iHeartRadio has become the first live streaming radio app to launch on U-verse TV, AT&T’s IP-delivered pay TV platform.
The app, which requires users to have U-verse high-speed Internet service, is accessible on U-verse channel 532/1532 and allows users to search for radio stations based on genre, location or keyword; select from thousands of live radio stations; receive personalized recommendations based on listening habits, location and musical preferences; and access a list of saved or recently listened-to stations.
AT&T and iHeartMedia said they will add new features to the app later this year, including custom stations created from a library of more than 20 million songs and 800,000 artists, as well as song lyrics, artist biographies, stations "Perfect For" any mood or activity, and thousands of podcasts.
AT&T U-verse TV currently supports more than 30 apps, including music-focused apps such as Country Deep, Stingray Music, Karaoke TV and U-verse Jukebox.
“Personalization is one of the key features of AT&T U-verse TV, so a highly-customizable app like iHeartRadio is a natural fit,” said GW Shaw, vice president of U-verse and video products at AT&T, in a statement. “We’re excited to bring iHeartRadio and its extensive offerings to our U-verse customers.”
Integrating music apps at the set-top level has become an increasingly common play for U.S. MVPDs.
Comcast, for example, offers access to Pandora via its IP-capable X1 platform. Dish Network, meanwhile, announced in January that its Hopper and Joey boxes would add support for several third-party OTT music offerings, including Pandora, iHeartRadio and TuneIn, as well as to Vevo, the music video streaming service. Dish is also working on Dish Music, an app that will “discover” Hopper and Joey devices on the home network, allow customers tovselect from multiple music sources and independently control what music is being piped into the house.
