Keeping radio easy to find in the car is a concern that spans worldwide, as we’ve covered.
And in a signal of the matter’s importance, on Thursday, the National Association of Broadcasters joined Radio Ready, marking the first time a U.S. organization has aligned with the coalition fighting to keep radio prominent on connected car dashboards.
“By joining Radio Ready, NAB looks forward to partnering with broadcasters from across the world to ensure that free, trusted radio remains easy for drivers to find and use in the vehicles of today and tomorrow,” NAB President and CEO Curtis LeGeyt said in a release.
Radio Ready was launched as a response to shifts in auto infotainment systems. It is co-chaired by Bauer Media Group — which operates approximately 104 stations across nine European countries — along with Swedish Radio and the European Broadcasting Union.
The coalition includes both public and commercial broadcasters across Europe, Africa and Australia.
“Its aim is simple and practical: to help make sure that radio, broadcaster apps and voice-controlled access all work well for listeners in modern car infotainment systems — easy to find, easy to use and clearly connected to the broadcaster,” Tomas Granyrd, head of digital partnerships for Swedish Radio and vice-chair of Radio Ready, told us in our latest ebook, Global Radio Update.
Along with Radio Ready’s focus on keeping both AM/FM and digital radio front and center, it also seeks to serve as a collective voice for the industry when negotiating with automakers and policymakers.
The coalition also has support from WorldDAB, the group that advocates for the DAB+ digital radio technology.
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