A framework for a context-based hybrid content radio

The aim of this paper is to propose hybrid content radio, a new framework for radio content, enhancing the traditional broadcast radio experience and augmenting it with context related audio content. Differently from most of the commercial recommendation-based internet streaming services (Spotify, Pandora), here we consider systematically adding audio content to an existing, linear audio structure. The purpose of the hybrid content radio framework is to enhance the broadcaster’s programme schedule with context-aware and personalised audio content from the internet. The context can be the listener’s profile, emotional state and activity, their geographical position, the weather, and all factors contributing to characterize the state of the listener. The final purpose of the enhancement is to improve the service user’s’ listening experience, decreasing their propensity to channel-surf and giving them more targeted content, such as local news, entertainment, music and also relevant advertisements. In this way, the hybrid content radio approach enables both a functional enhancement to radio and network resource optimization, allowing the use of both the broadcast channel and the internet.