Herb Louis wrote:

Why do we need "networks" anymore when we have one giant amorphous
Inter-network to distribute just about any kind of media you want?

Funding is the only reason I can think of. Programs such as "This American
Life" couldn't be produced without the backing of the 500 Public Radio
International member stations carrying the program.

I noticed the latest market ratings for SF & Sac show some audio streams
creeping in on the bottom of the ratings. I assume that is a
relatively recent phenomenon.

Or it may be an anomaly due to one PPM user happening to listen to a stream
from time to time.

Look at Leo LaPorte. He still has his radio connections otherwise he
is pretty well self contained. Can't Art Bell (for example) or anyone
else with a following do the same thing?

But both Leo and Art are distributed by a network, Premiere, the distribution
arm of Clear Channel.