Our Service and Programme Information (SPI) standard (TS 102 818) is the most widely implemented of our standards, and it’s just been updated to a new version (v3.4.1)
SPI standardises the way that radio services (stations) and the programmes on them (programme schedules) are defined. This is the standard that covers station names, logos, frequencies, genres, links and much more, and is the basis Project Logo.
The new updates are primarily about adding better definitions of textual fields to improve voice control. For example, as well as providing the official written name of your radio station, you can also provide aliases (things people call your station that aren’t its official name) and phonemes (more accurately describing how to recognise and pronounce your radio station name). We strongly recommend that you implement this support for existing services.
There are also new elements to better describe programmes and events within programmes, so that they can be searched on the names of the presenters, contributors and guests, as well as the names and topics.
As new streaming formats have been adopted by broadcasters, we’ve added clarification on how to signal formats like MPEG-DASH and HLS.
Finally, there is new guidance on how to structure and link regional services in the SI file.
If you’re implementing SPI, you should get the new version of the standard and check if you should be adding any of the new functionality.
Core Lookup Standard (TS 103 270) Updated
As well as updates to SPI (TS 102 818), the RadioDNS Hybrid Radio Core Lookup Standard (TS 103 270) has also been updated with minor changes. The situation regarding RDS PI codes which are shared between the USA and Canada is clarified.
You can download the new version from our Technical Documentation page.