Many of the UK's biggest radio broadcasters have joined forces to launch a system for listening to their stations over the internet. UK Radioplayer brings together commercial outlets alongside BBC stations in an attempt to boost online listening. Only 3 percent of people access radio via the web and growth has been sluggish.
Although broadcasters will now use the same interface, they are free to customise it and include advertising. Among the radio groups supporting the project are Global, GMG, Bauer Media and UTV Radio, as well as the BBC.
Tim Davie, director of audio and music at the BBC, welcomed the move, but conceded it was perhaps overdue. Mr Davie suggested that the launch of UK Radioplayer, along with a BBC trial of high bitrate HD radio, indicated a renewed determination to innovate. The UK Radioplayer is intended to offer some consistency to users, with all players having the same basic controls, search function and favourites option. However the system does not guarantee that all radio stations will provide the same quality of audio stream.
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