The radio industry began its own version of the BBC iPlayer yesterday, allowing listeners to tune in to stations owned by every major radio group.
Radioplayer is a joint online venture between commercial radio companies and the BBC and features 228 national and local radio stations.
The service allows listeners to search for stations by postcode and musical genre, or by using song titles and artists, and includes every BBC station as well as commercial outlets such as Absolute and Capital FM. It is thought to have had about three million users on its first day of operations.
The launch came as the BBC and commercial radio companies met Ed Vaizey, the Culture Minister, to hammer out how to pay for the £25 million introduction of digital radio in the regions. The Government is understood to have agreed to commit about £8 million to the digital transmitters, on the basis that the BBC and commercial radio each put in a similar figure.
A spokesman for the Department for Culture, Media and Sport said: “Government met today with broadcasters, multiplex operators and the regulator to consider options for funding of local DAB. It was a constructive meeting and all parties agreed to come together again in four weeks time.”
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While the progression to DAB radio has been slow, as listeners cling to FM, online radio listening has provided a source of growth for the industry, and executives said that the launch of Radioplayer would help pull in more listeners.
Andrew Harrison, chairman of the joint venture, said: “Radioplayer will benefit the entire UK radio industry — BBC, commercial, Ofcom-licensed community radio and hospital and student radio. Every station on Radioplayer will be one click away from every other station, and listeners will have the ability to search the whole of UK radio, discovering exciting new content.
“All stations will be treated equally, and the smallest station will pay the least to join. We are aiming for the whole of UK radio to be on Radioplayer within a year.”
The industry plans to develop apps for Apple’s iPhone and iPad tablet, as well as implanting the technology in standalone radios and newly developed internet-connected televisions.
Michael Hill, the managing director of Radioplayer, said: “Radioplayer represents a united industry investment in its digital future. Over the next few weeks Radioplayer is set to expand rapidly, offering consumer choice across hundreds of stations and thousands of programmes. That choice could soon extend to platforms including mobiles, tablets, connected TVs and hybrid radios.”
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Radioplayer also reflects a rare collaboration between the BBC and its commercial radio rivals, who rarely see eye to eye. Tim Davie, director of BBC audio and music, said: “This partnership is another signal that the radio industry is accelerating cross-industry innovation.”
Commercial bosses at the press conference yesterday joked that the development costs for Radioplayer were similar to Mr Davie’s £365,000 salary.