But I do have a lot of stupid people that call in. Since its debut last week, the service has broadcast more than 5,000 shows, according to Maggie Battista, director of personal publishing at Terra Lycos, a company produced by the merger last year of Terra Networks and Lycos. Battista says Lycos Talk Radio, created by the Seattle software company Wonderhorse, is the first service of its kind. To become a broadcaster or listener, one downloads free software from the Lycos Web site, which takes a few minutes and only works on the Windows operating system. If the host chooses to take the call, the caller is put on the air.
Hosts also have an array of sound effects at their disposal.
Making the Top 10 Mark Consuegra, CEO of Wonderhorse, a company started by Microsoft veterans that invented the Talk Radio technology and licenses it to Lycos, has grand expectations for the program. The formula includes such factors as how many listeners tune into the show and for how long, and whether listeners call in. A talk jockey can promote his or her show with a Web page profile and a mailing list that will remind listeners to tune in. Because hosts don't compete for time on the airwaves, they can schedule their shows any time. The Lycos program is currently supported by banner ads.