Internet Radio Pioneer BlogTalkRadio Launches New Web Site Featuring Live Talk Radio and Social Networking

Internet Radio Pioneer BlogTalkRadio Launches New Web Site Featuring Live Talk Radio and Social Networking

Growing One-Year-Old Internet Radio Network Enhances Platform for Greater Functionality and Stronger Community Development

NEW YORK, Sept. 17 /PRNewswire/ -- BlogTalkRadio (www.blogtalkradio.com), the Internet's first social radio network, today announced a full site redesign with new features that combine social networking and online audio broadcasting into a free and streaming, user-friendly citizen broadcasting platform.

Originally launched in August 2006, BlogTalkRadio (BTR) is a free, web- based platform which allows any user with a phone and a computer to host a live, interactive radio show. Hosts call into the service by phone, managing callers on the web-based host dashboard. Shows stream live directly from the host's BTR webpage. Since the company's launch more than 8,000 hosts have broadcast on BTR.

The newly redesigned site features live text-chat, a social networking component and video uploading capability. BTR's listeners can also now create member profiles, share preferences and rate and save favorite shows. The enhanced search functions also let users find relevant content in the programming guide and in the archive of 23,000 shows.

"We spent the first year developing the site with hosts in mind," said Alan Levy, CEO and founder of BlogTalkRadio. "Now that we have over 3,500 active hosts and 200 live shows a day, we knew we needed to make the site more functional for listeners, more searchable and more interactive. The BTR platform is all about conversation and now we are building social communities around these conversations."

"We also want to make it easy for the hosts to promote what they're doing. We're adding many Web 2.0 tools, templates and tips for hosts to promote their own content," adds Lisa Padilla, VP of Marketing for BlogTalkRadio.

Once a show has aired on BTR, the archive becomes available for subscription via RSS for iTunes or any other podcatcher. Hosts can also place the BTR flash player on their blogs or websites, so visitors can access archived shows. No downloads are required to host or listen to a show.

During its first year, BlogTalkRadio was responsible for launching a successful grass roots campaign, which included 40,000 pounds of nuts being sent to the CBS-TV network to save the struggling television show Jericho. The network has also hosted live political debates for state and local candidates as well as become a venue for amateur sportscasters.

Notable hosts and guests from BTR's eclectic list include host Marla Cilley, known to millions as The FlyLady; host Mark Frauenfelder of the top- rated blog Boing Boing; host the Los Angeles Fire Department; and guests Senator John McCain and actress Jennifer Hudson, to name a few.

First Call Analyst:
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Source: BlogTalkRadio

CONTACT: Luke Armour of BlogTalkRadio, +1-330-439-4711,
lukearmour@blogtalkradio.com; or Andrew Palladino of Rubenstein
Communications, Inc., +1-212-843-8482, apalladino@rubenstein.com, for
BlogTalkRadio

Web site: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/

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Profile: International Entertainment