Prediction is difficult. Where should I go if they actually have the temerity to close FM? Where I live, the web is not an option because it’s still to costly for most people to get unlimited bandwidth, but it may be for others. Indeed what to do with my portable gear, car radio…Domestic radio and Internet radio will live side by side for a long period.

I don't think we need to worry too much about FM radio being turned-off. It may never happen, unless the transmitters become unmaintainable. Is FM radio not a matter of general interest in most countries, and in many countries required by law, at least for national broadcasts. In my country it is.

Maybe we will get N-Radio at a later stage to BV11, V1,… its already on the new Avant. To this day I am going to make use of the many other radio applications that are out there, the one being better than the other. And best of all, most are free.

Chris wrote:

....Domestic radio and Internet radio will live side by side for a long period......

True, but.....

......in Denmark the FM radio is 'planned' to close down in 5 years time.

I guess they want to 'force' people to switch to DAB (or rather DAB+) instead.

Personally I would prefer the Netradio option. I already use that most of the time (via AirPlay).

I had hoped for it to come for my V1 now too - makes the use of it easier.

Things are evolving fast nowadays (bandwidth increasing too). Soon Internetradio will be very common - just look at the hundreds of small networked audio devices (with speakers), that are on the market already. And think of all the Smartphones!

Still we need a possibility for our cars for a while - but there will be adapters sending DAB (or Internetradio) to the FM band in the radios in the cars as an interim solution.

So - I am not expecting any 'old school radio' from B&O for the future!

MM

Really cool post this guys! I've worked in radio and radio management for most of my career so I really know the UK scene AND it's really bizarre and totally unstable!

Over the last 10 years we've LOST over 250 local commercial radio stations to the two big business fat cats Global & Bauer who simply use their london studio.

DAB is very much a year 2000 format hated by most radio owners. It's plagued by poor signal strength and the majority are now brooding in mono at 80kbps! Shocking isn't it. The radio bosses argue that DAB radio listeners only listen on a single speaker radio! Jazz FM has even pulled out of DAB apart from London and simply focus on streaming, apps & Sky/Freesat.

There's still no decision in the UK as to when FM will be switched off.

The majority of radio stations now see Apps for example the iPhone as the way to listen to radio now. It's capable of hi res audio broadcasting plus it's of value to the station because of its interactive side along with 'buy this now' on iTunes! Personally, I love it as it allows me to listen to Ibiza Sonica and many other cool stations from around the world instead of the ghastly drivel that comes out of the FM dial in my area! I'm sure Heart and Capital only have 10 cheap tracks on their iPod! And they wonder why the youngsters have left radio all together and stuck with Spotify!

I was really suggesting that B&O might be better to focus on the availability of  high quality N Radio as a marketing tool. I agree that other forms of radio will be with us for some time.

Someone unfamiliar with B&O would not have the faintest idea what a Playmaker, (or its latest reincarnation) or Essence was, but if these devices had an N Radio focus and capability explanation then I am sure more would sell to new customers.

Graham

I'm not sure what the demand would Vikinger. I guess it depends on who B&Os target market is and even me as a Marketing guy, I honestly don't know who the B&O customer is.

With B&O being especially bad at software, this may be even more unstable. Just like that new Moment will probably be a little horror due to horrific software bugs!

I think a lot of Internet radio listeners do as we do in the radio industry and simply push our content from our iPhones and iPad MINIs to whatever system we use. The Apple route is certainly rock solid!

Has anyone noticed the BeoPlayer app won't work? It's been four weeks since i've been able to listen to internet radio on it!

vikinger wrote:

Someone unfamiliar with B&O would not have the faintest idea what a Playmaker, (or its latest reincarnation) or Essence was, but if these devices had an N Radio focus and capability explanation then I am sure more would sell to new customers.

Graham

The Essence is the most expensive 'radio' that B&O ever sold.

If you don't want - or want to pay for - Spotify Premium and/or don't have any idea of DLNA, it does nothing but play Netradio.

It might even in some cases be used for just one station - which then easily can be turned on/off via the 'remote wheel'.

And maybe for AirPlay'ing once in a while??

I think they had too much focus on Netradio with that - because it was supposed to be easy-peasy to use, cut down to the essential.

Bose has at the moment (no pun intended) an interesting concept with their small devices.

Not that I am in for Bose (NOT at all).

But the 6 free programable buttons on the front makes these boxes very user friendly - you don't have to pick up (or find) your phone to choose something else to hear.

No need for B&O to focus too much on radio - some people never even listen to radio.

Problem is: who are the new B&O costumers/the target market? (But this question perhaps really deserve a separate thread.)

MM

Paul W wrote:

Has anyone noticed the BeoPlayer app won't work? It's been four weeks since i've been able to listen to internet radio on it!

Mine is working - at least my three favorites.

MM