Irish Radioplayer App launches
From media.info
Posted 28 April 2015, 10.21am bst
Radio listening on smartphones and tablets is set to be transformed with the launch of the Irish Radioplayer, which sees every radio station in the Republic of Ireland available on a single mobile platform.
The app, which is available now for free from the iTunes App Store (iOS) and the Google Play Store (Android), was officially launched by Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Alex White TD today. The Minister was joined by Keelin Shanley (RTÉ Radio 1), Nicky Byrne (RTÉ 2fm), Claire Byrne (RTÉ Radio 1), Becki Miller (Spin 1038) and Ruth Egan (FM104).
From a partnership between the Independent Broadcasters of Ireland (IBI) and RTÉ, the launch of the Irish Radioplayer is a significant development in Irish radio.
All RTÉ FM and digital radio stations as well as all local, regional and national commercial radio stations will be available on the Irish Radioplayer, giving listeners access in one place to the Republic of Ireland’s 43 stations.
The Irish Radioplayer's intelligent functionality makes online listening accessible, intuitive and simple. Users will be able to flick between stations at the touch of a button as well as store preset favourites and interact with social media feeds. The app pairs all the simplicity of a traditional radio with all the benefits of digital media.
Minister for Communications, Alex White TD says: “The Irish Radioplayer app will be of great benefit to all Irish radio stations that take part in it. Listeners will benefit from having a quality audio stream of their favourite local, regional or national radio shows available, regardless of where they are. It’s also an innovative way of promoting Irish stations in an increasingly competitive multi-platform environment.”
John Purcell, Chairman of the IBI, says: “The launch of the Irish Radioplayer will be a game changer in Irish radio. It puts all Irish radio stations in one easily accessible place allowing listeners to tune in with one touch of a button. This will make the consumption of radio much easier for our audiences. It also brings Irish radio into the digital space opening up new platforms for broadcasters and new ways of listening for audiences. The Irish Radioplayer is proof of the great strides that can be made when all broadcasters put aside their competitive differences and focus on what is in the best interests of the Irish radio audience.”
Tom McGuire, Head of RTÉ Radio 1, says: “For almost a century, radio stations old and new in Ireland have been a conduit for conversation, a network for news and an entrée for entertainment. It is terrific that everyone can be part of that in just one touch.”
The technology behind the Irish Radioplayer has been licenced from Radioplayer Worldwide.
Following the success of the Radioplayer technology in the UK, Norway, Belgium and Germany, Ireland now joins these countries as trailblazers of radio listening in the digital age.
The Irish Radioplayer app is available to download now from the iTunes App Store or Google Play Store.