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NPR One

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Re: NPR One

#21

Post by jclos »

netcan wrote: post #14
x1798DE wrote: post #6

I don't understand why this needs to be an app. I listen to many things that aren't NPR, and I don't want to switch between BeyondPod and NPR One just to get some sort of curated list. This reminds me of a few years ago where a bunch of podcasts were offering personalized apps that just downloaded the archives and maybe some extra content. I might have paid for the extra content, but I didn't need an app on my phone…

Podcasts (especially on android) is still remarkably broken for most people. I have installed an app and subscribed to several podcasts for a number of people who are below average in their tech literacy. They all fail at being able to consistently manage the app and get the content they want. Finding and subscribing to a new podcast, even if they know which one they want and can get to the website is an almost 100%…

It's a bit offtopic but have you tried PocketCasts? I have been using it extensively on Android and recommended it to many tech-illiterate (the kind of people who think facebooking makes them computer literate) friends with relatively good success.

Re: NPR One

#22

Post by mesh »

tormeh wrote: post #11
rglover wrote: post #2

Super cool. Only thing, though, is that they should be charging for this. Seeing as how NPR stations rely on listener donations, this seems like a missed opportunity to earn some extra revenue and bolster the budget for stations.

But it's NPR... It's government-owned, right? A public broadcaster? Can they legally charge for anything?

fyi, NPR is is publicly and privately funded, but is not owned by the government.

There is a good article here on its status:

http://www.npr.org/yourturn/ombudsman/2001/011228.html

"Legally speaking, NPR is a private, not-for-profit corporation chartered by the District of Columbia and qualified by the Internal Revenue Service as a "501(c)(3)" organization exempt from taxation. "

Re: NPR One

#23

Post by grrrando »

Anyone else find the concept a little weird? NPR is already like this in many ways (heavily left-leaning) so this argument is already somewhat moot, but: hearing news stories tailored just for me sounds ignorant. News shouldn't be a thing which I am allowed to filter based on my biases.

Re: NPR One

#24

Post by msluyter »

dctoedt wrote: post #9

If this catches on, it might disintermediate (EDIT: or accelerate the existing disintermediation of) the local public radio stations, which will then lose donations, which will then be less able to do local reporting. (Of course I'm not sure our Houston public radio station does all that much local reporting to start with.)

I think this has happened in part already. Although I try to listen to my local station (KUT) via their app, I also use the NPR app to time shift programs like All Things Considered that I tend to otherwise miss. (If you miss a program by an hour or so, the NPR app won't let you listen to a program that's within some window of its broadcast time, but you can listen to it any public radio station currently broadcasting it.)

I also listen to shows that aren't carried locally, and of course, time listening through the NPR app is time not spent listening to KUT directly (which I probably would do if there weren't alternatives, because I'm pretty much an NPR junkie).

Re: NPR One

#25

Post by colanderman »

dctoedt wrote: post #9

If this catches on, it might disintermediate (EDIT: or accelerate the existing disintermediation of) the local public radio stations, which will then lose donations, which will then be less able to do local reporting. (Of course I'm not sure our Houston public radio station does all that much local reporting to start with.)

Perhaps with the local content it promises to play, it will play local pledge drives?

Re: NPR One

#26

Post by mschaef »

dctoedt wrote: post #9

If this catches on, it might disintermediate (EDIT: or accelerate the existing disintermediation of) the local public radio stations, which will then lose donations, which will then be less able to do local reporting. (Of course I'm not sure our Houston public radio station does all that much local reporting to start with.)

I think you're on to something. When our local public radio stations start their pledge drives, I almost immediately switch over to the podcasts for the duration. There's more latency in the stories, but you also miss the continual pledge advertising.

Re: NPR One

#27

Post by minivan »

Cool, hopefully it will replace the All Songs Considered audio stream (which is great).

Side note: Is it just me, or this "scroll to reveal stuff in steps" is a bit frustrating? It seems to be used more and more often and I am sometimes puzzled by the fact that I'm missing the scrolling step. I try scrolling and get either too far (which shows half an image coming from above) or don't get anywhere (which makes me scroll more and skip steps). Here's an example: http://www.spendeeapp.com/

Am I doing something wrong?

Re: NPR One

#28

Post by jfeser »

gee_totes wrote: post #12
TwiztidK wrote: post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I have a strong feeling that they will charge for it eventually. Maybe the app will ask them to donate as they use it?

I have a strong feeling that when your local station's pledge drive begins, the app will use your location data to generate notifications about donating, which you'll be able to do through the app. At least, that's how I would do it. NPR is missing out on a big donation opportunity by not taking advantage of an app store's built-in in-app purchase/donation infrastructure.

It already includes a donation link under the station name. Right now it just sends you an email with donation info. Hopefully they can streamline that in the future.

Re: NPR One

#29

Post by tormeh »

MBCook wrote: post #15
tormeh wrote: post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

But it's NPR... It's government-owned, right? A public broadcaster? Can they legally charge for anything?

They're not government owned. They're get a subsidy through the appropriate government agency (don't remember the name at the moment) but it's only about 10% of their budget and they are free to act however they wish. NPR is not state media. That would be Voice of America, which is not allowed to broadcast in the US.

I just looked it up and it is allowed to broadcast domestically since 2013. Anyway it kind of seems a bit quaint in the face of BBC world service.

Re: NPR One

#30

Post by arcticfox »

I was hoping that I could say: "Yes, I like Radiolab" and "No, I don't like Wait Wait Don't Tell Me", but that doesn't seem to be a feature. This would be perfect if they added it!
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