The saga between NetDynamix ( the provider of streaming services to BallzVisual Radio and 2OceansVibe Radio ) and Shawn Dewberry, the author of a scathing report into possible over-inflated statistics provided by NetDynamix, has continued through the last week. MyBroadband, a leading SA online tech news site, asked Chris Grant, NetDynamix CEO, for a number of pieces of information relating to the collection statistics from the aforementioned internet radio stations, including:
- log files relating to streaming activities
- access to servers so that access logs could be authenticated
- invoices for streaming infrastructure
- reports used to calculate streaming statistics
As of Friday evening, none of the above had been provided. However, MyBroadband managed to obtain webserver logs which clearly indicated that a new Flash player only became available on the 26th of June which was after Dewberry’s initial report was released. The implication is obvious that NetDynamix were trying to provide other sources for streaming in an attempt to rubbish Dewberry’s claims.
As of the 1st of July, Chris Grant/NetDynamix have provided log files which were used to calculate audited statistics. Grant now admits they used session information to calculate listener statistics.
The logs were further sent to Touchcast SA ( European-based ), for verification of the results. The results indicate that the listernership is around 200 to 300 on average, a far cry from the 50 000 to 60 000 that NetDynamix, and Darren Scott with much arrogance, trotted out in the media and on air.
While there’s no reason to assume that the 2 radio stations knew about these incorrect statistics, one has to wonder why Darren Scott went online in a scathing attack on Dewberry without independently audited results or having any reasonable IT skills that could validate the information. Not only does Scott come off looking the worst for wear, but NetDynamix has been shown to be potentially manipulating listener statistics.
The legal threat NetDynamix originally had over Dewberry now seems an attempt to discourage Dewberry from continuing with his statements and allegations, which have been validated to an extent by a number of 3rd parties.