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NPR added to iTunes Radio as the first news streaming service

itunes-radio

Now this is interesting (if you like talk radio): Recode is reporting that iTunes Radio is slated to pick up streaming news today through a partnership with NPR.

NPR’s channel, which should be live today, will offer a free stream, 24 hours a day, which mixes live news with segments from pre-recorded shows like “All Things Considered” and “The Diane Rehm Show.” NPR officials say that within weeks, some of the broadcaster’s local stations should begin offering their own channels, with a similar mix of live and taped news.

You can add the new station to your iTunes Radio lineup below:

This marks the first news streaming channel on the music streaming service bringing a real radio feel to iTunes Radio. NPR currently streams its content to iOS through its iPhone and iPad apps, but the native integration with iTunes Radio and partnership with Apple is a fascinating direction for Apple’s streaming content service.

The new NPR streaming news station is available on iTunes Radio for iOS and iTunes.

Personally, I’m a frequent NPR listener and excited by the integration with iTunes Radio as it makes the service much more accessible as we move from traditional radio to Internet streaming services.

As iTunes Radio diversifies its offerings from just music to include streaming news and other content, it makes sense that Apple would be considering breaking iTunes Radio out of the Music app on iOS and into its own standalone app on the home screen as our own Mark Gurman reported earlier this month.

iTunes Radio was shown off last summer at WWDC and debuted alongside iOS 7 last fall to customers in the United States. Apple has since announced it intends to expand to more regions in 2014 but has thus far only reached Australia.

However, Apple has confirmed that NPR’s availability will be limited to iTunes Radio customers in the United States.

Recent reports have suggested Apple is considering an on-demand model à la Spotify for iTunes Radio versus the current Pandora-like model in addition to the possibility of an iTunes Store on Android to push content sales on the popular competing platform.

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Comments

  1. ohyesjulesdid - 10 years ago

    Reblogged this on ohyesjulesdid and commented:
    I’m beginning to see iTunes Radio as an alternative to apps like iHeart Radio or even SiriusXM (which uses tons of data).

  2. iMacheads - 10 years ago

    Reblogged this on iMacheads and commented:
    This is awesome!

  3. themis333 - 10 years ago

    Reblogged this on Taste of Apple and commented:
    This is nice. Finally, it’s starting to grow into something even better.

  4. rahhbriley - 10 years ago

    I’ve thought over the past few months that there could be a cool integration between Podcast and iTunes Radio. This isn’t the sane but it’s cool to see how they’re expanding it. I’d love to be able to subscribe to The Nerdist network via iTuned Radio.

    • Toby! (@TrashGoblin) - 10 years ago

      I was thinking along the same lines. Not too long ago, I had read that Apple was considering making iTunes Radio its own app. It might make sense to roll the podcast app into an iTunes Radio app. It could compete against Spotify (and other similar services) and Stitcher (and other similar services) at the same time.

  5. tallblondedude - 10 years ago

    “NPR is the first to be added to Itunes radio.” Why am I not surprised by this? It sure as hell would not be Fox news. Sa’n.

  6. ttss6 - 10 years ago

    I wonder if apple will someday open up iTunes Radio to third parties like iheart radio so you can listen to your local fm stations from your iPhone or iPad. I wished they would’ve added the ability to listen to fm radio like on the iPod nanos but this would be just as good!

  7. dugbug - 10 years ago

    How about science Friday every day :)

  8. Chris Denny (@dennyc69) - 10 years ago

    I’m glad Apple is adding these types of great features, however NPR is not news, it’s a liberal agenda.
    Hopefully CBS and FOX will soon join the ranks giving the user actual news channels to pick from and listen to.

  9. Craig T. Neises - 10 years ago

    Is there a program guide posted out there somewhere for this iTunes Radio stream? Just listened to Tell Me More, which comes on my Sirius/XM at 6 p.m. CDT, and now comes On Point, which airs for an hour at noon CDT on NPR”s satellite service, and again at like 7 p.m.

  10. coreylarue - 10 years ago

    If only NPR would bring back talk of the nation for this. :(

Author

Avatar for Zac Hall Zac Hall

Zac covers Apple news, hosts the 9to5Mac Happy Hour podcast, and created SpaceExplored.com.