NOTE: I’ve added some additional polls based on early input.
I’ve been toying with this idea for a few months. As many of you know, I currently work in radio, having done TV for 25 years. Logically with that background, with the clear success of WUWT, I’ve been approached more than once about doing a live weekly radio program. Here’s what my radio voice sounds like.
You’re listening to WUWT (click for MP3)
I’ve looked around a bit at what others are doing, for example at the “science” section of BlogTalkRadio. It didn’t take long for me to realize that I didn’t want to be in the same listing with the other people there. Sheesh what a nuthouse.
Doing a radio program is a big commitment. It is also expensive in that I’ll have to setup a home studio and streaming server. My current radio station isn’t properly equipped with live Internet streaming and I worry about breaking what is running now by adding new software and hardware. The last person who tried a hardware/software experiment on live production systems took us off the air for about 15 minutes and is no longer working there.
A radio program also has rewards in that it can reach many people who might not turn to blogs. It also offers a chance to have guests, much like guest posts on WUWT.
I wouldn’t limit the format to just climate, since the namesake is rich enough to cover most any topic. There’s also such a wealth of news each week to easily fill an hour long program.
I welcome input on the idea, and also any software/hardware combos that might be recommended for live radio streaming. I already have several ideas, but readers often surprise me with new ones.
And if I do it, what would be the preferred format?
Audio, video, or both?
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Only worth it for recapping week’s headlines or special guest interviews – reputable people such as Christy, etc.
I don’t think you need go to the whole gamut of WUWT radio but a weekly roundup report in mp3 format with your views, interviews etc would be a great idea.
I’m not sure if this will be of much help on the technical side of things, but I like the podcasts available on http://www.twit.tv (These are mainly computer-oriented technical podcasts with some fun stuff thrown in.) Maybe they have a contact for technical tips for new podcasters?
Google TV is due in May, Google Wave is amazing, Google maps…
It might be worth a trip to Google to chat about some alternatives.
Best,
John
Dear Anthony: I like the idea and I like your radio voice. The name of my consulting firm, Retread Resources, came about when two geologists and a mining engineer found themselves unemployed (1992). I told the other two we would do what all unemployed geologist do, consult. One of my partners said, “you know Dennis, were just a bunch of retreads.” The three of us had worked in many different parts of the earth sciences over the years. We simply keep reinventing ourselves. We have never looked back. Today I am the only one still actively working at Retread, we are all still retreading. I hope you join us in that.
If you haven’t done so already, why not send an email off to William Briggs. He has been experimenting with Podcasts for awhile and may have some advice. His email is posted on his website.
Take a look at this multimedia player/server. It’s highly thought of on ZDNet.com.
http://www.videolan.org/vlc/
By the way VLC is freeware. I don’t know if it’s server capabilities are robust enough.
You could capture/edit and output video as mp3 I think with Microsoft live essentials Movie Maker(a freebie) then serve to the internet with VLC.
I say: do the show, but record it. Nothing is gained by doing it live. As a listener, I prefer audio files like mp3’s because 1) I can rewind them to catch the parts I wish to re-hear; and 2) listen to them on my portable mp3 player while traveling.
There also exists a wonderful model for 2-way video blogging:
http://bloggingheads.tv
BHTV never has AGW skeptics on their shows. I’d love to see this void filled by WUWT or elsewhere. The technological requirements are simple: two webcams and a phone connection. I’d would pay rapt attention to conversations between any pairings of Watts, McIntyre, McKitrick, Spencer, Christy, Lindzen, Monckton, Carter, Plimer, Ball, Stott, Michaels, etc.!
I agree with Janama. Just record and post. You don’t need livestreaming. Tuning in at a specific day and time is tough. It’s an ondemand world.
Please be sure that the content is all science. An hour of hearing about the outrageous things the warmers are up to will not be enjoyable.
I think it would be good for getting the word out to folks who don’t want to sit down and read the sometimes-lengthy pages. I would consider downloading podcasts to keep handy on my MP3 players for sharing with others.
You might want to also consider putting videos on Youtube or some other hosting site. After all, Al Gore got lots of attention with his movie, right? Some well-placed visuals can go a long way.
Your voice sounds good…authoritative…bright…not goofy.
Videos like Mercola puts out would be useful. He includes a transcription a lot of the time, and they can contain links to points that could use further detailed elaboration, and they usually lead into blogged commentary by other readers.
Anthony – This program would provide the full facilities of a recording studio on your PC for little cost. You could record, edit, add music etc and mix down to mp3.
http://www.cockos.com/reaper/
Skype also offers a recording program so you could record interviews via skype.
Yes, a weekly report would be great!
But I wonder what it would take extra to produce a weekly video broadcast!
Something like Joe Bastardi picked up recently with his personal video broadcasts.
It’s nice to combine the spoken word with graphs and visuals creating a stronger message!
I found this website on audi and video streaming software!
http://all-streaming-media.com/stream-broadcast/free-audio-video-stream-broadcasting-software.htm
Are you sure that you have the time, and are able to make the commitment? I would be concerned about similarities with Steve Heally over at the escape pod SF podcast, where he had a few problems with the pressure of things. It’d be a big commitment on your part.
But, if you are seriously confident then go for it,
Anthony,
Your blog is a national asset.
I fear time away would be detrimental.
MP3 interviews would be fantasic.
I’ve been frustrated for years that popular science shows always present leftist or environmental pseudo-science without a trace of criticality, at least for the last 20 years. You’d have to back to the 80s and before to find science programs that didn’t have a progressive slant. I’d welcome a science program that’s primary focus is SCIENCE… that educates and informs people about new research and issues, does not present as fact as-yet-unproven assertions, and debunks bad science.
I’d test it out, i.e. put together several segments of varying length and content, stream/post them on WUWT, see how many listens they get and evaluate the audience response. You might also try one or two with video and see how that goes. Test before you invest…
You’ll never know unless you try.
I think having guests would be great.
Who knows, maybe you could get Mann or Gore to come on!
I say definitely go for it
I also recommend a prerecorded podcast. I would enjoy listening to your program while driving; it’s just too difficult to read WUWT while hurtling down the freeway 😉
Use the technology. Just a few years ago blogging would have been impossible. Go for it.
kewl. Radio Free Climate!
I don’t know if it will make you the next Megastar, but you could post it as a video here also.
It might build quite a following.
Hi,
Nice idea, but with so many of us checking in on your blog from around the world I prefer a downloadable file. Getting up at 2am to listen to a broadcast is not really going to work for most of us overseas:-0
JB
Until I find broadband a necessity and break down and get it, streaming anything doesn’t concern me.
How about a “test run” idea to judge public interest? Post a daily US national weather forecast as an audio file, include the scientific terms in brief explanations like “…due to the negative Arctic Oscillation…” Put it with a click-able graphic on the right side, right-click to download file please. Minimal setup/expense, and you can directly see how popular an audio feature can be. Then you can better gauge how well a streaming feed or even a podcast format would be received.