Internet Radio Station Takes No Time Overtaking Local Terrestrial Stations

Offering a powerful blend of talk radio and entertainment HighRollerRadio’s programs appeal to web radio listeners is unmistakable. This blend of programming covering sports, entertainment news, playing poker and sports handicapping, wagering news and tips has taken the industry by storm. The interaction of program hosts and industry related guests is not only entertaining but informative.
According to www.Alexa.com a website ranking website owned by www.Amazon.com; HighRollerRadio.com has a higher ranking then some of South Florida terrestrial radio stations on the web. The one of most note is South Florida Sports and Entertainment Leader 790am (WAXY) located on the web at www.790theticket.com. Alexa.com has www.HighRollerRadio.com ranked for 1 week average as of (12-12-2005) at 89,929 placing it in the top 100,000 for English websites in the world, compared to, www.790theticket.com 1 week average ranking of 181,644. This is not an indication of listening audience numbers, just that HighRollerRadio.com website is visited 2 to 1 compared to 790theticket.com on www.Alexa.com. But 790ticket.com is not the only terrestrial feeling the pressure of this internet radio underdog. Another of South Florida talk radio giants 560am (WQAM) a Beasley Broadcast Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: BBGI) station located on the web at www.wqam.com has a weekly average ranking of 257,821 yielding a ratio of almost 3 to 1 with HighRollerradio.com
This trend may be most surprising to sponsors who spend thousand of dollars in advertising and fans of terrestrial radio, but the fact remains that more and more radio listeners are tuning into the web to get their talk radio. Traditionally terrestrial radio stations focus in on a local audience with audio content only limited by the station’s signal strength whereas internet radio stations focus on reaching local and national audiences with visual and audio content. Without directly comparing the signal strength of terrestrial stations with that of internet radio stations, some industry experts suggest that internet radio reach using high speed, wireless WIFI and broadband connections could potentially reach a larger audience via the internet then terrestrial. With more and more computer users at work and at home, on the internet, tuning in to web radio, terrestrial radio stations continue to see audience numbers decrease because audience numbers are comprised within their signal radius.
About 37 million people listen to internet radio, according to Arbitron and Edison Media Research (3-25-2005), spending an average of 2 hours and 22 minutes a day. Most listen to music, but there is a core of about 6.6 million people who listen to news/talk/information radio on the internet for content that is not local. This group; about 8 percent of the U.S. population, has a heavy tendency toward an online media lifestyle, and are "early adopters" of new products.
Another trend that can only make things worse for terrestrial stations is the growing popularly of pod casting and iPods. Pod casting allows internet radio stations like HighRollerRadio.com to provide listeners with downloadable show programs that listeners can take anywhere they go. Pod casting will allow internet radio stations to invade the space that terrestrials have laid claim for so many years, the CAR. Pod casting has been said to be the TIVO for radio listeners. Listeners are able to download their favorite programs and then listen when they want, where they want.
In the media rich environment of the internet users continuing to seek more personalized programming to satisfy their entertainment needs. Mass media outlets like terrestrial radio stations have not been able to provided that personal programming need and are losing touch with audiences. This need will surely be filled by internet radio stations like www.HighRollerRadio.com.