One of my favourite channels on Sirius is the radio classics channel. It airs shows like The Shadow, Dragnet, and War of the Worlds. I’ve always loved radio drama — losing myself in the production and the story. It’s theatre of the mind in its truest form.
I’ve tried audiobooks but without hearing the rain described or listening to someone walk up rickety stairs… it just doesn’t make for the same experience.
Which is why I was intrigued when I spotted this trademark application for “The Virus” — described as “an on-going radio program for broadcasting via satellite digital audio radio services and over the Internet.”
XM Satellite has filed for the trademark which leads me to believe they’re planning an original radio drama series.
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| Drama, The Media Landscape |
Well… it really depends. It was a few decades back when radio drama had its heyday, so you can safely say that the hoards of listeners who have interest in this type of programming would be our elders.
Now, satellite has been a commercial affair of course. Pay this much money and you get your music and talk and sports. Now, I’m not sure many elders would blanket up, light candles to turn on their Sirius box to listen to Good Charlotte.
Neither am I sure that this core audience would pay up in the first place; think about it, do you want to listen to radio drama on satellite or buy groceries for your next meal? They’ll stick to more cheaper ways of communication if they are living hand to mouth, and I assume there are many elders who are unfortunately.
Of course, you can try revving radio drama up for the kiddies and new generation, but what the hell will that accomplish? Most are focused on visual topics, which include their physical image, so how are they going to listen to the latest soap?
I’m not sure, really. It depends on many conditions and ideal environments.
I love radio drama too but there’s so little left. Especially the likes of those and Sam Spade, X-1, Nero Wolfe, The Saint and on and on. Luckily they’re available on podcasts now and I have hours of programming on my player constantly (I NEED a bigger player).
Check out Radio Nostalgia Network, The Golden Age, Old Time Radio Detectives, and Old Time Radio Nostalgia on iTunes. Radio Nostalgia Network even has some of the CBC’s “Nightfall”.
Now if only I could get “Peggy Delaney”…
Now would younger people PAY for radio drama? Probably not. (even I won’t) but I think podcasted dramas could go somewhere. Schedules mean less to them. They expect stuff to be available when they have time rather than being at a radio the same time every night.
Russ M.