Radioplayer makes it to Peru and Canada

By James Cridland for media.info
Posted 16 October 2016, 8.00pm edt

Radioplayer, the radio listening platform, is set to expand after two recent signings for the technology: one in Canada, and one in the South American country of Peru.

For most countries, Radioplayer produces a desktop browser player and an app for iOS and Android. Unlike services like iHeartRadio, Radioplayer is unique for each country, and produces bespoke apps and services that reflect each country's market and media landscape.

Unlike individual country alliances like Australia's RadioApp, all stations in Radioplayer use Radioplayer's backend systems which are global in nature, allowing radio stations in Radioplayer to seamlessly be incorporated into new technologies like hybrid car receivers for global auto manufacturers, or the Amazon Echo where it makes sense to do so.

Radioplayer says it has "the world's best search and recommendation engine for radio".

Recent research in Australia shows that non-Australian live radio accounts for less than 1% of total audio listening, highlighting the benefit of local radio for national audiences.

Non-British readers might like to know that Paddington Bear, pictured above, is from "darkest Peru".

Press Releases

RADIOPLAYER TO LAUNCH IN CANADA

Radioplayer Worldwide (RPW), a consortium created to represent Radioplayer internationally, has signed its first licensing agreement outside Europe with a coalition of Canadian broadcasters.

The deal, which was co-ordinated by the newly-formed Canadian Association of Broadcasters, will see at least fourteen companies signed up to the Radioplayer Canada coalition, representing the majority of Canadian radio stations.

The group will roll out the Radioplayer browser-player, iOS app, and Android app – including integrations with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Chromecast, and smartwatches. These are all powered by the Radioplayer metadata platform, featuring the world’s best search and recommendation engine for radio.

RADIOPLAYER TO LAUNCH IN PERU

Radioplayer Worldwide (RPW), a consortium created to represent Radioplayer internationally,has signed alicensing agreement in SouthAmerica, Peru,to roll out the technology there.

The deal, with GrupoRPP,will introduce the Radioplayer platformto Peru, with 20 radio stations including Studio92, Radio Oxigeno, Radio Carazon and RPP News initially signed up.

Peru Radioplayer will launch in the first three months of 2017, with a view to rolling out the technology more widely across commercial and state radio in Peru,once established.

As part of the deal, the RadioplayerPeruapp will also be made available around the world,to help the huge number of Peruvian expatriates listen to their favourite stations from back home.

The deal represents the latest expansion of Radioplayer Worldwide,which recently signed its first licencing deal outside Europe,with the Canadian Association of Broadcasters. There are alreadylicensing agreements in place in Germany, Ireland, Austria, Norway, and Belgium.

Radioplayer Worldwide is a partnership between UK Radioplayer, 7digital (a B2B digital music and radio services company),All In Media (who build the Radioplayer apps), and the countries which have rolled outRadioplayer.

The Radioplayermodel was first developed by the BBC and commercial radio in the UK. Unlike other radio aggregation platforms, each Radioplayer system is specific to the country in which it is launched, and operated by the stations it serves. There are shared technical standards for the browser Radioplayers, the radio-discovery apps, and the back-end systems which power them –but broadcasters retain control over their own branding, streaming, and commercial deals.

Hector Guerra GarcíaGeneral Manager of GrupoRPPsaid: “For GrupoRPP this partnership represents a step forward forradio broadcasting. New times requireus to develop another dimension toradio, with streaming offeringa great opportunity to distributeradiocontent to a wider audience. The smartphone is the new radio, allowingus to explore new models of consumption -radio is no longer linear in terms of time -you can now consume what, when and where you want.

“Peru is a country in constant development, with significant growth in the continent and GrupoRPP wants to be the engine of theradio revolution, inviting the rest of the radio sector in Peru to join this initiative to ensure the future health of the radio. Radioplayer is our great ally in this strategy.”

Michael Hill from Radioplayer said: “We’re very proud that Peru has chosen Radioplayer. They have decided to start with a relatively small set of stationsand build from there. Our platform is technically flexible enough to accommodatethat, and our licensing model can adjust too. Following our recent announcement about Canada, this demonstrates real momentum for Radioplayer Worldwide.”