RTE and IBI unite to create one radio app to rule them all
The jointly developed Radioplayer app from RTE and IBI is available for free in the iTunes App Store and the Google Play Store and provides a way of finding every station broadcasting in Ireland from national stations to local stations. The app includes all RTÉ FM and digital stations as well as the 34 independent […]
The jointly developed Radioplayer app from RTE and IBI is available for free in the iTunes App Store and the Google Play Store and provides a way of finding every station broadcasting in Ireland from national stations to local stations.
The app includes all RTÉ FM and digital stations as well as the 34 independent stations across the country.
Users of ths app will be able to flick between stations, create preset stations and interact with the various stations via social media.
“Listeners will benefit from having a quality audio stream of their favourite local, regional or national radio shows available, regardless of where they are,” explained Communications Minister Alex White TD.
“It’s also an innovative way of promoting Irish stations in an increasingly competitive multi-platform environment.”
One app to unite them all
The director of operations with RTÉ Radio, JP Coakley, explained to Siliconrepublic.com that the Irish people are among the biggest consumers of radio in the world.
“We are an aural people. And because economics dictate that we can’t have a TV station for every county and our traditions are aural, it makes sense that we are second in the western hemisphere for radio listening every day.
“Around 84pc of adults in Ireland listen to radio every day.”
Coakley explained that the creation of the app has taken years to bring to fruition and came about through a conversation between himself and the ex-chairman of the IBI Scott Williams.
He said that the functionality exists for each radio station to dress up its area of the app with visuals and create its own identity.
“The clever thing about it is that, essentially, the app is just a frame and, using common functionality, the radio stations are able to serve the streaming and meta data through a common frame and can change the visuals and data through Java bridges.”
Coakley explained that the app’s creation was a 50/50 joint venture between RTÉ and the IBI and the build costs came in at around €20,000 while licensing costs were less than €100,000.
Radio dialler image via Shutterstock via Shutterstock
