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Thursday, April 11, 2019

NAB Show: Automakers Aim To Make Radio Visual

Radio broadcasters are teaming up with auto manufacturers and technology companies to fight off growing competition from the likes of Sirius XM Holdings and iTunes for passenger mind-share, reports the Las Vegas Review-Journal.

Those collaborative efforts were on display at the National Association of Broadcasters Show, which is being held this week at the Las Vegas Convention Center.

This year, the NAB Show features a new pavilion dedicated to the in-car experience as rapid technological advancements like fifth-generation wireless technology and autonomous driving causes the two industries to converge.

German car maker Audi showed off hybrid radio technology that enables its cars to seamlessly switch from a station’s FM signal to web streaming. Audi will roll out the technology in cars sold in the U.S. next year, said Martin Koch, head of the car company’s infotainment and multimedia development.


Audi is also encouraging radio broadcasters to add greater content to the real estate they have on the newest dashboards, Koch said. Stations can better engage passengers by including logos, recently played songs and podcasts, he said. Radio stations now offer little more than their frequency and current show or song name.

Broadcast radio still dominates the content consumed inside cars because most vehicles on the road don’t have the technology to offer streaming.

The average age of a car on U.S. roads is nearly 12 years, according to the Bureau of Transportation. Radio’s prominence could decline as more people switch to connected cars, unless broadcasters adapt.

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