Terrestrial Radio Broadcasters Must Stream Their Broadcasts in Today's World

Terrestrial radio broadcasters are facing stiff competition from streaming services like Pandora, Spotify, and Apple Music. In response, many terrestrial radio stations are launching their own streaming services to compete with the likes of Pandora and Spotify. However, these new streaming services will not be enough to save terrestrial radio from falling out of favor with listeners who have more options than ever before. The only way for a terrestrial broadcaster to truly compete with the likes of Pandora and Spotify is by broadcasting their live stream over the internet in addition to regular AM/FM broadcasts. Here’s why...

Streaming Is The Only Way To Compete With Streaming Services

There are several key differences between terrestrial radio and streaming services like Pandora and Spotify. These include:

1. First, terrestrial radio broadcasts are only available to people with a traditional AM/FM radio receiver. On the other hand, Pandora and Spotify are available on more than 100 different devices, including computers, smartphones, smart TVs, and even smart watches.
2. Second, Pandora and Spotify are primarily internet radio services. As such, they can easily be accessed by people across the country and around the world. Terrestrial radio, on the other hand, is tied to a local broadcast signal, making it available to a far smaller audience.
3. Third, Pandora and Spotify are ad-supported, whereas terrestrial radio is ad-free. This means that terrestrial radio stations will have to compete with internet radio stations on price alone. This is an uphill battle, as Pandora and Spotify have millions more monthly users than the average terrestrial broadcast.

Terrestrial Radio Stations Must Adapt Or Die

As the popularity of streaming continues to grow, terrestrial radio stations will face increasing pressure to adapt. This means that, at some point, terrestrial broadcasters will either have to launch their own streaming services or begin broadcasting their shows over the internet. Fourth, some terrestrial broadcasters may also try to get in on the streaming action by purchasing an internet radio station.

There are many internet radio stations for sale, and terrestrial broadcasters may find it relatively easy to buy one and begin broadcasting their broadcasts over the internet. However, the real question is whether terrestrial broadcasters can survive without having their shows stream over the internet. The answer is a resounding “no”.

Streaming Helps Terrestrial Broadcasters Go Where Their Audience is

As we mentioned earlier, Pandora and Spotify are primarily internet radio stations, which means people can listen to them on all sorts of different devices. This includes computers, smartphones, smart TVs, and even smart watches. As such, terrestrial radio broadcasters can only reach their listeners via AM/FM radio, which is a far more antiquated technology.

The only way terrestrial broadcasters can reach their listeners on multiple devices is by streaming their shows over the internet. This will allow listeners to tune in to terrestrial radio broadcasts from the device of their choice.

Terrestrial Radio Should be Broadcasting Over the Internet Already

To be fair, many terrestrial broadcasters have begun streaming their shows over the internet. However, this is not always the case. As we mentioned earlier, terrestrial broadcasters are facing stiff competition from streaming services. Some of these broadcasters are even launching their own streaming services to compete. This means that terrestrial broadcasters who do not have their shows available over the internet are at a serious disadvantage.

Conclusion

Terrestrial radio broadcasters who want to survive must start broadcasting their shows over the internet. This will allow them to reach a much broader audience, and make it easier for listeners to tune in. We expect that many terrestrial broadcasters will begin launching their own streaming services in the years to come. However, we also expect that many of these streaming services will be offered as a complement to an internet radio broadcast. Indeed, terrestrial radio broadcasters who want to survive will begin broadcasting their shows over the internet. This will allow them to reach a much broader audience, and make it easier for listeners to tune in.

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