Radioplayer Canada
Project Management | Product Management | Technical Consultation | Station Support & Consultation | Marketing Consultation | Thought Leadership
What Is Radioplayer Canada?
An unprecedented partnership between Canada’s largest broadcasters.
Radioplayer Canada is a partnership between CBC/Radio-Canada, the stations of Bayshore Broadcasting, Blackburn Radio, Blackgold Radio, Byrnes Communications, CAB-K Broadcasting, Central Ontario Broadcasting, Clear Sky Radio, Cogeco Media, Corus Radio, Durham Radio, Golden West Broadcasting, Harvard Broadcasting, Jim Pattison Broadcast Group, Rawlco Radio, Rogers Media, RNC Media, Saskatoon Media Group, Stingray, Vista Radio, and Westman Communications Group, as well as the National Campus and Community Radio Association (NCRA/ANREC), among others.
Since its launch, the Radioplayer Canada platform has expanded from being available on iOS, Android devices and online to a growing number of streaming platforms and smart speaker devices, including Amazon Echo, Amazon Fire TV, Sonos, BOSE, Google Chromecast, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto, among others.
The Challenges
Radioplayer Canada needed to train a plethora of developers across the country, on board over 500+ radio stations, launch both an iOS & Android app and roll out 500+ web based audio players within a six month launch window. In addition – documentation, marketing and promotional materials would need to be created and disseminated to teams across Canada to insure all parties were prepared for the launch.
The Solutions
Developer Team(s) Training & Support
With 500+ radio stations that required boarding to the Radioplayer system and station development teams all across Canada & the UK – web based training & support was the natural choice. Special consideration had too be given to teams spread across multiple time zones.
In depth understanding of audio streaming technology, music scheduling play out systems and broadcasting automation software was required to insure all stations were provided with adequate support throughout the boarding/training process – while taking into consideration that some participants may have technical or resource allocation challenges.
Training & Support was implemented on multiple platforms:
- Roll out of a web based Radioplayer Canada Knowledge Base to disseminate information and tools to expedite the station boarding process.
- Digital boarding packages were created and provided to all participants. Each pre-launch package containing access credentials, marketing documentation and launch timelines.
- Weekly online webinars were used to guide and support 1000+ developers throughout boarding to insure development teams could meet key deliverable’s in a timely manner.
- Establishment of an On Boarding Working Group, representing all station groups, to insure all primary station group representatives were kept up to date and involved in the process on a weekly basis through phone conferencing.
- Slack, a web based collaboration tool, was used to allow developers to share knowledge amongst themselves. Common questions, challenges and their resolutions were added to the Knowledge Base to insure knowledge was available on all Radioplayer Canada support platforms.
- A weekly email newsletter was established to provide development teams with ‘tips & tricks’ to expedite roll out.
- An online ticketing system allowing support to be organized, focused, efficient, and effective was implemented, specifically for reoccurring issues that required technical intervention by the Radioplayer UK team.
Station Marketing Support
Radioplayer Canada’s online Knowledge Base was also commandeered to insure timely dissemination of all required marketing material for product launch. Additionally a Marketing Working Group was established representing all station groups, to insure all primary station group representatives were kept up to date and involved in the process on a weekly basis through phone conferencing.
Marketing support material included:
- Radio Brand Spots & Drops
- Television Spots
- Digital Creative
- Brand Guidelines
- Logo Kit
- App Images
- On Air Promo Scripts
- Station Imaging Scripts
- Key Messaging for On Air Talent
- Participant Documentation & Agreements
The Radioplayer Canada Knowledge Base continues to be the center of marketing support for the 500+ station participants.
Web Player / iOS / Android Launch
Coordination of a country wide launch of 500+ web players, iOS app and Android app were rolled out across Canada in conjunction with on-air promotion, bus & outdoor advertising, television advertising, earned media, social channel promotion and PR campaigning.
Post-Launch Consumer Support
Upon launch mechanisms were put into place to insure listener / user questions could be answered promptly and accurately.
Support mechanisms included:
- Email support via the Radioplayer website and through the app stores.
- Ticket system support for any technical support issues.
- Setup of monitoring systems to facilitate Q+A for social channel queries and app store comments.
Post-Launch Station Support
As members of the Radioplayer Canada family all participating stations / station groups are continually provided with both technical and marketing support on going.
Technical support is provided via:
- Phone support
- Email support
- Monthly conference call Q&A
- Monthly newsletter
Marketing support – The Radioplayer Canada Knowledge Base continues to be the center of marketing support for the 500+ station participants.
Weekly / Monthly / Quarterly Reporting – Analytics, Platform Evolution & Growth
Weekly Analytic Reporting
Creation and dissemination of weekly statistical reporting to all primary station groups.
Weekly reporting includes:
- aggregate listener data for both web and app streaming
- acquisition data to determine the most effective listener acquisition paths
- data focusing on listeners accessing via in-car, OTT and smart speaker
Monthly Analytic / Cost / Platform Reporting
Creation and dissemination of monthly statistical reporting to Radioplayer Canada Board Members.
Monthly reporting includes:
- aggregate listener data for both web and app streaming
- acquisition data to determine the most effective listener acquisition paths
- data focusing on listeners accessing via in-car, OTT and smart speaker
- system downtime and future forward outlook to insure up time based on data usage
- costs incurred and cost saving recommendations for all data driven services
- forecasting system growth requirements and providing platform / technical requirements
Quarterly Analytic / Cost / Platform Growth Report
Creation, dissemination and presentation of a quarterly status report to Radioplayer Canada Board Members.
Quarterly report / presentation includes:
- aggregate listener data for both web and app streaming
- acquisition data to determine the most effective listener acquisition paths
- data focusing on listeners accessing via in-car, OTT and smart speaker
- system downtime and future forward outlook to insure up time based on data usage
- costs incurred and cost saving recommendations for all data driven services
- forecasting system growth requirements and providing platform / technical requirements
- recommendations on platform development, partnerships and state of industry relationships
- marketing consultation and recommendations for the quarter
Thought Leadership / Consultation / Partnerships
Thought Leadership
Keeping abreast of streaming / online broadcasting trends to insure all technology development paths are relevant and of value to all Radioplayer Canada participants – this includes a view towards competitive platforms in the marketplace and upcoming technology. Providing the Radioplayer Canada Board up to date with current and upcoming technologies that require focus and inclusion in the Radioplayer platform.
Consultation
Consultation and liaison with Radioplayer Worldwide and all of its country participants to provide informed, industry forward technical & marketing consultation to the Radioplayer Canada Board of directors and all station participants.
Partnerships
Seek out, assess and negotiate industry partnerships with top tier technology partners – through industry connections, conference attendance…
Partnerships include:
- Google Automotive OS
- Waze
- BOSE
- Sonos
- Amazon
- and more …
Results So Far
Radioplayer Canada – the radio streaming platform backed by a consortium of more than 500 Canadian radio stations – has surpassed one million downloads in the Apple App Store and Google Play Store, combined.
Canadians are now spending 3.7 million hours a month with the platform, with time spent listening up five per cent in the past six months alone. Radioplayer Canada has also appeared numerous times on the list of the Top 10 most downloaded, free apps in Canada.
Since its launch, Radioplayer Canada has moved from being available on iOS, Android devices and on the web to a growing number of streaming platforms and smart speaker devices, including Amazon Echo, Amazon Fire TV, Sonos, BOSE, Google Chromecast, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto, with more platforms to come.
Canada has more station involvement than any other country in the Radioplayer Worldwide ecosystem. Those stations include CBC/Radio-Canada, Bayshore Broadcasting, Blackburn Radio, Blackgold Radio, Byrnes Communications, CAB-K Broadcasting, Central Ontario Broadcasting, Clear Sky Radio, Cogeco Media, Corus Radio, Durham Radio, Golden West Broadcasting, Harvard Broadcasting, Stingray, Jim Pattison Broadcast Group, Rogers Media, Rawlco Radio, RNC Media, Saskatoon Media Group, Vista Radio, and Westman Communications Group, as well as the National Campus and Community Radio Association (NCRA/ANREC) and new stations boarding weekly.
Strong partnerships and cooperation with both tech platforms and broadcasters has created a beneficial environment for all parties involved.