Editorial

Public radio turns to Apple to deliver broadcasts

Wednesday, March 18, 2009

McCook public radio fans have a new digital option, sort of.

NET Radio officials announced that Nebraska public radio is now available through a Public Radio Tuner application available as a free download at the APP section of Apple's iTunes store, making broadcasts avaliable through an iPhone or iPod Touch device.

"So far, very few free options exist for audiences to listen to the radio on their iPhones, so NET Radio is thrilled to offer this new service," said NET Radio Network Manager Nancy Finken. "We see real value in making NET Radio available to our listeners through this medium. It helps to make listening to NET Radio an option wherever you go."

NET Radio is also available on Nokia devices through their Internet Radio application, and the developers of the Public Radio Tuner hope to extend their application to more devices in the future, she said.

That's good; iPhones generally don't work in McCook because they're tied to a network that doesn't offer service here. iPod Touchs are limited by available WiFi coverage.

Just more frustration for fans of Car Talk, A Prairie Home Companion or other public radio shows that can only be heard in McCook by sitting in one's car or jerry-rigging some sort of antenna to a home radio while trying to detect a weak signal that's often overpowered by local commercial broadcasts.

Nebraska public television has undergone a dramatic upgrade with the advent of free, over-the-air digital broadcasting. If only its audio cousin were able to keep up. Perhaps expansion of its Internet-based delivery system is the answer. 

Respond to this story

Posting a comment requires free registration: