The Internet is becoming an increasing important distribution channel for radio. One of the impacts of this is creating online local channels.
ESPN has started getting into this in a bigger way with creating online radio stations in five large cities; New York, Pittsburgh, Dallas, Chicago, and Los Angeles.
Features that will be included with the networks will be local and national radio streams, along with podcasts. There will of course be a steady barrage of updated scores and highlights. Each city will have a local-specific calendar and a variety of online polls.
Large radio channels have already moved online such as Clear Channel, who has almost all of its radio stations online. They've done some different things like having people go to their studios to perform and deliver exclusive performances that are streamed online. They also offer on demand music videos from their large library.
The reason for this strong push is that studies have found that 83 percent of the population is reached using either the Internet or radio on a daily basis.
Also since 2005, the Internet radio audience has exploded by 50 percent. For the U.S. audience, 12 percent of those age 12 and over listened to the radio online last week. For those ages 18-34, 19 percent of them have listened during the last week.
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