INDIANAPOLIS, IN – Corus Entertainment’s 52 radio stations in Canada have been added to the Broadcaster Traffic Consortium (BTC) as contributing broadcasters for FM-RDS and HD Radio data distribution.
The BTC is a nationwide terrestrial broadcasting network distributing local traffic and other map-related data via radio technology. Calling itself “the alignment of the traditional radio business model with high-growth, consumer-demand applications”, the group was launched in 2008 by eight U.S. radio companies.
“Our purpose is to further accelerate consumer HD Radio receiver penetration and create new revenue," said Paul Brenner, president for the consortium, in the announcement. “The expansion of BTC represents the power of our industry to unite our resources and deliver innovative service solutions to relevant content partners. By leveraging our strengths – low-cost distribution, localized content, nationwide coverage and digital capacity – we are re-establishing this industry as an innovative means of engaging consumers.”
The BTC also added Journal Broadcasting, Regent Communications, and Saga Communications to its consortium on Monday, bringing its member total to 16.
“Through the addition of these new broadcasting partners and continued contributions by the founding members, BTC has grown to cover U.S. markets numbering 82 FM-RDS and 74 HD Radio Data as well as the top seven Canadian metropolitan areas with FM-RDS,” Brenner continued.
Through an association with NAVTEQ, a provider of digital map data for vehicle navigation and location-based solutions, BTC uses RDS and HD Radio technology to deliver real-time NAVTEQ traffic and other location-based information directly to portable navigation devices and automobile in-dash systems. With the high bandwidth capacity provided via RDS and HD Radio technology, consumers can obtain high-quality, up-to-date information including traffic flow and points of interest “when and where they need it most”, the announcement detailed.
77 FM-RDS markets and 63 HD Radio Data markets are active now, and the remaining BTC-committed markets will be completed in the second quarter of 2009.
