I’m glad the people from BlogTalkRadio are finally getting some well-deserved attention in large-market newspapers. The Newspaper Association of America had a very positive experience with Mel Taylor and John Havens when we invited BlogTalkRadio to the NAA Marketing Conference earlier this year. Taylor interviewed more than 10 digital media gurus during the conference, and you can listen to all the interviews at www.blogtalkradio.com/naa.
Howard Kurtz of The Washington Post reported this week:
A year and a half after New Jersey businessman Alan Levy launched the venture, BlogTalkRadio is averaging 2.4 million listeners each month for programs that range from politics to the paranormal, along with sports, finance, food, religion and romance. The Pentagon recently started two shows on the network.
The question is whether this is a flash in the pan that appeals mainly to geeks and those with a need to talk to someone -- anyone -- or whether, like blogs, online radio could explode in popularity.
Most shows are hosted from home by bloggers who need no special equipment and pay no fee. The only requirement is that they put a link to the program on their Web site. On BlogTalkRadio's site, visitors can search for programs by name or category.
The process is nearly idiot-proof. The host logs on to a Web page with a password, types in when he wants the show to air, and then -- using a garden-variety phone -- calls a special number. The computer screen lists the phone numbers of guests or listeners calling in, and the host can put as many as six on the air at once by clicking a mouse. Listeners can download a podcast version later.
Kurtz is right: The process is definitely pretty fool-proof, as long as there’s an analog telephone line available. A number of the interviewees noted how effective and simple the technology is, and many said they were interested in partnering with BlogTalkRadio at some point for their newspaper’s Web site.