It's About Traffic Not HD Radio

8-29-14

There's been a  lot of buzz lately about GM removing HD radio from automobiles. Strategy Analytics Associate Director Robert Lanctot says the radio industry needs to calm down about the conspiracy theories because this is not a precursor to GM doing away with the AM/FM dial altogether. In his latest blog, Lanctot says, "The real news flash from the HD Radio end of the dial is that just as many new GM ?platforms? are adding HD Radio as are dropping ? so the net is no change and the long-term outlook is for continued broad-based deployment. But the news of the tweak in availability for the Impala highlights a bigger issue playing out in increasingly digital dashboards: access to traffic information."

Lanctot says GM and every other OEM have tough decisions to make regarding traffic information strategy. " If I were dialing in my traffic strategy, the last thing I?d do is delete an information resource that was more or less free of charge. The most readily available, and usually free, traffic information service is the one accessible via the broadcast signal ? the radio.  Car radios deliver traffic information via broadcast announcers sharing the observations of spotters and government supported data feeds, and via side-band or digital signals (RDS-TMC/analog or T-PEG/digital)."
"In North America, the means of delivering traffic information includes digital and analog broadcast signals (the car radio), SiriusXM satellite radio (subscription based and using existing radio hardware) and IP-based delivery (via an embedded modem or connected smartphone).  Aside from the satellite delivery, the same communication channels are available in Europe and other overseas markets. Examples of IP-delivered traffic include apps such as Waze or INRIX, along with a host of others including HERE and Beat the Traffic and Google.  In fact, the lack of digital radio channels ? as in the case of Europe ? has caused automakers such as Audi to send the T-PEG traffic information (which is too large for the analog channel) via embedded cellular connections." Lanctot adds HD Radio is capable of delivering another source of traffic information based on the T-PEG standard, though GM has not implemented this capability yet. "This traffic information is capable of enhancing on-board navigation and route guidance." And with more people on the road, and traffic at an all-time high, this topic is certainly going to keep GM and other car manufacturers very busy for years to come.

Read Lanctot's detailed explanation about what's going on with GM, HD Radio and traffic information sources HERE

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WideOrbit Traffic Hits 1,000 Station Mark

9-17-13

WideOrbit  says it now has more than 1,000 radio stations operating on WO Traffic, the company?s advertising sales, traffic and billing program. Founder Eric Mathewson said, ?I?m extremely proud of our radio team for helping us reach this significant milestone. We owe a lot to clients like Salem, Entercom and Midwest Communications who provide us with the continuous feedback that inspires us to develop better products for our users and for the industry.?

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Total Traffic Wins Telematics Award

6-10-13

Total Traffic Network has been named the 2013 Telematics Update Award winner for Best Navigation Solution. The Telematics Update Awards recognize the leading players in the telematics space during Telematics Detroit. TTN was recognized for its navigation solution that delivers real-time local traffic flow and incident information with graphics to vehicle dashboards via an HD Radio signal or IP-connectivity.

Senior VP of Operations at TTN Kevin Loftus says, "Total Traffic Network is extremely proud to be honored as the Best Navigation Solution by Telematics Update. The prestige of this award continues to validate the hard and passionate work of our team in building compelling, valuable, relevant, and dynamic content and distribution services for our customers. We are humbled and excited to have our industry peers recognize TTN as a leader for traffic and traveler information solutions."

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Former WBZ Radio Traffic Reporter Joe Morgan Dies

1-31-2013

WBZ is reporting that Morgan, who retired two years ago, died peacefully with his family around him. Morgan is survived by his four grandchildren and his wife of 44 years, Ellen. The station said Morgan had a long illness. He was 67.
According to the WBZ website, Morgan worked for more than 30 years in radio before he started reporting in the WBZ traffic helicopter in April 1997. He spent his entire career broadcasting in Boston, beginning in 1968 at WCOP as the Operations Director. Eight years later, he became the Public Affairs and Editorial Director, News Anchor and Reporter, and the News Director for WRKO. In 1989, he was named News Director for WHDH-Radio.

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Toyota Picks Total Traffic For Dash Info

1-7-13

Clear Channel's Total Traffic Network and Toyota have announced a three-year agreement that will integrate real-time traffic and The Weather Channel information into the dashboards of select 2013 Toyota and Lexus models. The new Toyota models will feature the first consumer-facing real-time delivery of information and graphics inside a vehicle via an HD Radio signal.
Toyota VP Jon Bucci said, ?We are excited about this value-oriented solution for providing important services to our customers. The strengthening of our partnership with Clear Channel Media and Entertainment provides even more in-vehicle experiences by bringing real-time information to our customers.?

Featured In-Dash Services To Include:
- Doppler weather radar: Drivers will have instant access to The Weather Channel?s Doppler weather radar overlaid onto their existing in-dash navigation map.
- Current weather conditions and forecasts: Drivers will be able to easily access The Weather Channel?s local and national forecasts for over 120 cities with a touch of the console screen.
- Real-time traffic: These easy-to-understand maps and incident coverage reports are updated every two minutes and offer current conditions, as well as upcoming 15-, 30- and 45-minute predictive traffic information.

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WTOP Adds Dildine to Traffic Lienup

9-11-2012

Hubbard's WTOP has promoted weekend traffic reporter Dave Dildine. Dildine joined WTOP in 2010 during the launch of their in-house traffic center, taking on the weekend afternoon shifts. Dildine will now step into a full-time role in WTOP?s traffic department while also working on traffic and weather related features. 

Although he?s worked in traffic since 2007, Dildine is a seasoned storm chaser and weather research analyst having worked in Oklahoma and Texas where he chased severe storms and tornados for a living.  Dildine serves as a valuable resource for WTOP?s traffic, weather and news departments - recently analyzing Hurricane Isaac, flying with Hurricane Hunters into Hurricane Irene and producing popular traffic/news stories such as ?DC?s Worst Traffic Merges.? 

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(AUDIO) Cumulus Teams With Radiate For Traffic

3-5-2012

Cumulus is teaming up with Radiate Media to launch a new traffic reporting service. It's called ?Right Now Traffic? and will launch on Cumulus stations in the top 75 U.S. markets beginning in April. Radiate was formed back in October of 2010 and CEO Chris Rothey says, in addition to teaming up with 750 Cumulus stations, his new traffic service will be made available to other stations as well. We spoke with Rothey last night about the deal and his company. You can listen to that interview here.

Listen to our interview with Radiate Media CEO Chris Rothey HERE

Cumulus CEO lew Dickey said, ?We?re excited about launching Right Now Traffic with Radiate Media. Americans are spending more than 1,000 hours per year in their cars. Our listeners, advertisers and network affiliates all demand accurate and timely traffic information, and this partnership enables us to address that need with a best in class service.? Cumulus also plans to make Right Now Traffic available to other stations. Right Now Traffic reports will be powered by government sensors, toll tag monitoring and billions of GPS data points. Cumulus says, the market for advertiser-sponsored traffic reports is estimated to be at least $300 million. The combined reach of the Cumulus and Radiate networks will be able to serve a significant majority of that market.

(3/5/2012 1:41:10 PM)
Good-luck with that one. MSN Direct dumped its traffic services, so no more for Clear Channel. Navteq just laid off 1,300 from its mapping services, too. Terrestrial radio traffic is being killed by the likes of Google Maps - no need for expensive in-dash nav systems. Hear that Bob Struble? LOL!

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Clear Channel Rev Jumps Thanks To Traffic

Clear Channel saw a 7% jump in Q3 revenue thanks to the recently purchased Westwood One traffic division. When you back out Westwood One, revenue was up 2% for the quarter. National revenue was also up, so when you read between the lines, it sounds like local advertising was either flat or down for the quarter. Of the $55 million revenue increase in the radio division, $41 million came from the traffic division and $13 million from national.

The national revenue increase was lead by restaurants, automotive, utilities, financial services and healthcare. The company also reported the 4th quarter looks flat compared to 2010, "bookings for the 4th quarter are challenged and visibility is limited."

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