TuneIn radio app launches $8-a-month tier with MLB and soccer, audiobooks, ad-free stations

TuneIn, the app that gives users free access to thousands of live radio stations around the world, is launching an $8-a-month premium subscription service that throws in ad-free listening, audiobooks and live play-by-play coverage of Major League Baseball and soccer from the Premier League and the Bundesliga.

TuneIn CEO John Donham says the seemingly disparate offer caters to listeners who have varied tastes. That could be news in the morning, music at night and live sports whenever a good game is on.

The offer launches in the U.S. on Tuesday, as well as Canada, where it'll cost 9 Canadian dollars a month and in the U.K., where it'll be 6 pounds a month.

The offer includes 40,000 audiobooks and ad-free listening for 600 Internet radio stations at launch.