MetaPub®

NPR Distribution’s service that gathers broadcast program metadata and makes it available to stations to deliver to end-user devices such as HD radios and smartphones.
MetaPub (Illustration)
MetaPub (Illustration)

MetaPub®

NPR Distribution’s system for gathering broadcast program metadata and making it available to stations to deliver to end-user devices such HD radios and smartphones.

What is MetaPub?

MetaPub is radio for the 21st century.

MetaPub enables public radio listeners to receive additional information  on the screens of their cars’ smart dashboards, on their mobile phones and tablets, and on streamed web content while they’re listening to the broadcast. It’s visible on HD radios and RBDS-enabled radios.

This information includes dynamic, real-time descriptive information about the program story or song, including:

Text Icon

Text

Title Icon

Song or Story Title

Artist Icon

Artist or Reporter

Description Icon

Descriptions

Images Icon

Images

Producer Logos Icon

Producer Logos

Program Logos Icon

Program Logos

Album Art Icon

Album Artwork

MetaPub can also provide a crucial service to local communities by transmitting emergency alerts.

For more information about using MetaPub, call the NPR Distribution Help Desk by phone at 800-871-7677 or by email at prsshelp@npr.org.

MetaPub for Stations

Metadata – text, graphics and web links – is synchronized with delivery of programs to stations by ContentDepot®, the official distribution system of the PRSS, or added at stations to local programming.

Stations use a middleware program to pull data from MetaPub and add it to their existing broadcast streams.  This allows the metadata to be viewable on:

  • Hybrid, HD and RDS Radios
  • Website and web streaming services
  • Smartphone applications

To learn more about MetaPub, please visit our Help Center. If you'd like additional information, please contact the Distribution Help Desk at 800.971.7677.

Benefits for Stations

Station Marketing Icon

Marketing

Promote station events, programs, and tickets.
Station Alerts Icon

Emergency Alerts

Save and protect lives when using MetaPub for emergency alerting to warn about natural or manmade disasters.
Development Icon

Development

Drive revenue by featuring logos and messages from sponsors.
Station Updates Icon

Provide Updates

Can be used for Silver or Amber alerts, traffic reports, boil-water notifications or to provide updates about where shelters are located.

Additional information on station emergency kits can be found in our online Help Center. If you'd like to learn more, contact the ContentDepot Help Desk at 800.971.7677 or prsshelp@npr.org.

MetaPub for Producers

If you'd like to add metadata to MetaPub so that stations can complement the broadcast of your program with information about what's on air, please contact the NPR Distribution account management department by phone at 202.513.2618 or by email at prssbusiness@npr.org. We can discuss options for organizing the metadata and making it available in a central location so that MetaPub can easily access it and share it across the system.

Benefits for Producers

Visuals Icon

Visuals

Ability to offer a more dynamic and visually appealing programming.
Time Icon

Real Time

Provide real-time information and images connecting to what listeners hear over the air.
Opportunities Icon

Opportunities

Offers new opportunities to brand and promote programs, hosts, production organizations, etc.
Concurrent Icon

Concurrent

Make story or song-level metadata available for station use concurrent with the broadcast.

What is MetaPub?

MetaPub is radio for the 21st century.

MetaPub enables public radio listeners to see additional content on the screens of their cars’ smart dashboards, on their mobile phones and tablets, and on streamed web content while they’re listening to the broadcast. It’s visible on HD radios and RBDS-enabled radios.

This data includes dynamic, real-time descriptive information about the program story or song, including:

Text Icon

Text

Title Icon

Song or Story Title

Artist Icon

Artist or Reporter

Description Icon

Descriptions

Images Icon

Images

Producer Logos Icon

Producer Logos

Program Logos Icon

Program Logos

Album Art Icon

Album Artwork

MetaPub can also provide a crucial service to local communities by transmitting emergency alerts.

For more information about using MetaPub, call the NPR Distribution Help Desk at 800-871-7677 or prsshelp@npr.org.

MetaPub for Stations

Metadata - text, graphics and web links - is synchronized with delivery of programs to stations by ContentDepot®, the official distribution system of the PRSS, or added at stations to local programming.

Stations use a middleware program to pull data from MetaPub and add it to their existing broadcast streams.  This allows the metadata to be viewable on:

  • HD and RDS Radios
  • Web Site and Web Streaming services
  • Smartphone applications

To learn more about MetaPub, please visit our Help Center. If you'd like additional information, please contact the Distribution Help Desk at 800.971.7677.

Benefits for Stations

Station Marketing Icon

Marketing

Promote station events, programs, and tickets.
Station Alerts Icon

Emergency Alerts

Save and protect lives when using MetaPub for emergency alerting to warn about natural or manmade disasters.
Development Icon

Development

Drive revenue by featuring logos and messages from sponsors.
Station Updates Icon

Provide Updates

Can be used for Silver or Amber alerts, traffic reports, boil-water notifications or to provide updates about where shelters are located.

Additional information on station emergency kits can be found in our online Help Center. If you'd like to learn more, contact the ContentDepot Help Desk at 800.971.7677 or prsshelp@npr.org.

Metapub for Producers

If you'd like to add metadata to MetaPub so that stations can complement the broadcast of your program with information about what's on air, please contact the NPR Distribution account management department by phone at 202.513.2618 or by email at prssbusiness@npr.org. We can discuss options for organizing the metadata and making it available in a central location so that MetaPub can easily access it and share it across the system.

Benefits for Producers

Visuals Icon

Visuals

Ability to offer a more dynamic and visually appealing programming.
Time Icon

Real Time

Provide real time information and images about what listeners are hearing over the air.
Opportunities Icon

Opportunities

Offers new opportunities to brand and promote programs, hosts, production organizations, etc.
Concurrent Icon

Concurrent

Make story or song-level metadata available for station use concurrent with the broadcast.