TWR Presentation

04/13/2304/13/23 Interactive Audio ProjectInteractive Audio Project 11

in the wireless worldin the wireless world

How to reach the youth of How to reach the youth of tomorrow with the audible Word in tomorrow with the audible Word in

their heart languagetheir heart language


BackgroundBackgroundTrans World RadioTrans World RadioInternational Gospel BroadcastingInternational Gospel BroadcastingHead office Cary, NCHead office Cary, NCStarted 1952Started 195280 people in Cary office80 people in Cary officeOver 1,000 people world-wideOver 1,000 people world-wideNot-for-profit non-denominationalNot-for-profit non-denominationalApprox $40M in revenues per yearApprox $40M in revenues per year


StatisticsStatistics13 superstations13 superstations

1600 rebroadcast stations1600 rebroadcast stations

6 satellite networks6 satellite networks

over 180 languages and dialects over 180 languages and dialects

to 160 target countriesto 160 target countries

more than 1,800 hours of Gospel more than 1,800 hours of Gospel programs per weekprograms per week

over 1.4 million listener lettersover 1.4 million listener letters


OrganizationOrganization

Originally very centralizedOriginally very centralized– Superstation as critical massSuperstation as critical mass– Run by missionariesRun by missionaries

Today regionalizedToday regionalized– Six regions (by sub-continent)Six regions (by sub-continent)– National partnersNational partners– Local staff predominatesLocal staff predominates


Broadcasting ApproachBroadcasting ApproachOriginallyOriginally– Primarily Short Wave (also AM and LW)Primarily Short Wave (also AM and LW)– Mostly TWR built SuperstationsMostly TWR built Superstations– Aimed at closed countriesAimed at closed countries– Translated Broadcaster programsTranslated Broadcaster programs

TodayToday– SW/AM/LW 13 stations – majority non-TWRSW/AM/LW 13 stations – majority non-TWR– Satellite, FM networks, NP stations, Satellite, FM networks, NP stations,

rebroadcastrebroadcast– National Partners major roleNational Partners major role– Significant local contentSignificant local content


Effect on Information SystemsEffect on Information Systems

Until 1980’s local Until 1980’s local initiatives onlyinitiatives only1980’s – 1980’s – – Standalone micro and Standalone micro and

minisminis– FinanceFinance systems only systems only– Necessary evilNecessary evil

1990’s 1990’s – Networked mini Networked mini

computerscomputers– Email and Email and officeoffice

systems addedsystems added– Expense to be Expense to be

minimizedminimized

TodayToday– PCs and InternetPCs and Internet– Pervasive Pervasive supportsupport for all for all

aspects of businessaspects of business– E.g. digital audioE.g. digital audio– Grudging acceptanceGrudging acceptance

TomorrowTomorrow– Workstations and Workstations and

serversservers– Delivery of content to Delivery of content to

the audiencethe audience– Web servicesWeb services– MissionMission critical critical


Mission statementMission statement


Listener Style ChangingListener Style Changing

Short Wave audience generally dyingShort Wave audience generally dying

Young generation expected as next revivalYoung generation expected as next revival

Phone as personal communicatorPhone as personal communicator

MTV generation – multi-media and musicMTV generation – multi-media and music

Demand for constantly changing contentDemand for constantly changing content

Contention for short attention spanContention for short attention span

Enjoy multiple interruptsEnjoy multiple interrupts


Youth EmphasisYouth Emphasis

KnowingKnowing

TouchingTouching

BuildingBuilding

PlayingPlaying


Technology convergence – Internet drivenTechnology convergence – Internet driven

Year /Year /

Tech.Tech. 19991999 20002000 20012001 20022002 20032003 20042004

RadioRadio Death of Death of Morse codeMorse code

Satellite Satellite networks networks FM/direct FM/direct

Internet Internet multi-multi-castingcasting

SW/MW SW/MW declinesdeclines

SW/MW SW/MW digitaldigital

Interactive Interactive cable / cable / satellitesatellite

PCsPCs Always-on Always-on high high bandwidthbandwidth

Internet Internet applian-applian-cesces

Smaller Smaller form form factorsfactors

Tablet Tablet PCPC

Data / Data / TV / TV / RadioRadio

Central Central server -thin server -thin clientclient

MobileMobile

PhonePhone

Leapfrog Leapfrog landlineslandlines

Text Text messag-messag-inging

Higher Higher Internet Internet band-band-widthwidth

Voice -Voice -data data conver-conver-sion (x2)sion (x2)

3G 3G phones phones adoptedadopted

Bandwidth Bandwidth for videofor video


What is 3rd Generation (3G) What is 3rd Generation (3G) Mobile Phone Technology?Mobile Phone Technology?

Watching video clips from your favorite soap in the train. Watching video clips from your favorite soap in the train. Sending audio live from a local youth church service to the Sending audio live from a local youth church service to the TWR Local Partner for immediate Internet distribution. TWR Local Partner for immediate Internet distribution. Sharing your Moroccan trip with your friends -- from Morocco. Sharing your Moroccan trip with your friends -- from Morocco. Videoconferencing with other friends in a taxi. Videoconferencing with other friends in a taxi.

Although the technology behind 3G may seem complicated, the ways in Although the technology behind 3G may seem complicated, the ways in which 3G will affect all of our lives are easy to describe. Just imagine which 3G will affect all of our lives are easy to describe. Just imagine having a combined audio recorder, digital camera, video camera, having a combined audio recorder, digital camera, video camera, computer, stereo, TV and radio included in your mobile phone. Rich-computer, stereo, TV and radio included in your mobile phone. Rich-media information and entertainment will be at your fingertips media information and entertainment will be at your fingertips whenever you want anywhere there is a wireless network.whenever you want anywhere there is a wireless network.


What new audio technologies?What new audio technologies?Programs transmitted on schedule Programs transmitted on schedule (Broadcast)(Broadcast)– Satellite direct to listener (e.g. Astra)Satellite direct to listener (e.g. Astra)– Rebroadcast through local stationsRebroadcast through local stations– Digital over the air (SW & MW)Digital over the air (SW & MW)– Multicast on InternetMulticast on Internet

Listener selects (Interactive Audio)Listener selects (Interactive Audio)– Internet broadcasting on demandInternet broadcasting on demand– Mobile phone, PDA, Interactive MP3 playerMobile phone, PDA, Interactive MP3 player– Interactive cable/satelliteInteractive cable/satellite– Peer to peer (beyond Napster)Peer to peer (beyond Napster)


Technology factorsTechnology factors

Reliability – disasters and design (MTBF)Reliability – disasters and design (MTBF)Availability – managed down time (MTTR)Availability – managed down time (MTTR)Scalability – initial cost versus long-term Scalability – initial cost versus long-term growthgrowthPerformance – hops and bandwidthPerformance – hops and bandwidthCapacity – GHz and storageCapacity – GHz and storageSecurity – keeping the bad guys outSecurity – keeping the bad guys outAudio inventory – just-in-time content Audio inventory – just-in-time content production and distribution – world wideproduction and distribution – world widePresentation – reusing audio inventory Presentation – reusing audio inventory content for different listening devices, content for different listening devices, automaticallyautomatically

More computers/networks than radio – but manageable


TWR DistinctivesTWR Distinctives

TWR Brand Name TWR Brand Name recognitionrecognitionBroadcaster relationshipsBroadcaster relationshipsManaging local language Managing local language talenttalentManaging geographically Managing geographically distributed productiondistributed productionProducing regional & Producing regional & national program contentnational program contentFinding new transmission Finding new transmission outletsoutletsGlobal footprintGlobal footprint

Organizing distribution of Organizing distribution of programsprograms– Physical mediaPhysical media– InternetInternet– SatelliteSatellite

Follow-up to listener Follow-up to listener requestsrequests

Missionary supportMissionary support– PrayerPrayer– FinancialFinancial

Technical experience in Technical experience in broadcastingbroadcasting

Can we leverage our strengths in new ways?


The Business ProcessThe Business Process

Audio Repository

MetaProgramDescription

Device delivery

Content creation Translation Production

Interactive Broadcast

AudioRepository


Hard QuestionsHard Questions

Who pays?Who pays?– BroadcasterBroadcaster– ListenerListener– DonorDonor– FoundationFoundation– Local churchLocal church

For what?For what?– Per minutePer minute– Per KbitPer Kbit– Per programPer program– For premiums etc.For premiums etc.– For equipmentFor equipment– For projectsFor projects

Cost/demand factors and Cost/demand factors and volumesvolumesHow to make costs How to make costs predictable?predictable?How can we leverage our How can we leverage our existing language talents?existing language talents?Where does new content for Where does new content for youth come from?youth come from?Are we in the Internet Are we in the Internet media distribution business?media distribution business?How pervasive will 3G How pervasive will 3G mobile phones become mobile phones become quickly?quickly?What types of Internet What types of Internet content will be successful?content will be successful?

Interactive listening to the Word


Strategic plan (5 years)Strategic plan (5 years)Focus on partnerships with local churchFocus on partnerships with local church

Youth to create contentYouth to create content

Interactive audio – multiple devicesInteractive audio – multiple devices

Contract out Internet deliveryContract out Internet delivery

Keep control of content managementKeep control of content management

Local server nodes around worldLocal server nodes around world

Partner with phone companies and other Partner with phone companies and other delivery organizationsdelivery organizations


BusinessBusiness– Establish liaison with GospelcomEstablish liaison with Gospelcom– Develop business plan for Interactive Audio distributionDevelop business plan for Interactive Audio distribution– Establish liaison with local phone companiesEstablish liaison with local phone companies– Prototype model for support through local churchPrototype model for support through local church

Technical IT/ISTechnical IT/IS– Design and program Audio RepositoryDesign and program Audio Repository– Research emerging wireless Internet technologiesResearch emerging wireless Internet technologies– Set up initial distribution site (Europe or Asia)Set up initial distribution site (Europe or Asia)

Production and content creationProduction and content creation– Develop youth oriented programmingDevelop youth oriented programming– Implement Quality Control process for radio programmingImplement Quality Control process for radio programming– Implement ‘just-in-time’ audio productionImplement ‘just-in-time’ audio production

Immediate projects – (12 months)Immediate projects – (12 months)


SummarySummaryConstant change is here to stayConstant change is here to stay– Move from USA focus to local support of Move from USA focus to local support of

International churchesInternational churches– Audience from seniors to youthAudience from seniors to youth– IT from peripheral to mission criticalIT from peripheral to mission critical– Broadcast to Interactive AudioBroadcast to Interactive Audio– New media all the timeNew media all the time

Business plan?Business plan?Growth of the GospelGrowth of the Gospel

TWR Presentation

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