Traffic data direct to car

By: Jack Nerad for Driving Today

Date: Monday, 31. March 2008

Clear Channel Radio is one of the country's major broadcasters with more than 110 million listeners choosing the company's programming each week. Now traffic data authored by Clear Channel Radio's network of reporters, traffic cameras, helicopters, and airplanes will be offered via an annual subscription to owners of vehicles equipped with Audiovox Radio Data System Traffic Message Channel (RDS-TMC) equipment.

Working with automotive and home-audio maker Audiovox Electronics Corporation and Siemens VDO, Clear Channel Radio becomes the first broadcaster to deliver the RDS-TMC real-time broadcast technology in the United States. The data will be used by in-car navigation systems now available from Audiovox Electronics Corporation, creating high-quality digital transmission of traffic information that will be fully integrated into the vehicle's navigation system, allowing the subscriber to view a real-time traffic information overlay on a moving map display.

The data network will provide live, local traffic in 48 of the top 50 U.S. markets and will be available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, except on leap years when it will be available 366 days a year. Clear Channel Radio currently provides local traffic reports to radio stations in 105 U.S. markets.

"As the only broadcaster in the U.S. providing real-time, digital transmission of traffic information over this proven, global standard, Clear Channel Radio is teaming with Audiovox to let consumers detect accidents and slow traffic conditions, enabling them to adjust their routes immediately," said Jeff Littlejohn, executive senior vice president of distribution development for Clear Channel Radio. "This offering is an extension of our aggressive and continued commitment to the broad roll out of digital radio services."

RDS-TMC traffic data are already being broadcast in over 10 European countries. Using the technology the information is broadcast via a silent FM data channel that is carried along with individual stations' audio programming. Messages arrive continuously and are displayed immediately, in an easy to use graphical format, eliminating the wait for scheduled traffic news bulletins.

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