but it's got excellent sound (with surprisingly deep bass for something so small).

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networkn

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#1189190 5-Dec-2014 10:39

gnfb: ok maybe I was wrong but I still think it seems a lot and could have ben better spent elswhere
Like Google shares?

The survey found The Edge, which has the ears of about 454,400 New Zealanders each week, to be the most popular commercial radio station in New Zealand, while Newstalk ZB came in second place with 376,200 listeners, followed by the ZM network with 346,900 listeners, The Breeze with 315,000 and The Rock with 302,100.

Source

Well that's 1.7 Million people served for 7.8m. Seems reasonable to me.

jamesrobert

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#1189224 5-Dec-2014 11:36

NZME. paid a record $7.8 million (including GST) to keep the FM100.1 frequency in Christchurch and also bought 14 others.

The price - $1.8 million more (with no GST) than the previous record 11 years ago - seems astonishing considering the flurry of digital media innovations.

But NZME. radio boss Dean Buchanan said it had no choice but to pay what the market demanded, even as arch-rival MediaWorks was ratcheting up the price by bidding for Christchurch 100.1.

Newstalk ZB is number one in Christchurch and loss of its frequency would have left a gaping hole in the talk network.

(NZ Herald)

jarledb

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#1189385 5-Dec-2014 14:54

If you want a good internet radio with support for Spotify Connect, DLNA and internet radio over Wi-fi (with FM and DAB+ as well), then look at Revo Superconnect - its a radio that has gotten very good reviews and won some awards. The sound quality is supposed to be really good as well (have not tried it myself).

http://www.revoaustralia.com.au/products/superconnect.html

Not sure if anyone sells it here in NZ.

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jarledb

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#1189386 5-Dec-2014 14:58

myfullflavour: Sweden is switching off FM in 7 years time - 9 if they need to give DAB a final push.

Norway is on route to switch off FM in 2017.

networkn

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#1189387 5-Dec-2014 15:00

jarledb:
myfullflavour: Sweden is switching off FM in 7 years time - 9 if they need to give DAB a final push.

Norway is on route to switch off FM in 2017.

I'd suggest it will be delayed.

jarledb

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#1189393 5-Dec-2014 15:03

networkn:
jarledb:
myfullflavour: Sweden is switching off FM in 7 years time - 9 if they need to give DAB a final push.

Norway is on route to switch off FM in 2017.

I'd suggest it will be delayed.

I highly doubt it. But there are forces trying to delay it. It seems like some people like to hang on to old tech, especially when it comes to radio. Strange I think...

myfullflavour

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#1189516 5-Dec-2014 17:09

According to commercial radio Australia:

three million people listening via DAB+ device and now 23% of all radio listening now in the five capital cities is via DAB+.

more and more car manufacturers are putting it in as standard. Ford Mondeo announced yesterday that it is coming with DAB+ as standard next year in its new model.

Family car manufacturers are now starting to put it in. Toyota did it two years ago.

gnfb

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#1189539 5-Dec-2014 18:03

jarledb: If you want a good internet radio with support for Spotify Connect, DLNA and internet radio over Wi-fi (with FM and DAB+ as well), then look at Revo Superconnect - its a radio that has gotten very good reviews and won some awards. The sound quality is supposed to be really good as well (have not tried it myself).

http://www.revoaustralia.com.au/products/superconnect.html

Not sure if anyone sells it here in NZ.

What great looking gear got to get me one of them!

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Gordy7

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#1189596 5-Dec-2014 20:25

jonathan18:
frankv: I'm surprised that anyone listens to radio these days.

My standard practice nowadays for driving to/from work is to have a lot of good music loaded on my phone, play that through the car stereo.

I just find the prattle of the DJs irritating, let alone the adds, let alone the ads telling you the station "plays nothing but music".

Have you heard of National Radio?!

No ads and the listener actually learns something from the experience.

+1 by FM or MW depending on where I am.

Also RNZ by satellite TV network, and RNZ Live on my desktop PC and mobile phone.

Gordy

My first ever AM radio network connection was with a 1MHz AM crystal(OA91) radio receiver.

quickymart

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#1189960 6-Dec-2014 20:01

I listen to the radio frequently (and even work in the industry from time to time). A frequency is like a shop window for a radio station. The OP may not listen to commercial radio, but a lot of other people do. Not all cars have the ability to connect your phone and listen to endless MP3's either. What if you want the news and you're in the middle of the North (or South) Island, far, far away from any mobile coverage? That stinks. But you can get radio reception there.

If they had lost the frequency, can you imagine the hassle of having to tell the audience, "hey our frequency is changing, from next week we'll be on XX.X FM. But don't change your radio now?" It would have been a huge hassle.

Some stations even brand themselves around their frequency. For members in the Manawatu, remember 92.2XS FM? It wouldn't have been nearly as cool if it had been 95.2XS (my personal view, that one) :)

My last car had an un-moveable, basic radio that had AM/FM/CD/Minidisc (of all things), so I was stuck with it. But even in my car where I replaced the radio immediately after getting it, I still made sure AM and FM were fully functional, as well as the USB and Bluetooth.

jarledb

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#1190184 7-Dec-2014 18:20

This is the service for images/media along with the broadcast. It does support both FM and DAB broadcasts. Thought the geeks here at Geekzone would appreciate some more info on it. Its called RadioVIS http://www.bbc.co.uk/rd/projects/radiovis

Dunnersfella

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#1190338 8-Dec-2014 09:18

To answer the question - NZME (formerly TRN) bought it in order to maintain the Newstalk ZB frequency.
Newstalk is the jewel in their crown, and if MediaWorks had bought the frequency they would have inflicted some serious financial damage on NZME's advertising revenue.
Basically, MediaWorks have used the auction process to boost the price up and up and up - so they'll be quite happy to have cost their rivals.
NZME will call it a win as they have managed to retain their 'place on the dial' for their number one performing cash cow... sorry, I mean 'station'.
If MediaWorks had won, it would have been a VERY interesting story in the NZ media landscape.

old3eyes

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#1190345 8-Dec-2014 09:34

Dunnersfella: To answer the question - NZME (formerly TRN) bought it in order to maintain the Newstalk ZB frequency.
Newstalk is the jewel in their crown, and if MediaWorks had bought the frequency they would have inflicted some serious financial damage on NZME's advertising revenue.
Basically, MediaWorks have used the auction process to boost the price up and up and up - so they'll be quite happy to have cost their rivals.
NZME will call it a win as they have managed to retain their 'place on the dial' for their number one performing cash cow... sorry, I mean 'station'.
If MediaWorks had won, it would have been a VERY interesting story in the NZ media landscape.

Wonder if Mediaworks will go to the Government this time pleading poverty and wanting to pay them off over several years like last time??

Regards,

Old3eyes

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