A radio station in San Antonio is taking computer playout automation to the next level by using a virtual assistant to host a radio show.
KROV has agreed to be the test station for what could be, says the man responsible for putting “Denise” on-air, the future of radio.
Denise is the nick-name for a computer program made by Guile Lindroth and Guile 3D Studios for use as an virtual assistant. But radio presenter Dominique Garcia has pursuaded the bosses at community station KROV to put her on the air.
He claims radio stations should entertain the idea of having the automated voice on-air to potentially save money normally paid to real-life presenters.
He blogged: “Would a human work an entire year straight, 24 hours a day 7 days a week for only $200? Clearly the answer is no. Would a human work 5 years straight, 24 hours a day 7 days a week for a one-time fee of only $200? It is easy to say absolutely not. Depending on the market and how much stations pay their on air talent, the money saved over the years easily adds up by not having to pay humans an annual salary.”
The software still needs to be told what to say but this can be done quicker and cheaper than hiring a full time jock, he says.
Denise will host her first radio show on Wednesday August 24, 2011 from 1pm till 4pm CST. You can listen online at krovfm.com to hear exactly how she does.
Posted on Wednesday, August 17th, 2011 at 8:36 pm by RadioToday UK