iHeartMedia is digitally expanding to Canada in new partnership with Bell Media
American media corporation iHeartMedia will be digitally expanding to Canada through a partnership with Bell Media. The exclusive partnership will bring iHeartMedia’s free digital radio and streaming services to car stereos, handheld devices, and consumer electronics. The partnership will also bring iHeartRadio branded events to Canada. Considering Bell’s direct competitors in Canada lean towards more traditional product offerings, this new collaboration gives the company a domestic advantage.
iHeartRadio, the media company’s digital radio service, launched in 2011 and has 75 million registered users worldwide. The service expanded into Australia and New Zealand in 2013, and is expected to be fully operational throughout Canada by Summer 2016. iHeartRadio offerings in Canada will provide all of Bell Media’s programming, including music, news, and sports. Bell also owns five national television stations, 30 local, and 34 specialty stations. Included are the MuchMusic Video Awards, Juno Awards, and daily entertainment program eTalk.
About the partnership, Bell Media president of entertainment production and broadcasting Randy Lennox remarked “We recognize that iHeart is ahead of the curve, and we have a mirror model- we’re digitally progressive with a terrestrial-based model of radio stations. We are taking the position that we are iHeart North, so to speak, the Canadian franchise of iHeartMedia, which includes its events, its concert, its digital platform, its consumer electronics position, et cetera. We’re seeing this as a positive step forward in terms of modernizing the business.” Lennox served as Universal Music Canada’s CEO until last August.
Darren Davis, president of iHeartRadio, agreed: “Joining with Bell Media to extend the iHeartRadio brand with Canadians is an exciting moment for us. This partnership allows us to connect with even more music fans and radio listeners and we know Canadians will enjoy the service as much as our listeners in the U.S.”
H/T: Billboard
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Categories: Music