Jo Whiley's Radio One Webpage

Jo Whileys Radio One Webpage



At the top of the page are the options to email Jo and read her biography – both are designed to allow the consumer a more personal link with her – they can find out more about her or interact with her directly.



There is also the option to listen online to her last 5 shows, making the nature of listening to radio a lot less linear and a lot more flexible and adaptable to suit the consumer.

The bulk of her page is taken up with an ‘On the Show’ section, offering information about past events and guests. Consumers can see pictures and get inside information about popular artists.



There is also a ‘Coming on the Show’ section. By including this, Radio 1 is creating an interest in her shows before they air, and encouraging people to watch in order, for example, to listen to a band they particularly like or to enter a competition running that week.

At the bottom of the page is a ‘Messageboards’ section which links to the main Radio 1 message boards, and allows consumers to discuss Jo’s show. This forum is likely to have a very specific, niche audience, who share a special interest in her show.

On the right hand side of her page is a menu, shown below:



All the features are designed to give further information to consumers, and to interest them further. The ‘Our listeners also like’ recommendation feature gives something back to the consumers, and is also a clever tool by radio 1, as it encourages consumers to listen to more radio 1 DJ’s by playing off the fanbase they already have.

Finally, there is a ‘Jo Whiley’s Links’ section, with websites such as her MySpace, the Tottenham Hotspur website and the Prison Break webpage. This menu has a number of functions. Firstly it allows consumers to feel as though they know Jo better, and can read about many of the things she likes in real life. Secondly it provides publicity for other websites, encouraging them to either do the same or look more favorably on Radio One in the future.



Summary

As expected from a Radio One site, this webpage offers a lot of interactive features, and aims to give something back to the consumer and get something in return. It would probably be viewed by a niche audience who would be encouraged to enter into many of the available activities, such as posting on the message boards and emailing Jo herself.

The Radio 1 Website

The Radio 1 Website

Homepage

At the top of the homepage is a bar which stays no matter which sub-page you click on. It details the DJ/Show playing at the moment, and gives the options to listen live or to view the webcam. The homepage then has the headings for the main genres, as well as some key artists/celebrities such as Lethal Bizzle and Sienna Miller. There are small boxes containing links to the Official Singles Chart, the Radio 1 Playlist and the Entertainment News sections of the site. The homepage is designed to allow all the features to be accessed easily and quickly, encouraging people to use the website more often. Towards the bottom of the page there are links to free downloads and most popular tracks. At the bottom are links to RSS Feeds, Podcasts, Interactive TV and Mobile links. These are all examples of interactive and converged technologies, showing that Radio 1 is up-to-date and has a focus on including its consumers. Another interesting feature of the homepage is the ability to change the colours of the background and menu bars – this is something I have not seen before, and suggests that in the future many more aspects of websites could become interactive.

The homepage has a menu down the side as shown below:



Listen/Podcasts

You can download free Radio 1 podcasts from the site, available to listen to on your computer/iPod. Because they are free, podcasts have a wide audience, and allow consumers to listen to the station whenever they want, which is a good example of personalization. They allow further penetration: ie, where before you could only listen to the radio on the radio, there are now other channels of distribution that allow for greater flexibility and encourage brand loyalty, as they are downloadable every day.

DJ’s/Shows

The DJ’s and shows can be sorted in different ways. Firstly, there is a list in alphabetical order, and you can also order them according to genre. This makes it easy both to find a specific DJ/show and also for fans of a particular genre to find the shows they would like. There is the option to ‘listen now’ to each of the DJ’s/shows, which allows consumers to get a quick sample of a DJ/show without having to tune in to their radio at the right time of day, which might not always be possible. For a further breakdown of Jo Whiley’s radio show, see my related blog.



Schedule

The schedule offers easily digestible information about whose on and when each day, making it easy for consumers to find what they are looking for in a small amount of time.


Genre homepages

There are 5 genres of music identified, each with its own homepage. The genres are Daytime, Dance, Rock/Indie, HipHop/RnB and Experimental.

Events

The events page has information on both past and future events, which allows consumers to feel more included, as they know all about what the station is planning, and can even book tickets to some of the events. From an industry point of view, it is also good publicity for these events.

News

This is one of the most interactive sections of the website, offering consumers the chance to text or email their say on some of the recent news events. There is also entertainment news, and a specific entertainment podcast, to offer something to viewers who do not like conventional news.

Messageboard

A good example of an online community, the Radio 1 forums features a loyal group of users who enjoy talking about their shared love of music, and even of the specific genres. You also have to register before you can contribute, which gives Radio 1 each members email address, allowing them to send advertisement emails to consumers, and even making them more able to personalize the information that they send.



OneLife

This is another highly interactive section of the website, featuring ‘chat,’ ‘fun and freebies,’ and ‘vote.’ All these sections are designed to get consumers interested and involved in a number of different areas, including education, health, finance and work. This section offers helpful advice, directed primarily at young people, as this is also the target audience for the radio station itself.

OneMusic

This section offers advice to aspiring music-makers and those interested in the radio industry. This allows the consumers to become producers, and it is likely that this section of the website has a loyal fanbase due to its niche focus.

Help

This section ensures that consumers can access everything they need from the website, and will not get frustrated and leave the website with a bad image of the brand in mind.

The E4 Website

The E4 Website

Homepage

The E4 website is fairly simple, with the homepage containing small boxes of information about the most popular programmes. To see a breakdown of one of the programmes individual websites, see my blog about the Skins webpage. To the right hand side is a menu displaying the E4 TV listings for the day, as well as a link to listing for the week. The simple layout means the website is easy to navigate, while the TV listings act as a form of advertising, designed to get consumers interested in what they can watch at that moment. At the bottom of this menu is four links, Estings, Espeak, Esketch, and How to get E4.



Estings

Estings is a competition to design a series of idents for Channel 4. The competition element is designed to get consumers involved, and to feel a part of the production element of E4 as well as the consumption. An added benefit to Channel 4 is that they can use the idents for publicity, both on the website and on the channel itself.



Espeak

Espeak seems a strange section of the website if you read the summary:

‘E-SPEAK is a huge purple E4 shaped capsule type thing that falls from outer space and crashes into places around the UK. Once landed, you can step inside it and get filmed talking about whatever you jolly well like.’

However, this does allow interactivity with the brand, and seems somewhat of a cult hit, with many consumers viewing the people ‘talking about whatever they jolly well like.’

Esketch

Esketch is similar in terms of interactivity, it allows consumers to draw a sketch which has the chance of being displayed on the website. This competition similarly encourages interaction with the brand, and allows consumers to feel involved with the production of media.



How to get E4

This section of the website provides information about how to get E4, making it much easier for prospective customers.

Summary

The E4 website seems to center more around information than the channel 4 website, but has a similar level of interactive content, with competitions designed to include the consumer in the making of media, and therefore feel a greater brand loyalty.

The C4 Website

The Channel 4 website

Homepage

The homepage has a menu down the side, which shows all the main pages, as well as a list of the top TV shows, with links to each of their channel 4 pages. This allows consumers to easily navigate to their more niche interests, or their favourite programmes. The main headline is ‘Get free stuff,’ on a Skins background, which appeals to a lot of consumers, and is an example of Channel 4 rewarding loyal consumers. There are more links to programmes further down on the page, and a link to ‘The Ultimate Friends Quiz,’ and the Games page, which shows the more interactive features of the website. On the right hand side is a Channel 4 TV schedule for the evening, allowing consumers to quickly scan what’s on, as well as encouraging them to watch. Below this is the latest news headlines, showing the more serious side to C4, and providing something for an audience who are not interested in gaming. Finally there are external adverts for Sky and Honda, which provides a source of revenue.



Watch Online

Channel 4’s watch online service is called 4OD (4 on demand), and is a key example of interactivity and personalization. Consumers can choose what they watch, when they want to watch it and are not bound by the linear nature of traditional television scheduling. This is the explanation featured on the website:

‘You can now download your all time favourite Channel 4shows and films to your PC, on demand. 4oD is quite simplyanother way to get your TV hit, 24/7. You can delveinto the Archive, catch up on programmes you missed inthe last month and even pre-book upcoming ones.’

The 4OD programme itself is free to download, encouraging consumers to at least take this first step, and you pay per programme after this, meaning each individual programme purchased is cheap, with no big initial outlay like there is for a provider such as Sky. There are free shows each week as well, which gives consumers a taste and leaves them wanting more.



TV

The TV section of the website has links to Channel 4’s sub-brands, such as E4, More4 and Film4. When clicked, each of these links shows the top programmes and gives that evenings TV listings for the particular channel. There are links to particular programmes, which all have their own C4 pages. For a deconstruction of one of these pages, see my blog about the Skins website.



Entertainment

This section of the website contains a range of different pages, with the menu on the left offering film, games, music, sport, T4, 4laughs and thisisaknife. This is another interactive section of the website, designed to give something back to fans of specific interests such as films or online gaming.



Lifestyle

The lifestyle section also has a huge range of different topics, ranging from gardening to motoring. It is notable that many of these pages do offer interactive features, such as a ‘Name that car’ quiz, where you can win prizes, an added incentive for consumers to compete. The lifestyle section offers advice to consumers as well, on everything from money to diet, while at the same time advertising programmes that are on the same subject. For example, the health section has links to the pages for ‘You Are What You eat,’ and ’10 Years Younger.’

News

The news section is fairly standard, but there are some added extras. For example, you can read blogs from the channel 4 news team, and there is also a forum, which encourages interactivity and loyalty to an online community. There is also specialist news sections, such as Science, Arts and Sports.

Documentaries

The Documentaries section is divided into Culture, Faith and Beliefs, History, Fourdocs and Science. Each of these sections offers news, a forum, quizzes, games and competitions. This is a way of getting people, and it suggests young people, more interested in documentaries, by making them more fun and interactive.



Interact

The interact section of the website includes features seen on other sections of the website, such as forums, but also includes mobile links, and free downloads for mobiles, a Take part section where consumers can apply to appear in channel 4 shows, and 4talent, a website where amateurs can display their work.

Summary

The channel 4 website seems to revolve around interactivity, with each individual section containing interactive features. It aims to present news and information in an interesting and up-to-date way while attempting to include the consumer as much as possible, and get them interested in channel 4 as a brand, encouraging loyalty.

The Skins Website

The Skins Website

‘Us’ Section

Introduction to the characters, including:
- An ‘about me’ section, so that the consumer can feel they ‘know’ the character, and have inside information on them, giving them a more personal link to the show
- Fave tv shows – an opportunity to market other channel 4 programmes – for example Scrubs on Michelle’s introduction
- Fave movies
- Fave bands – includes links to their channel 4 websites – more subliminal advertising for channel 4 products
- Fave websites – links to external websites – more opportunity for channel 4 to earn outside revenue
- Photos and video diary – again to give the consumer something unique and personal which they cannot get elsewhere or from the TV show

Sign-up

Gives you the opportunity to become a member of the Skins community, where you will receive benefits such as being able to view ‘unseen skins,’ weekly emails, exclusives and ‘free stuff’ such as a free song download. It allows channel 4 to send emails about their other products and services, and also helps them to track the progress and success of the programme.

Episodes

Contains episode summaries to keep-viewers up-to-date if they miss an episode, and encourage them not to stop watching if they do miss one. It also contains a link to the Skins MySpace page.

Unseen Skins

Each week an unseen, unavailable on TV, mini episode of Skins is released, which is only available to members of the Skins Community. For the consumer this offers exclusive content, allowing a feeling of being one of a limited number who gets to view these, making them feel more valued. For channel 4, it encourages customer loyalty, both to the website and to the programme. It is also motivation for consumers to join the Skins Community (discussed above)

Competitions

These competitions were all before the actual launch of skins, to encourage consumers to get involved early on, and to feel a part of the programme before it had even started. They also got people talking about the programme and created an early hype.

The competitions were:

- to redesign the logo
- to style the characters for a shoot in More magazine
- to compose the music which will accompany a scene in episode 5
- to create a short film based around one of the characters

The first three areas all mean less work for the production team, while the fourth gives the programme extra publicity.

Trailers

The trailers, which were available before the episodes were shown, similarly create a hype, and allow consumers to rewatch as many times as they want. The videos also have channel 4 adverts before they begin, which cannot be skipped.

Forum

The forum allows the most interactivity on the site, with users able to create topics, or add to existing ones. The forum creates an online community, where users can talk for as long as they like with people who have a shared interest. They may not otherwise have people to talk to about Skins, and by giving them a portal for discussion, the website also encourages people’s interest in Skins to grow beyond simply watching the programme, and turning them into a much more interactive and dedicated fan.

Advertising

The Skins webpage, like all the other channel 4 webpages, contains internal and external advertising, as well as a link to the sponsor (BSM’s) website. This brings in revenue for channel 4, as the more consumers log onto their site, the more willing companies are to pay for advertising space. As the Skins website contains interactive and exclusive content, with particularly the ‘Unseen Skins’ encouraging loyalty, as they are released weekly, it is likely consumers will feel a lot more involved in the programme, encouraging them to watch, which in turn earns more revenue for channel 4.

The Superman Returns Website

The ‘Superman Returns’ Website

Contains:
- Trailer on the homepage – allows consumers a preview, so they feel special, and also encourages them to see the film
- Information about the DVD, including all the added extras – encourages them to buy the DVD
- Information about the HD DVD and the blu-ray disc – similar to above. Also another example of new technologies
- Story, cast and crew – More information – again allows consumers to feel involved
- Insider information: about the production, the special effects, the origins of the story etc.
- DVD trailer

- Theatrical trailer
- Clips from the DVD (x3)
- Set gallery
- TV spots (coming soon)
- Still images from the film
- Links to other websites, including the Superman Returns MySpace, the Daily Planet website, partners such as the video game, website perfectmatch.com, Duracell batteries and Papa Johns pizza – encourages interactivity (ie visiting/commenting the MySpace) and advertises its sponsors

- Mobile phone links, such as numbers to text to get downloads, information and quizzes – creates revenue and gives consumers something back – unique content unavailable elsewhere
- Film images that you can put on your own website (codes provided) – free source of marketing
- Downloads, including:
1. Wallpapers
2. Buddy icons
3. Posters
4. Screensavers
5. Stickers
6. Iron-ons
7. Headed paper

Overall, the features on the website encourage the consumer to feel included in the production of the film, and draw them in by giving them previews, giving them more reason to watch the film or buy the DVD. They also provide different sources of revenue, mainly from texting and advertising.

iPhone

The iPhone


INTRODUCTION

Features:
- Touch screen controls
- Ability to play and store music
- Ability to play and store video clips
- Internet accessible
- 3.5 inch display
- 320x480x160 pixels per inch resolution
- Visual voicemail - no listening to a machine, just scroll through your messages and choose which one you want to listen to
- 4 GB or 8 GB capacity
- Built-in mic for audio recording
- 3.55 mm headphone jack
- 2MP camera
- Photo editing software
- Conference calling
- Speakerphone
- Support for Google Maps
- Text and multimedia messaging
- Wi-fi internet connection
- Stereo bluetooth
- Likely personal organiser features although unconfirmed
- A proximity sensor knows when you bring the phone to your ear and then dims the screen and shuts off the touch screen
- The ambient light sensor adjusts brightness and saves power
- The accelerometer knows when to switch between landscape and portrait orientation
- Battery life: 5 hours for video or calling, 16 hours for music playback

What is it replacing? It is a replacement for three areas: portable music playback, mobile phone and portable internet device/personal organiser.

Why is it relevant? Because it presents a new ultimate for convergence. The plethora of features go further than any phone previously, and with the elegant and simplistic design consumers have come to expect from Apple, this phone is expected to enjoy as great success as the iPod.




AUDIENCES

Which social groups are expected to take a particular interest? As with the iPod, it is likely that the core consumer will be the young (ie between 16+30 yr olds), with a possible focus towards males due to the design and features accentauted, such as internet. It is possible that a secondary audience of 20-35 year old business people will also develop, as the high cost of the phone makes it more appealing to people who can afford to, and will see the most benefit from buying a high-tech gadget like the iPhone.

What are they doing with it? The multitude of features allows a lot of scope of use for the iPhone. The young audience will likely be using it primarily for music and video playback, as well as using the internet. The business market will be using the internet and email features, as well as the personal organiser aspects it is predicted to have.

What are they doing differently? While no one feature (with maybe the exceptions of the answering machine facility and the sensors) is unique, the combination of SO many, such high-quality features is unusual. The iPhone is designed to be an amazing all-rounder, and, unlike the previous 'big' music phone, Motorola's ROKR, the features are enhanced rather than limited.

INSTITUTIONS

Who is involved? The maker of the phone is Apple, while the network provider will be limited, with Cingular as the sole network the phone will be available on.

Benefits? The benefits for Cingular are obvious; greater revenue and a hugely increased consumer base, all signed up for at least two years, as this is the minimum contract length for the iPhone. The benefits to Apple as having Cingular as their sole provider are less obvious, with suggestions that they were only linked because Cingular is the only provider to support random access voicemail. This is seen as a bad decision by many, with one prospective consumer telling: "Beautiful phone, but Cingular is a deal-breaker for me."

Apple spent a huge amount of money investing in the iPhone, both in creation and development, and in marketing. However, Apple has a reputation as the most innovative, and the most design-orientated, and, with the iPod still at peak popularity, it was a good time for Apple to invest and prove their status.

KEY CONCEPTS

What key concepts are involved? The most notable is convergence, but the iPhone also displays many other key theory concepts, such as personalisation, miniaturisation and portability.

How? The use of convergence is obvious: the iPhone is everything, from a phone to a music and video player to an email and internet tool to a camera to a gaming console. The iPhone also offers great scope for personalisation, even down to the way the consumer uses the memory - for example some may use a large proportion for storing music, while others may prefer to use it to store gaming data. The iPhone also allows many technologies to be portable that were previously only accessible at home. Video playback and internet access are two of the most notable, while the 3.5 inch screen ensures that these activities do not lose their enjoyability.