Progressive Networks launches the Timecast streaming guide
Progressive Networks launched Timecast, a Web-based guide designed to help users discover live and on-demand RealAudio programming from dozens of Internet audio sources.
Historical context
By early 1996, streaming audio content was appearing across many unrelated websites. The technical problem of playing streams was increasingly solvable, but discovering when and where programming was available remained difficult.
What happened
Timecast organized links to streaming and archived audio programming from news, entertainment and other publishers using RealAudio. Contemporary reports described more than 60 sources at launch and presented the free service as a programming guide for Internet audio.
Consequences
Timecast introduced an important aggregation and discovery layer to streaming media. Its programming-guide model anticipated later streaming directories, portals and recommendation interfaces that organize content produced by many independent publishers.
Related people
Sources
- HEARD ON THE BEAT : Subscribing to Idea of Charge for Net EditionLos Angeles Times
- Radio News, Music on the Web / Software lets users listen to what they want, wheneverSan Francisco Chronicle / SFGATE