NEW YORK and TORONTO – Bell Media and U.S. media company iHeartMedia announced an exclusive new partnership Wednesday that will see the iHeartRadio brand arrive Canada later this year.
The Canadian iHeartRadio digital service promises to showcase content from Bell Media’s 106 licensed radio stations located in 54 markets across the country, says the news release. Radio brands in the Bell Media stable include popular Toronto-based station CHUM FM, the Énergie group in Québec, and international brands like Virgin Radio.
Upon launch, iHeartRadio in Canada will provide instant access to the live radio feature offering Canadian listeners Bell Media's broadcast and digital-only radio stations across mobile, auto dashes, tablets and smartphones, gaming consoles, and wearables. It also includes iHeartRadio-branded events in Canada.
"We are partnering with the fast-rising iHeartRadio brand to develop its incredible presence in Canada through our leading platforms," said Bell Media entertainment production and broadcasting president Randy Lennox, in the release. "We will deliver a digital service that will serve our listeners across the country, providing them with great music, news and sports, as well as relevant and customized content from Bell Media radio and television assets, while providing dynamic and measurable advertising opportunities to our clients."
In the U.S., iHeartRadio is an all-in-one streaming music and live digital radio service offering instant access to thousands of live radio stations, user-created Custom Stations inspired by a favourite artist or song, and thousands of curated digital stations "Perfect For" any mood or activity. iHeartRadio has more than 700 million downloads of the app, nearly 80 million social media followers and 90 million digital uniques across the iHeartRadio Network, continues the release. But that does not include the millions of listeners who tune into iHeartRadio's live radio streams without registering.
iHeartRadio is currently available across the U.S., Australia and New Zealand.
"Partnering with Bell Media and launching iHeartRadio to our neighbours in Canada is an important milestone in further expanding our international footprint," added Michele Laven, president of business development and partnerships for iHeartMedia. "This new partnership will allow us to work with distribution partners, including auto and consumer electronics, to extend our brand and reach even further."
