NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Clear Channel Media and Entertainment, the nation’s leader in Talk programming, today announced the beta launch of a new iHeartRadio custom feature, iHeartRadio Talk – the first mass-market audio platform with the ability to offer on-demand listener-created talk content alongside popular news, celebrity and entertainment “audiosodes.” iHeartRadio Talk will also feature “Daily Pulse,” a customizable Talk channel featuring the most up-to-date news and culture highlights, which allows users to add content that is most important to them.
In addition, iHeartRadio announced a unique new partnership with Spreaker, a rapidly growing company that combines simple, yet sophisticated Web and mobile broadcasting tools so audio creators can connect and stay connected with their fans in real-time. Beginning today, budding radio stars who use Spreaker on the Web and on iOS devices will be able to record their own shows and submit for potential inclusion in iHeartRadio Talk’s official library. Clear Channel has made a priority of talent discovery and development — and now, with Spreaker’s audiocast technology, up-and-coming radio personalities have the opportunity to have their show promoted alongside iHeartRadio’s most popular talents including Ryan Seacrest, Glenn Beck, Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, Mario Lopez and Elvis Duran, as well as hundreds of local talk personalities and other major content partners including ABC News, Fox Sports, The Wall Street Journal, American Public Media, HuffPost Live, TMZ, Jillian Michaels, Adam Carolla, Mashable, Bloomberg and more.
“Talk radio listeners are some of the most dedicated and engaged listeners in the world, and now with iHeartRadio Talk, we are giving those listeners access to their favorite talk content anywhere they are,” said Brian Lakamp, President of Digital, Clear Channel Media and Entertainment. “Plus, for the first time ever, listeners who have been accepted into the iHeartRadio Talk library will be able to record and instantly share their perspective on any topic they choose – it’s basically like offering ‘audio Twitter.’ We are giving a voice to the everyman, and at the same time are enabling iHeartRadio users to discover and enjoy thousands of ‘audiosodes’ from the best talent around the country – something only Clear Channel is able to offer.”
“We’re excited that millions of ABC TV viewers will have the opportunity through iHeartRadio to keep connected to their favorite ABC programs and personalities,” said Steve Jones, Vice President and General Manager of ABC Radio. “From ABC News segments to exclusive content from ‘GMA,’ ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live’ and ‘The View,’ iHeartRadio extends the digital reach of ABC so that whether you’re on your couch or in your car, your favorite ABC audio content always is at your fingertips.”
Beginning today, users can access the beta version of iHeartRadio Talk on the Web and will have the ability to search for their favorite talk shows on iOS and Android phones – full mobile iHeartRadio Talk functionality will be available in the fall. With more than 50,000 “audiosodes” that span more than 20 categories – from business and news to comedy, lifestyle and sports – listeners will enjoy customizable, on-demand content from top-rated favorite shows like Good Morning America, TED Talks, Direct from Hollywood with Ryan Seacrest, Rush Limbaugh's "Rush Daily Update Minute," CollegeHumor Originals and more. Content from Jimmy Kimmel Live and The View will also be available beginning in September when their fall seasons launch on ABC TV.
"iHeartRadio Talk not only opens up non-music content to the digital consumers at a scale that only Clear Channel Media and Entertainment can deliver, but it also opens up a powerful new advertising platform on digital for those advertisers who understand the power of talk, information and news," said John Hogan, Chairman and CEO of Clear Channel Media and Entertainment. "We look forward to applying the creativity of our advertising partners to this new untapped digital content and platform."
iHeartRadio Talk features best-in-class functionalities, including:
· Customized listening – Users can indicate their preferences with a “thumbs up” or “thumbs down,” similar to iHeartRadio’s Custom Music Stations, but with no skip limits and the ability to rewind.
· Daily PulseTM – A completely customizable channel, Daily Pulse allows Web listeners full control, adding or removing shows based on their own preferences. Any show available on iHeartRadio Talk can also be added to the Daily Pulse to give the listener daily updates on what matters most to them.
· Show Pages – Each iHeartRadio Talk contributor will have their own Show Page that listeners can visit for on-demand access to all their episodes. Users can also choose to add the show to their Daily Pulse station for quick and easy listening.
· Add-Ins – Users on the Web can choose to include their local news, traffic and weather in their iHeartRadio Talk stations.
· Social Media Integration – Users have the ability to easily share what they are listening to with their friends via Facebook or Twitter with a deep link direct to a specific episode or to the Show Page. Coming Soon – listeners will have the ability to embed shows into blogs, websites and more.
To see a complete list of categories, content contributors and partners currently available on iHeartRadio Talk, please visit http://news.iheart.com/talk/content/.
iHeartRadio, the No. 1 all-in-one digital service, reached 20 million registered users faster than any digital service in internet history. iHeartRadio offers listeners instant access to more than 1,500 of the nation’s most popular live broadcast and digital-only radio stations from more than 150 cities, mood-related stations “Perfect For” any activity and user-created Custom Stations inspired by favorite artists and songs. In addition to Clear Channel’s 850 radio stations, iHeartRadio also includes a number of other radio groups, such as Univision, Cumulus, Greater Media stations, New York Public Radio, EMF’s Contemporary Christian Air1 and KLove stations, college radio, Cox, Emmis, Salem and others. With a library of more than 16 million songs and 400,000 artists, iHeartRadio’s Custom Station feature offers listeners more music than any other service available.
iHeartRadio is available across all major platforms including web, mobile, tablets, automotive, television and gaming devices. Visit iHeartRadio.com for a complete list of app availability and to download for instant access to iHeartRadio Talk.
About Spreaker
Spreaker is a free online application that empowers people to create, share and discover live audio broadcasts from any computer, tablet or mobile phone and instantly spread them across the Internet. Founded in 2009, Spreaker is based in San Francisco with offices in Berlin. For more information about Spreaker, please visit: www.spreaker.com.
About Clear Channel Media and Entertainment
With 243 million monthly listeners in the U.S., Clear Channel Media and Entertainment has the largest reach of any radio or television outlet in America. Clear Channel Media and Entertainment serves 150 cities through 850 owned radio stations. The company’s radio stations and content can be heard on AM/FM stations, HD digital radio channels, Sirius/XM satellite, on the Internet at iHeartRadio.com and on the company’s radio station websites, on the iHeartRadio mobile application on iPads and smartphones, and used via navigation systems from TomTom, Garmin and others.
The company’s operations include radio broadcasting, online and mobile services and products, live concerts and events, syndication, music research services and independent media representation. Clear Channel Media and Entertainment is a division of CC Media Holdings, Inc. (OTCBB: CCMO), a leading global media and entertainment company.
Like us on Facebook at facebook.com/iHeartRadio
Follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/iHeartRadio
