Podcasts are fun to listen to, but they’d be even cooler if you could listen live and IM your feedback to the host in real time. The soon to launch service BlogTalkRadio will make that possible.
BlogTalkRadio is targeting bloggers who want to hold a live telephone conversation with up to 5 people on a phone line at once. Anyone can listen live to the call on the phone or through Windows Media Player, like a live web radio show. Listeners can also download an archived copy of the conversation later. Revenue from contextual advertising is split 50/50 with show hosts.
The site is live and users can register for accounts, but it looks like calls won’t be able to be performed until tomorrow.
Will a significant number of text bloggers want to go live by voice through a service like this? I’m not sure they will, but if they do BlogTalkRadio looks like a good service. It’s certainly trying to cross some barriers into easy multi-media self production - and make it live. In cases where the two media are integrated well this could be very cool.
The New Jersey company is headed by CEO Alan Levy, a telecom entrepreneur who sold a previous start up called Destia Communications to Viatel.
Previously profiled TalkShoe is a similar service, but requires a Windows only desktop client. TalkShoe has a more complicated revenue sharing model and doesn’t say what percentage of the advertising goes to show hosts. It allows up to 25 callers at once, compared to BlogTalkRadio’s 4 callers at a time. Waxxi, another service we’ve profiled here before, offers a similar service. Radio Handi is yet another option, see below in comments for more info.
BlogTalkRadio looks simple to use. Blogging requires one skill set, though, and juggling live phone conversations mixed with IM from listeners requires another. I imagine that a relatively small number of good blogs will produce good talk radio through a system like this. But maybe I’m wrong. I’m sure many people will want to give it a try. If successful, live talk radio could offer a powerful way to deepen the connection between a blog and its readers.
Sounds like a great tool. The thing with blogging is that the natural evolution of the conversation bloggers have with loyal readers will demand that they develop more in-depth communication options with them. This seems like one of the ways it can happen.
I write for LandingTheDeal.com, part of the Know More Media network, and we’re always looking for ways to push the envelope in discovering new methods for communicating with our readers. This seems like a natural…still very personal, but much more interactive.
I think there are real significant application for sales related blogs: Imagine having interested prospects reading the blog, and then being able to have a more in-depth permission based conversation with them that would allow them to ask questions and relate back to the seller in real time! There are great possibilities.
Great article. Thanks for the heads up on this new service.
It’s an interesting idea, but I think what makes a good blogger and a good radio host are often 2 different thins. Sure, successful bloggers are intelligent and interesting - but that’s not the whole picture. If you ever listen to sports radio, the most successful hosts are the ones with a certain persona.
Some of the driving factors of a talk show host’s success include the tone and pace of their voice and how exciding theay sound.
BlogTalkRadio’s FAQ says five simalutanious callers, in stead of three callers(?).
Yasu, thanks. I’ll make note.
Richard Vobes of The Richard Vobes Radio Show has been doing this for over a year on his podcast. He has pioneered live call in shows, live video shows and full interaction with his listeners. Listeners can communicate with him while he is recording his show live via his chat room, IM, Skype, GoogleTalk, Gizmo or even the plain old telephone. http://www.vobes.com/ or watch him live at http://vobes.camstreams.com/
You should also make a note of Radio Handi, which was first demoed in January at O’Reilly’s Emerging Telephony conference. It is a comprehensive group communication and mobile broadcasting platform. It can do blogcasting, although we’ve found that more people are interested in using it to telecast live events like lectures, classes, etc.
The service enables people to create a community about any topic, and then to:
* conduct conference calls with 2 to 50 callers, accessible via a local call in > 30 countries (worldwide via direct VoIP)
* listen to any public conversation as a live MP3 feed, playable on most media players (24kbps feed)
* post voice messages to a group voice message board (accessible via phone, also sent via email to group members)
* send an email to all or a subset of a community by emailing yourgroup@radiohandi.com or yourgroup.subgroup@radiohandi.com
* send a broadcast SMS to your group via our shortcode
* conduct SMS chats with your groups as well
* we also telecast participating broadcast and internet radio stations, just dial any RH access number, the dial the station’s 4 letter callsign to listen in (we’ll also be hosting mobile optimized MP3 feeds for people who have stream capable mobile devices)
* new website with the requisite AJAX “bling” coming soon
Communities can use whatever combination of tools they need. Someone who’s hosting classes can use the telecasting feature so people can listen in by phone or MP3. Someone who’s organizing a club or sports team can use the email and SMS listserv features. Families or groups of friends can use the conference bridge to host weekly reunions. Someone who wants to do guerrilla broadcasts needs only a mobile phone and a decent mic and they can broadcast from anywhere, anytime.
The service is in beta, and is accessible globally via local numbers in over 30 countries, and worldwide via VoIP (via direct SIP calls, or via peered VoIP services including Gizmo). If someone wants to contact me, I am glad to provide more info about the service, etc…
PS - next time you need to host a conference call, BCC invite@radiohandi.com and it’ll create a conference bridge and email dial in instructions to everyone.
alrighty… enough of the shameless plug.
Seems like another answer to a question no one is asking. Why, exactly, would I want to listen live to some of these folks that have no talent and then call them?
There’s a reason talk radio works, it’s because talent is behind the microphone. But, I guess if you can get enough people cllicking on ads, anything will work.
As founder of TalkShoe, I’m excited to see this market space developing. Not to hog anyone’s limelight but I’d like to expand a little bit on TalkShoe’s capabilities as referenced in the article:
- TalkShoe now offers both Mac and Windows clients!
- TalkShoe can support up to 1000 talkers and shows of any length. In August, two 12-hour LIVE concerts are planned, and they will also be recorded in their entirety.
- TalkShoe already supports access from any regular or mobile phone, as well as Skype and other IP services, but in early August a virtually unlimited number of people will also be able to listen live via audio streaming to their computers. Of course, all (streamers, phone, and VoIP) can text chat with participants.
That said, I wish the best of luck to our compatriots at BlogTalkRadio. Congratulations on your launch. We’re all helping expand this market.
Now, this is something worth checking out! Sounds like it will be beneficial. Kudos for a good idea!
as a blogger that invented YummyEarth organic lollipops, we get lots of questions via email and on the blog that would be better addressed in an actual phone conversation that both organic candy lovers and industry insiders can listen to and participate in. kudos to BlogTalkRadio!!! Thanks for what I feel will be an invaluable service to us.
Well there has been around very cool tools for the personal radiostation already. Look at LiveSupport by an organization Campware. That product is almost too cool.
A few errors were made about TalkShoe. Our software client is both Windows and Mac. We can have up to 250 talkers and text-chatters, and unlimited listening streamers. Our largest show so far, with Leo Laporte of TWiT, had 930 concurrent users.
It should also be noted, that some VOIP services and phones do not work with Blog Talk Radio, but it is a very great service, it’s a novel idea being able to upload content such as music and sound clips.