BBC staying alive through clip-on digital radio

Exact information about availability or features is still far from ready, but the BBC plans to release a "clip-on" digital radio add-on for digital audio players in the near future. The British news organization cites studies showing that a fifth of Americans over 12 years old own at least one player as its main reason for entering the market. As a radio broadcaster, the BBC has a vested interest in keeping radio alive during a time when more and more people listen only to their private music collections. The device will not be limited to the BBC's own content, and players will likely also be made for cars and cellphones. In the article posted to the company's Internet news portal, a BBC representative says that stories of Apple's involvement is "pure speculation" - though the iPod's dominance of the market will clearly require that the BBC at least consider iPod support for the digital radio add-on.