Steve Gilliard has an interesting post that argues in the not-too-distant future we will all pay for radio. While I think he raises some good points, I find myself skeptical. I know some folks who have either XM or Sirius, and who really like it, so I don't doubt for a moment that there's a market out there for it. Steve compares what's happening in radio today to what happened to television some decades ago, noting one key difference:
Cable entered the broadcasting world when TV was at the height of it's influence and power and owning a station license was literally like owning a printing press for money. It was a long shot challenging a healthy industry, but did so by offering things which the broadcast networks wouldn't or couldn't, due to tradition and space.
Radio is in a far different position, corrupt, disdained, controlled by fewer and fewer companies, under increasing restrictions.
This is where I think the problem with his argument lies. Radio has become such a wasteland that I for one have gotten out of the habit of listening to it. I only listen to the radio three times a day: to wake up in the morning, on the way into work, and on the way home from work. Like most people, I suspect, most of my radio listening happens in the car and even there I quickly switch to a CD or iPod. The thought of spending twelve bucks a month to have something else to listen to during my commute strikes me as ludicrous. Avid radio listeners may switch to a pay service, but I am skeptical that XM or Sirius is going to get the kind of traction that cable television did back in the day.
Posted by Jason at December 17, 2005 09:51 AM