How does it ‘sound’? Audiences, broadcasters, and managers on visual radio in Israel

Abstract

In recent years, radio broadcasts on social media have extended to visual radio broadcasts (e.g. Facebook Live) that support a continuous display of viewer comments in real time. Based on 65 semi-structured in-depth interviews, this study presents for the first time the perspectives of the main actors in the visual radio scene: viewers, broadcasters, and radio executives. Findings show that broadcasters generally believe that the recent visual changes to radio, forced by the changing media environment, have an adverse impact on the radiophonic medium. In contrast, radio executives, who set policies, believe that radio must maintain a presence in the visual, viral interactive online space. For viewers, visual radio meets diverse needs, generates enjoyment, and offers the added value of interactivity and enhanced sense of activity resulting from new access to ‘behind the scenes’ of radio broadcasts. This study demonstrates how the theory of technological determinism is reflected in practice, in the radiophonic medium’s adjustments to the features of the new era – visibility, lost anonymity through increased exposure, potential for viral dissemination, and real-time responsivity – despite the fact that these features are contrary to radio’s unique fundamental features. Despite this innovative turn, all actors – executives, broadcasters, and viewers – believe that radio broadcast consumption remains dominated by the traditional in-car audio format.

Kajian Literatur Perspektif Industri dan Teknologi Komunikasi Terhadap Perkembangan Media Audio

“…Hal ini terlihat dari konvergensi stasiun radio pada lanskap online melalui penggabungan teks, video, dan audio untuk kemudian menjadi konten yang disebarkan pada berbagai platform media sosial. Radio visual menyampaikan konten radio tradisional dan menyajikannya dengan item, ulasan musik, klip musik, gambar, dan konten lain yang mengandung elemen visual (Laor, 2021).…”

Radio on demand: New habits of consuming radio content

“…In many ways, digital radio echoes the recent changes in television and television viewing triggered by technological change. These new options have transformed television viewing habits and seriously challenged the television industry, which relies on fixed timetables (Carlson, 2006; Laor, 2021).…”

It's the platform, stupid (-; the elitist nature of sport podcast listeners

“…A follow-up analysis with 100 respondents revealed that their main uses and gratifications are to acquire new knowledge and then share it with peers, thus increasing their social status in the intellectual environment they were part of (Samuel-Azran et al, 2019). In the same year, another largescale study examined 737 podcast listeners, revealing that the main gratifications were controlling the usage of edutainment, the ability to listen to podcasts as part of multitasking, becoming part of an online community and storytelling transportation , similar to how online radio and radio broadcasts on social networks enable the formation of a community (Laor, 2019(Laor, , 2020.…”

“…In the same year, another large-scale study examined 737 podcast listeners, revealing that the main gratifications were controlling the usage of edutainment, the ability to listen to podcasts as part of multitasking, becoming part of an online community and storytelling transportation (Perks et al. , 2019), similar to how online radio and radio broadcasts on social networks enable the formation of a community (Laor, 2019, 2020).…”