The popular Irish Radioplayer service, developed in partnership by RTÉ and the Independent Broadcasters of Ireland (IBI) has launched Alexa skill, a voice-activated offering that allows direct access to every Irish radio station for users of the Amazon Alexa devices like Amazon Echo.
Voice activated devices are becoming increasingly popular amongst consumers and earlier this week Amazon officially launched its voice-controlled devices on the Irish market.
According to JP Coakley, Head of Broadcast & Media services with RTÉ: “RTÉ’s partnership with IBI stations on the Irish Radioplayer is helping to future-proof radio’s connection with listeners. We’re a nation that loves our radio and it remains such a strong medium. Our duty to the audience is to adapt to new technologies and habits, so, we have worked with Amazon to ensure that every Irish station is available through their exciting products at launch.”
According to Scott Williams, Director of the IBI and Chair of the Irish Radioplayer Steering Board, voice control products represent a great opportunity for radio stations whose business is sound, music and voice. “The Irish Radioplayer has successfully put all Irish radio in one place and thousands of listeners use it daily on tablets and phones. This development ensures that our great Irish radio content will now be available with a simple voice command on the new devices. It will make listening easier and intuitive. We are delighted to be there.”
“Every Alexa device is a new radio for its owner and I am absolutely certain that the Irish Radioplayer skill will be as popular and successful as other Radioplayer skills have been globally in opening up great new radio content,” says Lawrence Galkoff, General Manager of Radioplayer Worldwide.
