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Stations Get More Interactive In NextRadio As FM Chip Usage Increases
July 14, 2014 at 11:49 AM (PT)
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The growth of NEXTRADIO's FM chip in smartphones has some legs, as the dramatic growth from SPRINT's "Push Notification" in JUNE (NET NEWS, 7/2) continued for a second update period. As noted in NEXTRADIO's blog, in less than two weeks, 175,000 more apps where downloaded, raising the total to over 625,000, Over 600 more radio stations were tuned in by users (making it over 9,800 FMs), who listened for over 700,000 hours -- an increase of 220,000 hours.
Not only are listeners getting into it, but stations are getting more involved in interactivity. "We’re happy to announce that the number of stations delivering interactive content to NEXTRADIO through the TagStation data service now stands at 1,129 and climbing.," NEXTRADIO's blog reported. "It’s a big change within the last couple weeks since it was reported that the number of TagStation licensees doubled after EMF’s stations came on board. This new jump was attributed to participating groups beginning to roll out interactivity on many more of their stations."
Better still, "We found that this recent jump allowed NEXTRADIO to turn an important corner: When we analyzed the top 20 stations by share in each of the top-25 markets (excluding PUERTO RICO), we saw an average of 60% of those stations are now interactive. In short, 60% of the most listened to stations in the top 25 markets are delivering album art, programming schedule, and creating the experience users expect and appreciate from a mobile music app.
"There were other impressive takeaways," the post continued. "Most of the major markets have 70% coverage, and CHICAGO had the highest coverage at 80% of local stations displaying enhanced content. Jump out of the top 25 markets and give KANSAS CITY, MO a high-five for 90% interactive stations. Couple that with 3,800 stations now displaying at least their station logo, and we’re confident in saying that the consumer experience is one that we’re proud to show off to an increasingly tech-savvy public. There’s still a long way to go to that coveted 100% station interactivity utopia, but the tide has definitely turned. For the first time in the top-25 markets, the non-interactive stations are in the minority."

