RTÉ and the Independent Broadcasters of Ireland (IBI) have done a deal with UK company Radioplayer to provide 43 Irish radio stations on the Radioplayer platform by early December.
Developed in the UK, Radioplayer already provides a similar service for UK stations and has also launched in Norway, Belgium and Germany.
Consisting of a desktop player, backend tools, a natural search engine, mobile apps on iPhone, Android and Windows Mobile, tablet apps on iPad, Android and Kindle, and even apps for your car, the UK Radioplayer is used by hundreds of stations in the UK as their default player – and by millions of listeners to enjoy their favourite stations.
Virtually all Irish radio stations now stream online and services such as TuneIn Radio feature Irish radio stations along with more than 100,000 stations from around the world. In addition, many Irish stations have their own apps and RTÉ’s own Radio Player makes the four state-owned channels available on one app.
Key features of the UK platform include the ability to monetise online listeners using ads or “click-to-buy” technology linked to the “now-playing” metadata received from the broadcaster. A user hears a song they like? They can buy it on the spot.
“We’re really pleased to have reached an agreement with the Irish radio industry to licence the technology”, said Simon Blackmore, Managing Director of Radioplayer Worldwide. “This now means we have four territories outside of the UK using Radioplayer, which clearly demonstrates that broadcasters working together in a territory is a vital part of the future of radio”.
“Since its invention radio has been a flexible and adaptable medium. In recent years we have seen a huge increase in the amount of ways that people can listen to radio and the Radioplayer is the latest milestone in the evolution of radio. The introduction of the Radioplayer to Irish audiences marks another step in the growing partnership between RTÉ and the independent radio broadcasters and it will ensure that radio remains relevant in all our lives” said John Purcell, Chairman of the IBI.
“This is a big step forward by our mature industry; bringing simplicity and variety to digital listeners on a strong, robust platform with tons of potential”, said JP Coakley, Director of Operations, RTÉ Radio.
Leave a Reply