EBU to trial ‘visual radio’

The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) is to trial ‘visual radio’ at the Zurich 2014 European Athletics Championships.

The Visual Radio project, developed by Euroradio, consists of a live data slideshow showing live results and pictures of the event. European Athletics’ partners Swiss Timing, the official timekeeping and data-handling company, and Getty Images, the official photo agency, will feed content to Euroradio during the championships, which take place next week.

The slideshow can be delivered on platforms including DAB+ Slideshow, available on certain DAB car receivers, on hybrid radio (RadioVIS/RadioDNS) working with FM or digital radio, where receivers automatically download and display images as they are produced, and the web via a Javascript component. The EBU has created a RadioDNS server for broadcasters that want to start using hybrid radio without having to deploy their own infrastructure.

An English audio feed will also be embedded with this visual production and made available worldwide via the Eurovision Sports Live app.