BBC launches “radio visualisation” trial

The BBC is set to enhance the radio experience for its listeners by allowing them watch to some of their favourite radio shows being broadcast.

The “radio visualisation” trial, which runs until Friday 31st July ��� begins by offering an enhanced, online version of Simon Mayo’s BBC Radio 5 Live show, before being rolled out to other shows including ‘The Chris Moyles Show’ and ‘Switch’ on BBC Radio 1, ‘Material World’ on BBC Radio 4 and ‘The Hub’ on BBC 6 Music.

Online audiences will be able to view “glanceable” content ��� webcam streams, images, now playing and artist information, news and sports feeds ��� and interact with the programme through a pop-up console online and, later in the trial, by downloading an application to their mobile phone.

The trial will also allow BBC Audio & Music Interactive to assess the public’s appetite for enhanced, visual radio offerings and share their findings with the rest of the radio industry.

Mark Friend, Controller of Multiplatform and Interactive, BBC Audio & Music said: “The visualisation console is about enriching the digital listening experience. More people are consuming radio on different platforms and on devices that have screens.

“Just as DAB listeners might glance at their screen to see what track is playing or what DJ is coming up next, the visualisation console experiments with putting all of our glanceable content in a single place in order to create a richer user experience.

“I look forward to what we can learn from this trial and being able to share findings with the wider radio industry.”

Other stations like the BBC Asian Network could follow depending on how successful this trial turns out.