Four New App Integrations Arrive For iHeartRadio

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LAS VEGAS — The nation’s No. 1 owner of radio stations is using the world’s No. 1 showcase for all-things-tech to show off multiple new consumer technology integrations for its eponymous app.


At the 2019 Consumer Electronics Show (CES), iHeartMedia revealed that its iHeartRadio app is now integrated into the Honda Dream Drive Platform, as well as the new Bixby from Samsung, Roku devices, and Google’s Android TV and Android Auto.

For iHeartRadio, access can be had via more than 250 platforms and on 2,000 devices, including on digital auto dashes, tablets, wearables and smartphones, on virtual assistants, smart speakers, TVs and gaming consoles.

Darren Davis, President of iHeartRadio and the iHeartMedia Networks Group, commented, “2018 was a momentous year for iHeartMedia, filled with acquisitions, partnerships, integrations and the development of an unprecedented podcasting platform.”

He did not note the company’s debtor-in-possession status and plan to emerge from Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection within the next several weeks.

“Thanks to our ever-expanding list of platforms, iHeartRadio can be enjoyed nearly everywhere — from cars to wearables to gaming consoles and more,” Davis said. “We’re excited to announce even more integrations this week as we look forward to another successful year of providing listeners everywhere with an exceptional music and audio listening experience.”

At the same time, the little-known iHeartRadio Family app — a take on its signature iHeartRadio app, but with parental controls — has been redesigned.

The iHeartRadio Family app now boasts new features and content; live radio, playlist radio and podcasts are now available in the app for a total of more than 80 pieces of family-friendly content. Improved navigation now includes a scrolling mechanism that moves top to bottom instead of left to right, and now has three tabs (All, Music and Stories) for more intuitive browsing.

Additionally, parents now have more control over the app experience with “Hide this Station” and “Hide this Story” features, which enable parents to manage certain content through the “Parental Controls” tab on the Settings page.

For Honda, CES 2019 sees the auto maker demonstrating its prototype Honda Dream Drive, the automotive industry’s first integrated driver and passenger infotainment, commerce, services and rewards dashboards within the vehicle environment.

In partnership with iHeartRadio, Honda will also explore in the Dream Drive platform the integration of live broadcast radio content (AM/FM signals) simultaneously with digitally streamed audio content.

Drivers will be able to access and interact with their favorite iHeartRadio content, including live stations, custom artist radio stations and more than 20,000 podcasts.

The iHeart announcement came just before Entercom revealed that its Radio.com app is also now integrated into the Honda Dream Drive platform.


CES visitors may experience Honda Dream Drive in the 2019 Honda Passport at its CES booth in LVCC North Hall #7900.


 

Integration with the new Bixby, Samsung’s intelligence platform, will enable users in the U.S to seamlessly call up specific live and iHeartRadio original radio stations.

Further, iHeartRadio users can now use simple voice commands with Roku streaming players and Roku TVs with Roku TV Wireless Speakers connected to listen to all their favorite live radio stations, artist stations and podcasts.

For a frictionless experience, users can give voice commands like “Play iHeartRadio Countdown on iHeartRadio” to a Roku TV Voice Remote or a Roku Touch.