CNET Networks Expands Digital Audio Programming; Ends CNET Radio AM 910. Driving to work today I tuned to 910 and instead of CNET Radio there was some political talk show. Obviously I haven’t listened for a couple of weeks since they terminated the radio station on January 31.
If you read through their press release, they really promote the benefits of having digital audio content available through their website. I’m sure the costs of running CNET Radio become prohibitive, but it’s unfortunate to see this tech radio station go away. It wasn’t perfect, but it was unique.
Four additional considerations led to this change in strategy:
– Media consumption has shifted to the Internet, particularly for technology professionals and enthusiasts, and is therefore is the best platform to deliver CNET Networks’ audio content.
– Digital audio puts news-gathering control in users’ hands, enabling them to listen to programs when they want to, versus relying on a radio broadcast schedule.
– As reported for months on CNET Networks’ Web sites, and most recently at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES), personal technology devices have achieved broad adoption, enabling access to digital audio anytime, anywhere.
– Underscoring all of these points, hundreds of CNET Radio 910 AM listeners have requested the station’s content for download on digital devices.
I might listen to an occasional audio feed directly from their site, and I might try to download it (maybe in MP3 format?) and bring it with me, but none of these will be as easy as tuning in to 910 during drive time.