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.

The deal represents the latest expansion of Radioplayer Worldwide, which already has licensing 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 out Radioplayer.

The Radioplayer model 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. It’s this flexibility that appeals to the Canadian radio operators.

 Julie Adam, Senior Vice President, Rogers Radio, one of the largest Canadian radio groups, said: “Radioplayer is the right technology for Canada because it delivers the advantages of a unified platform for radio, without restricting the listener’s flexibility. Here in Canada, we have two official languages, a vast geographical area, and a deep sense of Canadian pride – and Radioplayer understands that. Through Radioplayer, radio groups can collaborate on technology where appropriate, but continue to compete on content.”

 Michael Hill from Radioplayer said: “This is a very proud moment for Radioplayer and it will further strengthen the international ties between radio broadcasters. Radio’s in great shape – but we know we face challenges and opportunities in cars, smartphones, and among younger audiences. Joining the ever-growing Radioplayer family is a great way for broadcasters and countries to address these together.”