iTunes Radio Gets News Radio, Via NPR

When iTunes Radio launched last fall, the service was designed for music fans (and music labels). Now it is branching out: National Public Radio is adding the first news station to Apple’s audio streaming service, according to re/code.net.

NPR’s station 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 stations, with a similar mix of live and taped news.

NPR gets to say that it’s the first news service on iTunes Radio, along with whatever spotlight Apple can shine on the station. NPR has been freely available via Web browsers and mobile apps for some time, and already attracts 30 million visitors a month. But increased exposure is always a good thing, says Zach Brand, the broadcaster’s vice president of digital media.

“The public radio audience is very digital savvy, but there are certainly some of the millennials and other folks who are looking for their listening experience exclusively on digital, so we want to reach them wherever they are,” he said.

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