People always say the “pictures are better on radio,” but the BBC’s taking it to the extreme, launching a trial of its new Visual Radio technology online to dish up visuals, extra info and even live video alongside its broadcasts.
The trial will go live during the Chris Moyles show on Radio 1 each weekday morning (6.30am – 10am) and the Annie and Nick show on Radio 1 on Sunday nights (7pm – 10pm). To see it in action, you simply need to visit each show’s page during the show. You’ll see information on the track currently playing, show contact details and details of what’s being discussed.
The Beeb is calling this “glanceable infomation” but it’s just the tip of the iceberg. The Chris Moyles show also features a show ‘log’ offering minute by minute updates from inside the studio. Sort of like a Twitter feed, and there’s also the option for the show to add live video and photos too.
Explaining the trial, the BBC said on its blog: “The player we have launched incorporates lots of new features that you don’t get using the standard BBC radio player. While you are listening to the show it updates with live information and graphics. For example, if a track starts playing you see an image of the artist and then the player may update to show you text messages that people are sending in or video of what is happening live from the studio.”
And it’s not just BBC-produced material that can feed into the new system. Phone and text votes can be demonstrated visually, using bar charts or swing-o-meters. It’s all very cool, but the Beeb only plans to run the trial for the rest of the week, so catch it while you can!
Check out the screenshots of Visual Radio in action below.
Out now | £free | BBC
