After a nine-month hiatus, online fans of four MediaCorp radio stations can once again get their daily fix from the Internet – thanks to an agreement between the media giant and the Recording Industry Performance Singapore (Rips).
From Tuesday, listeners can enjoy the audio fare from 987FM, Class 95FM, Lush 99.5FM and Y.E.S. 93.3FM via “live” broadcasts online, making these stations accessible to even overseas listeners.
Simulcasts of free-to-air radio broadcasts over the Internet were suspended in March after changes to the law which made these streams subject to copyright licensing.
“We are very happy to be able to re-launch our radio stations on the Internet. Many of our listeners have been asking us to bring back our Internet radio simulcasts as they had become accustomed to listening to the radio while working on their computers,” said MediaCorp Radio managing director Florence Lian.
“Singaporeans abroad also want to tune in so that they can keep abreast with what is going on back home.”
Rips general manager Barbara Wong said her organisation, which administers Internet simulcast licences for the major recording labels here, was “very pleased” to conclude the licensing arrangement with MediaCorp.
Said Ms Wong: “We congratulate MediaCorp on being the first Singaporean radio broadcaster to do so, reaffirming MediaCorp’s leadership in the industry, its willingness to embrace new technologies and to listen to its customers.”
Under the new licensing agreement, MediaCorp has the option to expand Internet simulcasts to more of its radio stations in future.
“Economic conditions will determine our business decisions in this space so we will be studying that closely,” Ms Lian said.
Source: CNA
