Radio and podcast solutions provider Radioline is participating in a partnership that will enable drivers to place sports bets by voice in the car while listening to radio play-by-play.
It is working with ConnectedTravel, a vehicle technology platform and application services developer, and Simplebet, a tech company that focuses on live sports.
In April the three companies demonstrated the SmartRadio in-vehicle betting system at the NAB Show. They said SmartRadio is in consumer testing and should be available more widely in the fall of 2022.
This is an example of how companies see new audio business opportunities coming with the onset of Google’s Android Automotive system.
SmartRadio works with Android Automotive and “enables drivers and passengers to transact with radio programming in real time, including gamifying programming and making advertising shoppable.” The companies said they want to disrupt “radio’s century-old ‘listen-now, remember-to-follow-up-later, CPM-based advertising business model.’”
They’re doing this by trying to leverage the exploding sports betting market.
They quoted Bryan Biniak, CEO of ConnectedTravel, saying, “The integration of emerging technologies like voice, payments and ecommerce in vehicles unlocks drive time, empowering drivers to instantly and safely interact with audio programming. Drivers can play with and buy what they hear, and engage at the moments they are most inspired. Making radio transactable will inspire a new generation of innovative in-vehicle infotainment, and measurably open the $40 billion global broadcast radio marketplace for growth.”
Simplebet created an automated operations platform and “micro-betting” system that allow fans to interact with pro and college baseball, football and basketball games.
“Sports fans can safely bet while driving and listening to sportscasts in their car, compete with friends and other fans, earn points and win prizes from game sponsors,” according to the announcement.
“For example, the baseball experience allows drivers and passengers to bet on each at bat or pitch in a Dodgers game, earn points for each correct bet, accumulate prizes for your winning streaks, and a grand prize for earning enough points. Points can then be redeemed for goods and services via the players mobile phone in local shops or online retailers.”
A configurable backend allows contest rules and prizes to be customized for a sponsor’s competition.
Radioline supports radio streams and podcasts from 164 countries in 18 languages. It noted that millions of Android Automotive vehicles will be produced by major carmakers. The SmartRadio solution will be integrated into Radioline’s Android Automotive, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay applications.
