ABC Radio will reskin its local radio network websites as part of wider branding changes to be announced this evening (see our earlier report).

ABC Radio’s 666Canberra website is a prototype for the new look web design, and is live now.

The new site uses the more modern ’tile’ design for its content place markers and has been styled to be more in line with ABC Radio’s podcast pages, with a high contrast black header bar and simple logo presence.

The page design is ‘responsive’ and will adapt to different size screens easily, showing a wide format on computer monitors or resizing to a vertical layout for smart phone screens.

A feature of the new design is that the ‘Listen Now’ player button is prominent right at the top of the header, and also the addition of a live scrolling horizontal program guide (similar to TV EPGs) that shows the program now on and can scroll back and forward to show what has been on and what is coming next.

In a new innovation that makes catch-up radio listening easy, users can click on a past show in the program guide bar and rewind to the show page, where the audio will be available to listen again.

Compare the Canberra webpage, with the Sydney 702 older design below it.

More details of the new look and functions will be launched by ABC MD Michelle Guthrie this evening.