EPG Talk At RadioTech Summit
June 3, 2010: Radio Ink's first RadioTech Summit, hosted by Technology Editor Skip Pizzi, wrapped up Thursday with talks on a radio electronic program guide and a discussion on how best to incorporate new technologies into the radio world.
Isotrope CEO David Maxson talked about the NAB FASTROAD-funded project for a comprehensive radio electronic program guide, saying an EPG is "one of those tools that we have not properly recognized as being important." The NAB and BIA/Kelsey have been doing the research since 2008, with iBiquity participating as well, and a market trial has been held in Boston, with radio manufacturers also cooperating.
Why EPG? Maxson noted that the NAB saw enough potential to fund the research, while iBiquity sees EPG driving HD Radio adoption on wireless devices. An EPG will also, he said, help radio in the "digital arms race."
Another potential use for an EPG, Maxson said, is as a visual demonstration of radio's diversity. He said, "If the FCC were to look at a listing of all the programs that are on in Washington, DC, they would see a tremendous amount of program diversity." Diversity, along with localism and competition, is a stated objective of the FCC and will be looked at in the commission's Future of Media Project.
The day's final speaker was Heminge & Condell Chairman Lawrence Wilkinson, who said that, in times of transition, it is best to return to first principles. He asked broadcasters to consider what they should remember -- and the things that have outlived their utility that radio should forget. He asked, "What is the service you live to provide?"
One thing radio should forget, Wilkinson said, is "sticks," saying the broadcast signal still matters, but its importance is receding. He also advised radio to commit less to "stones," or the physical plant, and to the "bones" of budgets, saying that budgets for radio's service will go down as radio is "decommercialized." He said, "We need to figure out how to do what we've been doing for a lot less."
Radio must not be afraid to experiment, Wilkinson said, asking attendees to imagine if they were told they had to make the same amount of money -- but not in any of the traditional ways. "The point is," he said, "we need radically to rethink." If radio gets too wrapped up in just figuring out how to do more efficiently what it already does, he said, "We'll ride that right into the ground."
The conference wrapped up with the presentation of the techINK Innovation Awards. See a list of winners at www.radioink.com/techink.
