Astral Sending Content from all 83 Radio Stations to BlackBerry and More

Its evident that radio station apps for mobile phones are in demand, and increasingly popular. Scheduled to launch in early 2011, Astral will be sending content from all 83 radio stations to BlackBerry, Apple devices, and Android mobile phones.

“These new mobile applications will allow us to deliver a rich digital content offering integrated with a deep social media platform,” said Rob Farina, executive vice-president of content and platforms for Astral Radio and Orbyt Media, a division of Astral.

As of now, Astral is the Canada’s largest private-sector radio company in the Montreal sector. They operate in more than 100 of the country’s most popular pay and specialty television, radio, out-of-home advertising and digital media properties. Check the press release below

MONTREAL – Astral Media Inc. (TSX:ACM.B) says it has inked an agreement to beam its radio stations to mobile devices across Canada under a three-year deal with UBC Media Group.

The pact will include the creation of software applications for smartphones that allow listeners to enter contests, use social networking, stream live music events, buy music and interact directly with on-air personalities and with each other, Astral said Monday.

All of its 83 stations are included in the agreement.

Scheduled to go live in early 2011, the mobile applications will be compatible with Apple’s iPhones, BlackBerrys and Google-powered Android smartphones.

Radio station applications for phones are becoming increasingly popular and are already used by satellite radio providers.

“These new mobile applications will allow us to deliver a rich digital content offering integrated with a deep social media platform,” said Rob Farina, executive vice-president of content and platforms for Astral Radio and Orbyt Media, a division of Astral.

“The rollout of these exciting applications will be a game-changer from a user experience standpoint across all our platforms.”

Montreal-based Astral is the country’s largest private-sector radio company.

Orbyt Media reached the agreement with UBC Media Group’s Unique Interactive of the U.K. and GrooveWorx, an international music house and exclusive North American distributor of UBC Media.

Astral operates more than 100 of the country’s most popular pay and specialty television, radio, out-of-home advertising and digital media properties.

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