A new website offering live streaming of every single British radio station under one virtual roof could be with us by Christmas, according to a new report.
The BBC Trust put pay to a universal BBC iPlayer for TV channels last week, but a website pulling in every UK radio station for internet streaming could go live before Christmas. The Independent reports that industry leaders at the BBC and in commercial radio are in talks now to get a beta version ready for testing before year out, with a full public launch to follow next year.
The chief executive of industry organisation RadioCentre, Andrew Harrison, confirmed the report, saying “I’d hope we would have something ready to test shortly, before Christmas.”
Like the universal iPlayer plan, a UK-wide radio streaming site would need BBC Trust approval, but those involved are said to be optimistic it’ll get the green light, and feel such a service is needed to compete with rapidly growing music streaming sites.
We’d love to see a site offering the best in radio, since music discovery is such a weak point for programs like Spotify, especially if it could offer a well laid out mobile interface, with all the extra content you’d usually get from digital broadcasts. We’ll shout up as soon as any more details get confirmed.
Out TBC | £TBC | BBC (Via The Independent)
