This web site has a few purposes since its inception around 2004:
\n– provide a list of AM, FM, and TV stations and links to associated web sites
\n– provide links to the players for stations that stream
\n– provide programming schedules for stations that have regularly scheduled programming<\/p>\n
Since then, a lot has changed:
\n– the number of streaming stations went from a few hundred to 11,000 (2\/3 of all licenses)
\n– the majority of streaming listeners now use mobile devices (iPads, phones, etc)
\n– the iHeartradio and Tunein apps permit access without using the desktop players
\n– desktop players have become bulky complex video ad players
\n– Barack Obama became ruler of America
\n– independent syndicated programming has disintegrated
\n– there is very little interest in program schedules other than Conservative talk
\n– few people come here to find local shows – other than major markets
\n– Windows XP support is ending – which will make my research tools (written in the 1990s) too dangerous to continue to use
\n– talk radio is increasingly not interesting to me<\/p>\n
I don’t see much benefit to spending most of my remining time on earth doing things like looking for the 762 stations that upgraded from abacast 5.0 to 5.1 (one at a time)<\/p>\n
The conclusion I’ve come to is that it is time to pull the plug on item #2 – I am going to stop the maintenance of the player links and direct you instead to the station’s home page. You’ll still see that Rush Limbaugh is on WOR-AM from Noon-3PM ET, but to listen to it, you’ll have to visit the WOR web site and find the iHeart player link there. That will make the station happier – and generally create a more reliable experience. At least for now, I’ll probably retain any simple mp3 playlist links (.pls, m3u) that are useful for wifi radios – the station knows you aren’t using a browser or app to access the stream.<\/p>\n
For probably three years, I do almost all program verification (the 3rd item) using the ooTunes app on the iPhone\/iPad, which means the “quality ratings” (the color of the buttons) are less than meaningful. That goes away too.<\/p>\n
One consequence is people will probably begin to bookmark stations and go there directly, which will reduce traffic here – and over time make the popularity ratings less accurate. That also may decrease the visibility in Google.<\/p>\n
In the past I’ve mentioned removing schedule items where syndicated shows are available free from the syndicator – live and\/or on a 24\/7 Internet loop. People (especially those who work in radio or used to) feel a strong attachment to specific local radio stations – but it is getting clearer and clearer that programming delivery and over the air radio are becoming less and less connected. <\/p>\n
Opinions?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
This web site has a few purposes since its inception around 2004: – provide a list of AM, FM, and TV stations and links to associated web sites – provide links to the players for stations that stream – provide … Continue reading