Smart speakers and public service broadcasters

With global sales of smart speakers for 2018 expected to exceed 50 million units by some analysts, and projections of a total of 255 million installed devices by 2022, it’s clear that they are no longer just for the early adopters.

The ways in which people are using smart speakers are also becoming clearer. Recent research from both the US and the UK, two of the more mature markets, show that use of audio, and especially radio, dominates time spent listening to music and live radio streaming, as well as weather, traffic and news feature significantly in actual usage.Many people use smart speakers in order to reduce time spent with a mobile device.

Something that entertains and informs, something that is available when needed and fits around the other things that a person does throughout the day – this is absolutely what radio is, and always has been, good at.

One main selling point for smart speakers is the ability to interact with them, to request specific or related content. This is also something that…