Britain gets industry-wide UK Radioplayer

The British radio industry has agreed on a common internet radio service.

UK Radioplayer will be introduced in early 2010 with the streams of more than 400 British radio stations from the BBC, commercial radio, student radio and community radio. The service will include archive material, an advanced search function and the option to save favorite station on pre-set buttons.

Radio stations will also have the option of adding material such as advertising, track listings, webcams and click-to-buy music services.

"This is a really exciting development and a result of focused, collaborative thinking within the radio industry. The aim of this service is to grow listening across the industry and help preserve radio's unique position" says Tim Davie, director of BBC Audio & Music.