Clear Channel to add 800+ station streams to Reciva device

By Michael Hatamoto, BetaNews

May 19, 2008, 7:08 PM

To expand its already large base of listeners, Clear Channel announced it will make content from more than 800 stations available nationwide to users who own Internet radio receivers made by a producer of parts for XM and Sirius.

Clear Channel has historically enabled many of its stations to be listened to through the PC, on-demand services in hotels, or through select mobile phones. Today's deal with Reciva means Clear Channel will now be working with the largest Internet-radio module manufacturer in the world, and will compete with XM and Sirius.

Reciva's existing clients include Sangean, Grace Digital Audio, and Tangent. A software upgrade will allow users to ensure their Reciva devices can use Clear Channel content.

Users who visit Reciva's Web site are able to search for music by radio station name, location, or genre, with a large catalog of music available from around the world. Reciva provides music streams and on-demand content in Microsoft Windows Media, MP3, Ogg Vorbis, AAC, and Real Audio.

Unlike XM and Sirius, Reciva's users also rely on the service for its on-demand music collection and Internet radio stations, not just terrestrial stations. Furthermore, while XM and Sirius users tune in to a specific radio frequency, Reciva devices are able to access online radio station URLs, archived radio content, and popular podcasts.

And unlike Sirius and XM, Reciva's streams of terrestrial radio stations may leave the advertising in.

One feature provided by music service MP3tunes called the MP3tunes Music Locker effectively allows users to store music from the service's collection, and play it on a Reciva-powered device. Reciva announced at the start of this year a music-sharing agreement with the online music download service Rhapsody.

Even though more than 50 companies offer Reciva-based products, users looking for nationwide mobile radio will still have to choose between XM or Sirius; the company hasn't made a strong push into mobile music yet.