Unveiled at 2011 CES: New Platforms and Products bring Clear Channel Radio’s iheartradio and Total Traffic Network to More Places Than Ever
Unveiled at 2011 CES: New Platforms and Products bring Clear Channel Radio’s iheartradio and Total Traffic Network to More Places Than Ever
Latest Partnerships Include Yahoo!, Toyota, JVC, Pioneer, DICE, iHome & More
San Antonio – January 14, 2011 – At this year’s International Consumer Electronics Show (CES), Clear Channel Radio launched new platforms and products for iheartradio, as well as a new Total Traffic Network platform and partnerships, all of which enable a ubiquitous and rich digital experience for consumers.
“CES provided a unique platform to showcase new market opportunities for iheartradio and Total Traffic Network in 2011,” said Jeff Littlejohn, Executive Vice President, Distribution Development, Clear Channel Radio. “We will continue to work with premier platform creators and device manufacturers to meet consumers' expectations for seamless access to the unique and sought-after entertainment options that iheartradio provides, and the quality and accuracy that Total Traffic Network’s real-time traffic information offers.”
“We’re thrilled to unveil an expanded ecosystem of iheartradio-ready platforms and products,” said Evan Harrison, Executive Vice President of Clear Channel Radio and President of the Company's Digital group. “iheartradio is demonstrating the power of local radio and the strong connection it has with millions of listeners who want their favorite stations at their fingertips. This next-generation music solution addresses consumer demand for a consistent digital media experience -- in the car, at home, online or on the go.”
*iheartradio In The Car
Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A. previously announced plans to become the first automotive manufacturer to incorporate iheartradio in select 2011 Model Year vehicles. At CES, the car company unveiled its Entune™ infotainment system, which leverages a driver’s mobile phone to create a richer in-vehicle experience. After downloading the Toyota Entune mobile app and pairing a Bluetooth capable phone with their Toyota vehicle, customers will be able to enjoy iheartradio’s robust entertainment offerings in the car.
JVC Mobile Entertainment is the first automotive aftermarket device manufacturer to integrate the iheartradio mobile app. Once downloaded to an iPhone, iheartradio can be accessed on either the KW-NT30HD and KW-NT50HDT navigation units. Users will then be able to view song and artist information and high-resolution album artwork and control iheartradio right from the radio’s navigation screens. With this venture, JVC continues its relationship with Clear Channel Radio, which started in 2010 by offering the industry's first in-dash navigation receiver to offer services from the Total Traffic HD+ Network – a Clear Channel data information service providing Traffic, News, Sports and Weather information over the HD Radio network.
To address the growing market of users that want to keep their factory radios but upgrade to Internet radio in their cars, there are two iheartradio-capable integration kits from DICE Electronics: the newly upgraded flagship MediaBridge 1500 modules, which is slated for release in the second quarter with an MSRP of $299, and the all-new DUO modules, coming to market this month with an MSRP of $189. These entertainment and information connectivity modules enable users running the iheartradio mobile app on a smartphone to connect and control the iheartradio experience easily directly from the factory radio and/or the factory equipped steering wheel with built in radio controls.
Additionally, iheartradio will be phased into a growing line of in-dash multi-media navigation systems during the first quarter of 2011 by Rosen Entertainment Systems, a Corona, California-based mobile video entertainment manufacturer. Their Factory-Look Multi-Media & Navigation systems will include a built-in iheartradio interface for iPhone, Android and Blackberry devices, which will wirelessly link to Rosen units via Bluetooth Data and Audio connections. iheartradio functions and features are then accessible through Rosen’s high-definition 6.2” to 8.0” touch-screen LCD displays.
*iheartradio At Home
iheartradio is being released for Yahoo! Connected TV, allowing consumers to surf for their favorite stations from the comfort of their couch. Yahoo! Connected TV now boasts over 100 applications on the platform.
iHome has given consumers a new way to personalize their bedside experience by adding iheartradio compatibility to its popular app, iHome+Sleep. When used in conjunction with the free iHome+Sleep lifestyle app, iPhone and iPod touch users can jump-start their mornings with the sweet sounds of their favorite iheartradio station tunes or talk. iHome is revealing three new app-enhanced clock radios that are compatible with iheartradio. The iA63 App-Enhanced Alarm Clock FM RadioSpeaker System with Motorized Rotating Dock, the iA17 App-Enhanced Color Changing Alarm Clock FM Radio and the iA91 App Enhanced Dual Alarm Stereo Clock Radio with AM/FM presets will be available later this year.
*iheartradio On The Go and Online
iheartradio’s newly revamped Web site, found on iheartradio.com, offers numerous improvements, including a uniform log-in process across mobile and online platforms, a personalized home screen, social integration for sharing favorite stations and videos, enhanced navigation and search capabilities for all radio stations and a remodeled “On Air” screen.
Moreover, a touch screen portable Internet radio player was introduced by way of Walnut Media Network and its service platform. The W408 player with built in WiFi prominently features iheartradio, allowing access to local radio stations in the user’s area; radio stations from across the nation, searchable alphabetically by city or format; listings of radio personality-driven channels, and other exclusive content. The W408 allows users to personalize their iheartradio listening experience, and provides customized recommendations and suggestions.
Through its mobile app and online network, iheartradio delivers access to 750-plus Clear Channel Radio stations from around the country, unique artist performance videos, up-to-the-minute entertainment news and on-demand traffic reports. The digital entertainment medium also provides exclusive, commercial-free digital-only stations and celebrity-hosted channels, such as Christina Aguilera Radio, AT40 with Ryan Seacrest, Sixx Sense with Nikki Sixx, CBGB Radio, Radio Weezer and White House Brief, in addition to premium nationally syndicated programs from radio personalities, like Sean Hannity, Jim Rome and Bob & Tom. The iheartradio app. available on the iPhone, iPod touch, BlackBerry, Android and Windows Phone 7 devices, recently surpassed 12 million unique downloads and usage continues to increase weekly.
*Total Traffic Network Navigates the Future
Clear Channel Radio’s Total Traffic Network (TTN) also launched a new platform called TrafficNet 8.2 at CES with new features that will enhance the real-time traffic data service for consumers utilizing the service via broadcast, the Web, wirelessly and through navigation devices. Additionally, TTN has forged two new partnerships with Pioneer and Grupo Acir, expanding the reach of its service to broader audiences.