The "Drive Time Ear-Time" Race

Apple sold approximately 4 million iPod's during the holiday season and now the rush is to bring products to the market so you can listen to it in your car.

I personally am happy with my $30 iTrip, but there are plenty of offerings in the $150+ range that you will be able to buy.

The real trend I see here is what I'll call the race for "Drive Time Ear-time".  The time you spend in your car, getting from place to place is what the real issue is here.  The "TiVo" experience in the car is what the market seems to be demanding and the iPod seems to be the device to get it done...for the time being (almost any .mp3 player will do).

Time Trax has their device to record satellite radio and dump it to an iPod.  If you haven't heard about this, get ready, you will.  Especially with the new Sirius/Ford announcement yesterday.  You know publicly traded XM Radio can't wait long to make their "new" announcement, right?!

You know Adam Curry and all the podcasters are loving this as well!  Don't know what podcasting is?  You will very, very soon.

[read] Apple's iPod rocks car-stereo makers via
[read] Sat Radio Recording Moves Ahead via
[read] about podcasting

Comments

[Bren]

Todd, just curious... Is your station getting jittery about the potential for podcasting to take a bite out of their listenership? Will your station be offering "exclusive" podcasts with content not available elsewhere (and advertising opportunities not available elsewhere)?

I'm really interested in how Big Radio will be responding to podcasts...viewing them as threat or opportunity?

[K. Todd Storch]

Bren,

We are looking at some really interesting ways to offer content similar to podcasting, but not to be disclosed at this time. It does offer different types of challenges for a broadcast radio station to just start "serving up" content.

Does radio see podcasting and other digital media as a threat? Of course, but there are some that will continue to do nothing and other company's that will offer many ways to connect to traditional radio.

Todd