[BC] The Cost of Streaming

[Vernon Kuehn]

At 06:00 AM 4/4/2008, Paul Walker wrote:

>On one stations "Friends Of" website at http://www.friendsofmvyradio.org/ they
>say their streaming cost $500,00 a year.
>
>That's nearly $42,000 a month.. more in a month thensome make in a year.
>
>What in the world causes it to cost so darn much?

My first guess after looking over the website you 
referenced,  looking at the station's own website, FCC records, 
Radio-Locator, and a Google or two:

They are quoting the TOTAL BUDGET of the station.  They are on 
Marthas Vinyard.

A more "traditional" station would say "We have a streaming web 
site".   I think these people have an Internet Station that would say 
"We also own a radio station".

My great love in life has always been the small town radio 
station.  One can make the argument that the traditional small town 
radio station still operating in the same mold we have known for the 
last 60 years cannot survive.  (I know.  Now we will get into an 
argument about how small is small and what other qualities go into 
the definition.)

These people run a gift shop on line.  The  owner is a marketing 
company.  The affluent travel to Marthas Vinyard.  They discover this 
artsy-fartsy radio station doing things nobody back home is 
doing.  They go home and listen to the streaming.  To let their 
friends know they are cultured enough and affluent enough to go to 
this Island, they order items from the on-line shop to put in their 
home, or give to friends.  If they sell a little bit of advertising 
to the locals, that's just gravy on the potatoes.  Sounds like a 
business plan to me.  (The founder probably has a BEAN COUNTER for an 
advisor or partner.)

You're smart and innovative, Paul.  Think you can package up the 
essence of Abbeville and sell it to on-line listeners?

Vernon Kuehn
Cumming  GA

P.S.  Lest you folks think I am being over-the-top 
sarcastic......   I know a market where I am trying to formulate 
something that might work about that far out.

P.S. #2  It's a real shame the owner has to make those tax deductible 
trips to look after his/her business interests.