UK's first dedicated radio Apple tvOS app goes live
By James Cridland for media.info
Posted 3 November 2015, 3.41pm est
A radio station called Mango Vibe (it's a radio station, not a fruit drink nor confectionary) has become the first station to launch a dedicated Apple tvOS app. You can listen live to the dance radio station, and see album art, on an Apple TV.
The station claims to have developed the app in just eight hours, which is testament to both the coding skills of the people who built the app, as well as the ease of coding for this new platform.
For digital-exclusive services like Mango Vibe, radio through the TV appears to be a significant growth area. Over the last twelve months, BBC Radio 6 Music and Capital Xtra have both seen the amount of listening on TV double; vastly out-stripping other platforms. (Indeed, while 6 Music saw a 133% increase on TV listening, they also saw a 9% decrease on internet streaming).
Mango Vibe is on the Portsmouth trial DAB multiplex, and also broadcasts online.
Press release
Mango Vibe Launches First Dedicated Apple tvOS App for a UK radio station.
Mango Vibe, the dance music radio station has today launched the first tvOS app for a UK Radio Station.
The app allows users of the new Apple TV to stream the radio station and see what's playing and what is coming up next in high quality.
Robbie Harrison, Programme Director said "This is an exciting moment in the development of this new radio station and will allow us to reach a much larger audience through this exciting new platform. Mango Vibe launched in August and we are working hard on our digital strategy to ensure we stay ahead of the game. "
The app was written by Ben Matthew and went from conception to sale in less than 8 hours. He said "It's great that we were able to work together to develop this app in record speed. At Mango we've concentrated on abstracting content and platform which has helped us be digitally agnostic. Apple have also created a great ecosystem that meant delivering the Mango Vibe tvOS app was really straightforward"
Mango Vibe launched on the 17th of August as part of the Ofcom small scale DAB trial in Portsmouth but is available online across the UK at mangoviberadio.co.uk and our apps. The station plays dance music and includes specialist programming.