Radio's Future Relies on Personal Connections
Luminaries Say One-to-One Relationship and Cultivation of On-Air Talent Will Determine Industry's Fate
SILVER SPRING, Md., Nov. 7 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- A lasting personal connection and a powerful relationship can only be created by the one-on-one interaction between radio personalities and their listeners, according to the industry experts gathered recently for a WORLDSPACE (R) Satellite Radio (Nasdaq: WRSP), one of the world leaders in satellite-based digital radio services, roundtable event.
"I think the key to radio's future success will be to keep it personal and to invest in on-air talent who can do two things really well: connect with the listener and truly entertain," said Jake Karger, an industry consultant with more than 30 years experience at some of the largest radio companies and stations in the U.S. "In the end, it's about using technology to maintain the unique, one-on-one personal connection that only radio can deliver, and using that connection to strengthen the relationship with the listener. Radio, especially satellite radio in my opinion, has the opportunity to be truly innovative and creative in how it reaches out and touches those listeners. I hope the entire industry rises to that challenge."
Over the course of the discussion, panelists agreed that while listeners can and do enjoy their favorite content and programming via an ever-expanding array of technology devices, it is the relationship that they build with their favorite radio personalities that sets radio -- both satellite and terrestrial -- apart from all other media.
Pat Metheny, a world-renowned musician and fellow panelist agreed. "The more I travel and see and perform for people in very different places, the more the people themselves seem alike, the more I realize we have a lot in common. That kind of connection can come from and through radio and satellite radio because it has the ability to reach countless people all over the world. It's a staggering opportunity."
"We at WORLDSPACE agree that radio can truly enable our listeners to make lasting personal connections that are not possible via other media," said William Sabatini, vice president of global programming at WORLDSPACE. "Our content, established and emerging radio personalities and worldwide reach can help us provide that opportunity for one-on-one interaction for our global listeners."
WORLDSPACE currently offers innovative music programming hosted by radio personalities, including The House of Blues Radio Hour, hosted by Elwood Blues (a.k.a. Dan Aykroyd), Hit 40 U.K., hosted by Mark Daley and The Casbah After Dark, hosted by Miles Copeland. Listeners are also offered one-on-one interaction with radio personalities such as Dr. Shekhar Seshadri, who hosts a weekly parenting show on WORLDSPACE's 24-hour Wellness & Lifestyle channel, Moksha, and Ravi Kondala Rao, a famous playwright and actor who hosts the weekly program Humoratham on WORLDSPACE's Radio Spandana channel. WORLDSPACE is committed to increasing the number of hosted programs and is planning to launch radio series featuring new hosts later this year and in early 2007.
"In my opinion, there is enormous potential for satellite radio to reach and touch millions of people around the globe," said Steve Kovsky, senior analyst, digital industry, at Current Analysis. "What this roundtable helped do is bring together a group of people intimately knowledgeable about the strengths and weaknesses of several different media and kick start a conversation about how the best practices of a number of industries can inform and shape the future of satellite radio as it spans the international marketplace."
The WORLDSPACE roundtable event hosted more than a dozen executives, artists, agents and association representatives for a two-hour discussion about the state of the industry and the opportunities for international satellite radio to positively impact listeners around the globe. WORLDSPACE is planning to host its second Round Table event in early 2007 in Europe.
About WORLDSPACE(R) Satellite Radio
Based in the Washington, DC metropolitan area, WORLDSPACE(R) (Nasdaq: WRSP) is the world's only global media and entertainment company positioned to offer a satellite radio experience to consumers in more than 130 countries with five billion people, driving 300 million cars. WORLDSPACE delivers the latest tunes, trends and information from around the world and around the corner. WORLDSPACE subscribers benefit from a unique combination of local programming, original WORLDSPACE content and content from leading brands around the globe including the BBC, CNN, Virgin Radio UK, NDTV and RFI. WORLDSPACE's satellites cover two-thirds of the earth's population with six beams. Each beam is capable of delivering up to 80 channels of high quality digital audio and multimedia programming directly to WORLDSPACE Satellite Radios anytime and virtually anywhere in its coverage areas. WORLDSPACE is a pioneer of satellite-based digital radio services (DARS) and was instrumental in the development of the technology infrastructure used today by XM Satellite Radio.
SOURCE WORLDSPACE Satellite Radio
CONTACT: Judith Pryor of WORLDSPACE, +1-301-960-1242, jpryor@WORLDSPACE.com, or Dan Martin of Brodeur, +1-617-585-2780, dmartin@brodeur.com, for WORLDSPACE
|
