Radio broadcasters have been battling for years to get a “radio chip” installed in smartphones and other mobile devices to enable mobile users to listen to FM radio. This week, they took
a big step toward their goal of radio via mobile with Sprint’s announcement that it will install its new NextRadio app on wireless devices.
The toll will enable consumers to listen to
local radio on Android and Windows smartphones, along with an array of interactive services coordinated with broadcast airplay.
The push to include FM radio receivers in smartphones was led
by the National Association of Broadcasters, with a key assist from Emmis Communications, representing broadcast radio groups.
In addition to broadcast audio from local radio stations,
NextRadio draws on data from TagStation, a cloud-based platform that allows radio stations to upload branding images, call letters, formats, station names, slogans, and other identifying information.
NextRadio also offers interactive features to recording artists, advertisers and listeners, including album art and artist information, listener feedback, song-tagging capabilities, and
social integration. So far, over 1,500 radio stations (out of around 14,000 nationwide) have signed up for TagStation’s free data services.
Paul Brenner, chief technology officer for
Emmis and president of NextRadio, stated: “Whether the station is large market, medium market, small market, commercial or non-commercial, this free service will provide listeners with a visual
radio listening experience on the FM-enabled smartphone. Radio stations no longer have to add the cost of Internet streaming to get local FM radio on a mobile device.”
In January, Sprint
announced a preliminary agreement to begin incorporating FM radio into select mobile devices via NextRadio and possibly other apps.