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Global Web Radio Set To Local Time

An innovative project aims to make Internet Radio finally hit the right note at the right time, thanks to a new broadcasting system developed by Dutch-based international radio programmer and consultant Terry Purvis...

An interesting new project aims to ensure Internet Radio can finally hit the right note at the right time, thanks to a new broadcasting system developed by Dutch based international radio programmer and consultant Terry Purvis.

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Amsterdam On Air is the world's first international radio service that has the built-in ability to adjust it's programming output to the local time of each individual listener.

Mr. Purvis, who has successfully programmed stations in the UK, South Africa and Greece, describes it as "the missing link" which now lets radio - in the traditional sense - connect to an audience utilizing the global nature of the internet to it's full.

"Radio only works in a certain way and that means a schedule segmented into time bands, or dayparts", he points out, "and without the ability to schedule programming according to the listeners time of day radio, in the proper sense, is dead in the water".

He believes that this explains why "on-demand" and "generic-music" services are proving so popular. People are tuning into the internet in their millions for radio-style entertainment and it's all they can find. But this now beats all that into a cocked hat" he says.

Open source

The local-time system Mr. Purvis has developed is built entirely with open-source php scripting and JavaScript and he's keen to stress there's no spyware, adware or any type of malicious file sneaked inside it. The reverse is true as it meets new XHTML compliance standards and has been designed with user safety and security in mind. A listener simply clicks on and is automatically connected to the right show at exactly the right time on the schedule - according to their local time.

The station is now testing the system at http://www.amsterdamonair.net/ - with a full schedule aimed at the over 25's starting at the end of June this year.

Project history

Amsterdam On Air is the result of a long study into producing a viable broadcasting model for internet radio operators by Terry Purvis - who also heads up "radiocor" which owns and operates the station and website.

After successfully creating and running Radio Corfu International - internet based holiday radio from Greece, in 2003 - it became apparent to him that broadcasting effectively across time zones was the biggest challenge facing internet radio. Mr. Purvis also quickly realised that advertisers actually have very little real knowledge about the true nature of the internet audience as modern research techniques are, in his opinion, at best unreliable and have led to many misconceptions.

Many months and countless overflowing ashtrays later Amsterdam On Air is internet radio that's time sensitive to the local time of the listener and delivers the right show at the right time. If you like its "local radio for the global village" and best of all it works!

System Requirements:

All site facilities are accessible using any common operating system like Windows, Linux or a Mac and with any internet browser. However, these common components are needed too:

* Either a WinAMP media player.

* Or with Windows Media Player.

* Or using a nifty Java Applet - Java Runtime needs to be enabled and installed.

* Plus a JavaScript enabled browser - easily set in internet preferences.

* And a good internet connection - Anything over 100kbps is ideal.

The radio system works best with WinAMP - using the Window Media Player and the Java Applet are okay too, but it does not work with RealPlayer or QuickTime - their fault not ours. Tests are being carried out for itunes compatibility shortly.

Technical Details:

Amsterdam On Air is built on open-source software and scripting. The entire website and radio system is driven by php code and JavaScript - great technology.

* The website engine is e107 v7 from http://e107.org/ - the best CMS in the world.

* And the radio system is derived from an open-sourced script by RadioToolbox at http://www.radiotoolbox.com/.

All modifications and adaptations of the original scripts have been made under the legal requirements of the GNU and are therefore licensed accordingly.

Ethos driving the enterprise
Experience has proved that conventional methods of streaming or broadcasting live radio programming over the internet cause problems for listeners and broadcasters. In addition there is very little actual knowledge and undersatanding of the internet radio audience, as current research methods have proved to be unreliable.

Amsterdam On Air believes that it's timezone-free web server streaming system provides a stable, reliable and efficient service combined with superior reporting, research and profiling capabilities and takes radio on the internet to a new level.

The system is now being upgraded for full launch with some new features designed to enhance its overall flexibility and Purvis believes it's certain to become a standard for internet broadcasting.

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About Amsterdam on Air:

Amsterdam On Air is taking shape and getting ready to roll with it's new system of providing local radio worldwide. Local zone streaming is now on-line and testing. It's all pretty technical at the moment, but check the system out - please have a listen and make sure it's fine at your end too. You can relax and forget the usual internet hype, the sort of stuff that describes itself as "podding" this or "on demand" that. It's not a "media-rich" experience or even the robotic list of songs masquerading itself as "radio". Amsterdam On Air is just great radio first and foremost and it's tuned into you and your timezone. It's free, no subscriptions and no spyware. Contact Terry Purvis at terry.purvis@planet.nl or via the Amsterdam On Air website at www.amsterdamonair.net for further information or comment.