ubroadcast provides a platform that gives users the ability to create and broadcast their own internet radio station.
ubroadcast’s Station Manager software allows users to host a live internet talk radio or music show complete with play list support, inline CD ripping, MP3 uploading, commercials and other pre-recorded content.
User generated internet radio stations are far from being new. Live365 and Shoutcast have provided similar functionality for years. Where ubroadcast differs is the simplicity and cost: setting up and running a ubroadcast station is free and the learning curve is close to zero. It’s more internet radio creation for the mass market.
Setup takes no more than 5 minutes. The client is quick to download and registration options are built in. Users can immediately broadcast live content, upload music from MP3’s, or select from music uploaded by other ubroadcast members. There is a lack of depth in the existing ubroadcast playlist; this isn’t a Last.fm or similar site with an extensive music library, it’s strictly user uploaded content and I’d imagine that this will become less of an issue as the service grows.
The only real negative I could find with the service is the need for listeners to download the ubroadcast player to listen to stations. ubroadcast’s John Castiglione told me that “some of the features are unlike anything Internet Radio has seen before, and this level of interaction between the broadcaster and listeners can only be accomplished with our own Player”. The service is free so perhaps asking for Real or Windows Media streaming options is too much.
Professional internet radio station operators will stick with Shoutcast and Live365, but for casual users, ubroadcast is a strong alternative to the more complicated and expensive existing players in this space.
For those looking to test the player, Channel 677 on ubroadcast is currently the “TechCrunch Test Channel” and is playing non-stop music from the Dave Brubeck Quartet.
