WIFM - The Favorite Station to Listen to and Watch

My media consumption habits over the last few months have really begun to change.  As a "radio guy", you know how much I've been watching, learning and playing in the podcasting and technology realm over the last year.

As I thought more about this, I realize that all of us are watching and listening to only one station:  WIFM.

You know, What's In it For Me.  I've used this acronym for years with my sales people, but it is really true now as personalization and  customized content is here to stay (a la TiVo, podcasting, iPods, etc.)

As a guy making his living in radio, my radio consumption is a bit skewed because when I'm listening to radio, it really is a work function.  I haven't really "just listened to radio to listen" for over a decade.

Just a quick review of my recent media consumption:

TV - I can't remember watching a "live" show.  Seriously, dang near never. 
Why?

• TiVo - when Tara and I do actually sit down to "watch TV", we are watching shows we decide to watch and when.  Same thing for our kids.  No longer are they plopped down to watch TV, they are watching shows that Tara has saved on TiVo (and they skip the commercials...)
• Internet - there is just more compelling content out there via the Internet and, I would rather blog or do something more productive than just "watch TV"
• Television shows on DVD - Tara and I got hooked on 24 this season, so now we are catching up in the "off season".  We have rented and watched both season 1 and 2 already and look forward to 3 and 4 before the new 5th season starts. 

Newspaper - I only subscribe to Sunday's paper and have so for years.  Why?  Tara loves to go through the coupons.  I have no need for the newspaper because I get my info from a number of newspaper's RSS feeds, Google News and the blogs I follow.

iPod/Podcasting - I love podcasts.  I have a number that I subscribe to and I will mainly listen while I'm running or while I'm doing work at home.  I listen to shows that have content that interests me.  Triathlon, technology, cycling, music, business issues, etc.  I would say that listening to podcasts has replaced listening to CD's for me.  No longer am I hitting shuffle on my iPod music collection to fill that time.  I am specifically listening to content that has relevance to me.

So, what does all of this mean?  It means that traditional media (ie, TV, radio and newspapers) need to find ways to continually become relevant.  Yes, there are more choices than ever for content, but this is different than "57 channels and nothin' on".  Now, consumers have the choice of what and when.

Having the choice of "when" is more powerful that just the choice of "what". 

So, we (consumers) are becoming program directors of our own station, WIFM.  What, and When is In it For Me?

What about You?!

_____
tags:  tivo | ipod | podcasting | personalization

Comments

[emily]

i love tivo and i pods so much that i have one of both!

love you love,
Emily Megan Sunshine!

[mary]

Podcasting is the wave of the future!-er, the wave of right now.. I remember hearing the word and then the next day saw it EVERYWHERE. Here is a cool article I found on the subject:
http://www.associatedcontent.com/content.cfm?content_type=article&content_type_id=2472
I wonder what they will think of tomorrow..

[K. Todd Storch]

Mary,

I agree with you about podcasting. You should take a look at my podcasting category for some more in depth thoughts: http://www.ktoddstorch.com/business/podcasting/index.html.

Also, you should read my feature, The Future of Podcasting when I had some of the top podcasters, way back in February write about this topic: http://www.ktoddstorch.com/business/2005/02/the_future_of_p_6.html

Thanks!

Todd

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