A broadcast radio alternative is fast approaching that will allow drivers to access a variety of audio newspaper and magazine content in their cars using a wireless Internet connection.
More than three years in the making, American Autocast Corp. plans to launch an “autocast” service in the next few months that will deliver audio content using technology similar to the MP3 and MP4 Internet standards. The networks will transfer broadcast-quality audio files at 128 kilobits per second, AAC said.
“We offer the newspaper in the automobile,” said Jerry Hoffman, president of AAC.
The files are transferred using different wireless methods, depending on the terrain, Hoffman explained. The frequencies include those used for cellular and digital TV transmissions. Which frequency is used depends on the network’s location.
“You have to change the modem. It’s terrain specific … it depends on interference. If you’ve got a lot of buildings, if you have open land … ,” said Hoffman.
“It (the Internet file) goes from the broadcasting studio to the data center, and from the data center it goes to the network,” he said.
A customer is issued a radio with a modem corresponding to the area’s network. The disposable radios will be distributed for free by local newspapers, with advertising as the sole source of revenue. AAC said it is in negotiations today with several newspapers to distribute approximately 700,000 radios to subscribers nationwide.
AAC said the programming will consist of six separate audio Internet files; two-thirds of each file will be national broadcasting and the other third local content.
The first file will consist of the newspaper, updated hourly; the second file will be sports; the third file includes investment programming; the fourth file has talk-radio content; the fifth file is a telematic navigational/ weather file, updated throughout the day, and including driving directions and calendar information; and the sixth file will be developed with a local partner and contain all local content.
The technological concept is similar to a jukebox in that a user is able to select the content on demand. The files also can be browsed so a user can bring up portions of a particular broadcast.
Phase II of the project will offer features such as text-to-speech capability, coupons and ads from the newspaper, two-way Internet Protocol communication and musical content.
“It’s the first time we will be able to tell people who heard what ad at exactly what time,” said Hoffman.
The technology is expected to increase revenues for newspapers and their advertisers, since the information will be directed toward an additional, more widespread audience, he added.
“The response to our programming has been overwhelming,” said Hoffman. Very soon, a symposium will be held in Atlanta at which more than 1,000 newspapers and 600 media companies will convene to discuss and develop Internet audio content.
