NextRadio Integrates with PRSS to Deliver Content for Public Radio

INDIANAPOLIS, April 18, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- NextRadio is joining with the Public Radio Satellite System (PRSS) to introduce its new PRSS MetaPub Platform to integrate enhanced visual features and information from public radio programming into NextRadio.

This integration will allow public radio stations that air national shows to automatically set up the feed directly into NextRadio. The result is a particular program or story enhanced with visual images along with other descriptors such as the title of the show, the topic at hand, the host, or other elements.

The PRSS created the MetaPub platform for the public radio market to enhance national and local public radio programming with new capabilities for displaying images, text and promotional materials. The benefit for stations and producers is increased revenue potential and listener engagement as well as the ability to collect listener data via NextRadio app tracking.

The first shows to start serving data to public radio listeners include:

• Morning Edition (NPR)
• All Things Considered (NPR)
• Classical 24 (APM)
• BBC World Service (APM)
• Weekend Edition Saturday (NPR)
• Weekend Edition Sunday (NPR)
• Weekend All Things Considered (NPR)

NPR, American Public Media, and Public Radio International have been active participants in the development of MetaPub from the beginning, and each is currently playing, or will play, a vital role in supplying the metadata elements that will feed into MetaPub and then out to public radio stations and their listeners through NextRadio.

"We are so pleased to be bringing news/talk/music radio to life in the NextRadio app.  News/Talk grew by 275% in tune-ins in the last year, making it one of the fastest growing genres listened to through NextRadio.  By offering this feature to consumers, it will allow the station to provide a richer listening, and now viewing, experience," said Paul Brenner, President of NextRadio. 

"MetaPub's dynamic system of integrating enhanced metadata into broadcast content is a logical next step to ensure public radio listeners have the best possible experience with their favorite shows," said Michael Beach, Vice President of NPR Distribution, which manages the PRSS. "We are looking forward to working with NextRadio to ensure that not only do listeners have a better product, but they have more ways to enjoy it, thanks to NextRadio's FM smartphone app."

The NextRadio app lets you experience FM radio on your smartphone in a brand new way. Get a real-time view of what's playing on-air and interact live with your favorite local radio stations while using 3x less battery and 20x less data compared to streaming radio apps. Real FM radio is now in your smartphone so you can listen wherever you go.

About NextRadio^® powered by TagStation, LLC
TagStation, LLC is a wholly owned subsidiary of Emmis Communications Corporation. TagStation, LLC has developed the TagStation^® service to provide radio stations with artist and title information and unique interactivity with listeners. With partial funding from NAB Labs, TagStation also developed the NextRadio^® hybrid radio smartphone app which uses TagStation^® cloud services to provide a rich FM radio listening experience on smartphones and tablets by combining the devices' built-in FM tuner and the internet. NextRadio, LLC is a wholly-owned subsidiary of TagStation, LLC and serves as a principle distributor of the NextRadio App. Founded in 2013, TagStation, LLC and NextRadio, LLC are headquartered in Indianapolis, IN with offices in Indianapolis and Chicago, IL. For more information, about TagStation^®, visit TagStation.com. For more information about NextRadio^®, visit NextRadioApp.com.

About the PRSS
The Public Radio Satellite System® (PRSS) is the distribution network through which thousands of hours of news, music, and specialized audience programming are delivered every year to public radio stations throughout the United States. Managed by NPR Distribution, the PRSS is a unique, cooperative enterprise. Each participating station is a stakeholder in the collective assets of, and services provided by, the satellite system. Interconnected stations own their own downlink and uplink equipment. The satellite transponder capacity as well as the national operating system equipment located in Washington, are owned by the Public Radio Satellite Interconnection System Charitable Trust.

SOURCE NextRadio