Press Releases
Channel 4 Radio and The Cloud first to offer podcast content over public WiFi
3rd January 2007
Channel 4 Radio will be the first broadcaster to target its audience via a WiFi network through a deal announced today with The Cloud. To coincide with Celebrity Big Brother, from the 3rd January 2007, 4Radio will provide radio programming over The Cloud's Public WiFi network, designed specifically for the PSP, and other mobile devices with complementary functionality. Available free of charge for a two month trial period users will be able to download 4Radio podcasts, including Celebrity Big Brother, and listen to them whilst on the move.
The partnership will allow 4Radio to provide a virtual “breakfast show on the go”: thousands of commuters will be given the choice to create their own breakfast show, on demand, through The Cloud’s network of 7,500 public WiFi hotspots, located in high foot-fall locations including coffee shops, hotels, train stations, pubs and airports.
Every day Commuters will be able to choose from a selection of Channel 4 Radio content including Morning News, Celebrity Big Brother and SlashMusic, 4 Radio’s innovative music show. This venture enables PSP users to take full advantage of the device’s rich platform for media consumption on the move. When a PSP user walks into a Cloud hotspot and then clicks on the Internet browser on their device they will be automatically directed to the landing page and one click away from a Cloud/4Radio branded portal fully optimised for the PSP.
Nathalie Schwarz, Director of Channel 4 Radio, said: “Radio has the potential to be the most powerful and influential medium in broadcasting, but to achieve this in a digital world it needs to start innovating and fast. Making 4Radio’s content available on demand, on the go through The Cloud’s WiFi network enables us to target listeners who want bold and mischievous radio programming but don’t have time to tune in before they leave the house. We are providing it at their convenience – to fit in with our listeners’ busy lifestyles.
For the digitally savvy generation too much radio programming feels tired and formulaic. Becoming the first broadcaster to make radio content available wirelessly on PSPs will help 4Radio connect with a young, mobile audience making our programming easily available whenever and wherever they want.”
Niall Murphy, The Cloud’s CTO, commented: “There is an explosion in consumer WiFi devices around the corner and leading edge content providers are already starting to prepare for this large new market. WiFi usage is starting to shift from business to consumer devices and by the end of 2007, 80% of WiFi enabled devices are expected to be targeted at consumers. WiFi users will be demanding entertaining and unique content which they can access on the way to and from work, university or school. As the leading WiFi provider across the UK and Europe, we have already proved ourselves as being second to none in terms of offering access. Partnering with 4Radio to offer innovative content is therefore very exciting for us.”
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About The Cloud
The Cloud offers sophisticated national wireless LAN coverage across hotspots and city networks throughout the UK, Nordics, Germany and The Netherlands. The Cloud's infrastructure is a multi-service provider platform, which allows providers such as ISPs, mobile operators, gaming, VOIP and broadband companies to offer a fully branded wireless LAN experience to their customers. With The Cloud, site owners maximise their revenue potential by supporting all major service providers at their location and customers enjoy choice of provider and the best possible user experience. Launched in mid 2003, The Cloud actively partners with Vonage, O2, BT, Vodafone, Skype, iPass, Telenor, Nintendo and Intel, among others, to facilitate the growth of open platform wireless broadband services across Europe.
The Cloud’s investors, include 3i, Accel and the Scandinavian VC, Provider Venture Partners. The Cloud was recently nominated as a Technology Pioneer at The World Economic Forum and as a Red Herring Top 100 Company.
For further information:
Rebecca Blinston-Jones
Mantra PR
Tel: 020 7907 7800
E: rblinston-jones@mantra-pr.com
Amanda-Jane Lewin
The Cloud
Tel: 07702 911 784
E: amandajane.lewin@thecloud.net