Broadcast radio gets a more premium portal

The NAB Show 2026 marked the official launch of the DTS AutoStage Broadcaster Portal Premium. Most radio broadcasters were already aware of the DTS AutoStage Broadcaster Portal, which has been helping radio stations better understand how people listen to AM/FM radio in the car. Broadcasters have been using the award-winning portal’s real-world, in-car listening data — not surveys — to glean more specific information about when, where and how listeners are engaging with their stations.

Enter the new Premium tier. It builds on the existing portal’s foundation to deliver deeper insights faster than ever. Premium subscribers don’t have to wait weeks or months for high-level reports because the DTS AutoStage Broadcaster Portal Premium shows them:

• How their station ranks against competitors at different times of day (morning drive, midday, afternoon, etc.)
• Listening heatmaps and trends that update much faster, so stations can respond while it still matters
• Expanded music insights showing which songs are resonating most with listeners
• Downloadable data that can be used in ad sales presentations and program planning

In short, the new Premium tier turns raw listening data into something broadcasters can act on almost immediately. And with this wealth of information at their fingertips, broadcasters can program smarter, further allowing them to compete more effectively and even unlock new revenue opportunities.

More highlights from NAB

Attendees were able to experience DTS AutoStage in person in a Genesis GV80, offering a real-world look at how hybrid radio experiences appear in commercially available modern dashboards. New this year, an interactive digital globe brought DTS AutoStage’s global scale to life, showcasing availability across 150+ countries, and its ability to deliver U.S. broadcaster data across 300+ local markets.

DTS product experts took broadcasters through the full range of offerings, including HD Radio, which is now in 125 million cars in North America, and AIM Player, a leading app platform which extends radio stations’ reach to mobile phones and other connected devices. Meanwhile, senior leaders like Joe D’Angelo, senior vice president of commercial strategy and partnerships, and Juan Galdamez, senior director of broadcast strategy and business development, were featured presenters during two sessions.

Meeting the moment

NAB is always a prime opportunity for DTS to connect with industry partners and peers and the 2026 show was no different. DTS took full advantage of having so many current and future customers in one place, taking over 100 meetings to share the value of our offerings, especially the DTS AutoStage Broadcaster Portal Premium. 

“The initial response to the launch of the DTS AutoStage Broadcaster Portal Premium has been phenomenal, with broadcasters of all sizes expressing strong interest,” said George Cernat, senior director of content acquisition and EMEA business development. George also noted how the global mix of attendees reinforced the broad, international appeal of DTS’s offerings.

This sentiment was echoed by Fabian Zamarron Moreno, senior manager of business development for Mexico and Latin America, who said, “The NAB Show remains the most important event for broadcasters across Latin America, and this year we saw strong interest from industry leaders throughout the region in the implementation of HD Radio and DTS AutoStage in cars and the various ways to monetize through metadata transmission.”

In addition to the strong interest, DTS also took home some impressive hardware from the show. The DTS AutoStage Broadcaster Portal Premium was recognized by Radio World with a Best in Show 2026 award and a NAB Show Product of the Year 2026 award.

The biggest reward is helping our broadcast partners navigate their future with confidence. The DTS AutoStage Broadcaster Portal Premium is just the latest example of how we inspire that confidence with better data, faster insights and smarter tools. 

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Every business has a story to tell and knowing if you’re telling the right story at the right time to the right audience is essential to keep a business thriving. The right metrics can do just that. However, digital technology is increasingly changing the way audiences interact with media and is doing so at a speed traditional radio just can’t keep up with. This has left today’s broadcasters without the visibility into audiences that streaming platforms have long enjoyed. 

Radio broadcasters should not have to settle for less. Especially when their audiences are listening inside connected vehicles with dashboards that give broadcasters the exact information they need: the how, when and where listeners are tuning in.

This is where the latest version of the DTS AutoStage Broadcaster Portal comes in. Built on the DTS AutoStage platform, the portal logs critical listener behavior and turns it into meaningful intelligence to drive smarter programming, stronger audience connections and new opportunities for monetization. It does so with a focus on something that makes radio unique — localization — and gives broadcasters a clearer, more dynamic view of behavior by providing access to listening analytics across 9 million vehicles across 250 U.S. markets in the U.S. alone. 

More revelations from more revealing data

The numbers the portal provides tell an in-depth story about listener behavior, a story that reflects their markets in ways not previously measured. For example, local sports and community events often amplify evening radio listening in smaller towns. Radio listening in resort and coastal regions sees surges during peak travel weekends. And in metro areas, those first back-to-school mornings create measurable shifts in drive-time habits almost overnight.

Important patterns like these are often missed by metrics that do not log in-vehicle listening.

The portal’s benefits are real and already making a difference. Reporting from the most recent CES, Radio World writer John Garziglia spoke to Lee Perryman, owner of Sylacauga’s Radio Alabama, who said the broadcaster platform “has changed my life, because I’m able to show prospective advertisers where and when people are listening, which I can’t do otherwise.” 

Garziglia noted there are no metrics in Perryman’s unrated market. “I can’t prove anything,” continued Perryman, “so we produce coverage maps that show our proposed coverage areas which we layer into DTS AutoStage maps showing where people are listening, and pair that with data from our streaming services to show the demographics of those people as representative samples.”

Beyond the local level, the DTS AutoStage portal also enables broadcasters to see audience movements at regional levels. So now a New York station can quantify listening across New Jersey and Connecticut, while a Syracuse station can identify engagement from nearby Utica and Rome. The portal finally allows stations to identify and monetize the “spillover” audiences that have always been there.

With a single standardized approach across all markets — from Los Angeles, where information comes from over 240,000 vehicles, to Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA, with just over 11,000 vehicles — broadcasters have a consistent and unified framework for comparing trends and making informed decisions across markets for the first time. 

From faster feedback to data driven decisions

The value of the analytics the portal delivers lies not just in what they measure, but in how quickly broadcasters may act on them. Stations can see audience shifts within 24 hours and respond almost immediately. So, when those local and regional listening patterns come to life — weekend spikes, commuter shifts, unexpected cross-market reach — broadcasters can use them to shape everything from programming to promotions.

This kind of immediacy changes the conversation. Instead of debating estimates or waiting for reports, broadcasters are now able to point to real audience movement to be proactive with programming and implement strategies based on near-time data. That means morning shows can test new segments and see the impact the next day. Sales teams can demonstrate advertiser reach with location-based listening trends. And programmers can track seasonal spikes tied to weather, events or travel patterns — insights that once took months to surface. 

As Mike Hulvey, president and CEO of the Radio Advertising Bureau, explained to John Garziglia at CES, “By establishing a communications link with the automobile dashboards in your market, you’re able to access near real-time consumption data, regardless of where you’re at.”

Radio’s data renaissance

Radio’s greatest strength has been its connection to the community, those familiar voices, local news and shared moments that make the listening experience personal. Digitization has attacked that foundation by scattering attention across countless platforms. But that same digitization, through the DTS AutoStage Broadcaster Portal, can give radio the tools to compete analytically and expand visibility. Stations of all sizes, including some in locations never before measured, now have ways to understand and strengthen what radio does best. 

The industry is taking note. Mike McVay of McVay Media recently wrote in Radio Ink, “Expect to see Xperi DTS AutoStage explode as a research tool used for audience measurement and content research, streaming metrics from listening online or on apps, and the collection of first-party data coming together as part of sales.”

Radio has always been resilient. Now, radio is becoming data-driven, too. The DTS AutoStage Broadcaster Portal is turning what were once data deserts into lush landscapes rich with insight that will fuel radio’s story for decades to come. Perhaps the best part is that’s happening where radio has always mattered most: in the car.

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This year, over 1.1 million people attended the event to see what’s new and what they could look forward to in terms of mobility vehicles, technologies and beyond. With days dedicated to both industry professionals and consumer audiences, there were many different perspectives to appeal to. DTS did that and more, with the numbers to prove it.

Highlights and High Praise

The Xperi booth proved to be a popular destination throughout the show. “At this year’s event, we welcomed more than 9,000 visitors to our booth, including many customers and licensees who experienced our demos firsthand,” said Akitaka Nishimura, senior vice president and general manager of Xperi Japan.

Among the more popular demonstrations was one featuring DTS:X in a Mercedes Benz. Attendees were able to witness firsthand premium IMAX Enhanced content with DTS:X immersive audio in a Mercedes-Benz E-Class vehicle through the Sony Pictures Entertainment RIDEVU app. RIDEVU is available in Japan the United States, Canada, Germany, Ireland and the United Kingdom.

Another demo that booth visitors enjoyed was experiencing DTS audio upmixing in a simulated car environment. DTS’s upmixing technology upgrades stereo audio sources like radio, CDs and streaming to match the surround or spatial audio environment inside the vehicle, all while maintaining high sound quality.

Other audio and in-car entertainment technologies showcased at the Japan Mobility Show were divided by audiences. During the days dedicated to industry professionals, DTS AutoStage and HD Radio® were available to explore. Meanwhile, consumer visitors were treated to an immersive and engaging DTS Headphone:X experience designed specifically for rear seat entertainment.

Overall, the DTS technology demonstrations received wildly positive reviews from show attendees. Of the over 6,000 visitors who both experienced the demos and participated in surveys, 75.8% rated the experience “very good” and 23% rated it “good,” for a combined satisfaction rate of over 98%.

Held only once every two years, the Japan Mobility Show was a special event where Xperi demonstrated how DTS technologies deliver extraordinary in-car entertainment experiences to drivers and passengers.

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Technology has advanced so much that people can enjoy good audio almost anywhere, including their cars. But that has brought with it a new set of challenges – as well as innovative solutions – which we’ll explore below.

Defining Quality

How a person measures, or defines, quality audio is really an individual choice. No two people experience music the exact same way and there will always be different opinions when it comes to defining what makes for a quality audio experience. What’s “good enough” for one person might not even be close to satisfactory for another.

This can make it difficult for technology companies to drive interest and value in audio solutions. The same customer wowed by 8k TVs may not care that those devices are equipped with low-quality speakers. Overall, we know that most people either don’t think there’s anything wrong with their audio or simply care less about it than they do picture quality.

We also know, however, that music and audio are incredibly vital parts of any visual story experience. And so, to reach customers less inclined to consider audio, a better approach might be to talk less about quality itself and more about why the quality of the experience is so important.

Why Music Matters

Music has the power to move us because music literally moves through us and can really alter the nervous system. Listening to pleasurable music has been shown to increase the production of dopamine, a neurotransmitter associated with pleasure and reward. This “feel-good” chemical is a key component of the brain’s reward system and contributes to the enjoyable and often addictive nature of music.

The way music interacts with our nervous system can also cement long-term memories associated with major lifetime events and other core memories, ranging from jingles that recall old products to forgotten favorite songs that deliver a flood of emotion associated with the recollections tied to those songs. These musical connections to memories are rooted in the very structure and function of our brains, where sound processing and memory formation are intimately linked.

Recognizing the profound importance music has, it can be quite the disservice when we listen to it in a sub-optimal manner. Exploring better ways to listen to music, including better placement of higher-quality equipment in an acoustically optimal environment, will allow even the doubters to hear music in a deeper and more meaningful way.

Bringing it Together in the Connected Car

So, what then is the most optimal environment to listen to music? Optimal, like quality, can be defined differently by different people, but the most acoustically accurate way to listen is to be in the same room with the musicians when they are performing or recording. Of course, that is a very limiting option for most, which is why the invention of recorded audio became so important.

Today, people have so many options when it comes to listening to music. Digital or analog? Headphones or speakers? Surround sound or not? There are certainly advantages for each source and setup. But no matter the preference, there is actually one space that delivers the best audio experience for many people: the car.

Think about the benefits of in-car audio. For starters, cars are insulated and enclosed. Drivers and passengers are surrounded by speakers, and can adjust volume and balance to their preferences from a fixed listening position. Additionally, people in the car tend to be focused on the road and the music, making it the one place they can be completely surrounded and engrossed by audio.

Car audio can also be optimized using software to create an even better audio experience. For example, even though the listening position of the driver is fixed in a car, it’s not in the exact center of the cabin. At DTS, we can use technology to account for this and to adjust the balance of the speakers accordingly.

Tech Drives Audio Farther

As enjoyable as it is to listen to music in the car, it can always be better. Innovative solutions, like our own DTS AutoStage, are using artificial intelligence and machine learning to deliver personalized music recommendations and adaptive soundscapes. 

Additional emerging technologies such as brain-computer interfaces may allow us to interact with music in entirely new ways, creating customized auditory experiences based on our neural activity. And the integration of haptic feedback and multisensory experiences could further deepen our connection to sound and music.

At DTS, we’re at the forefront of all of it because our team is passionate about the power of great audio experiences and the ability for those uncompromised audio experiences to be enjoyed by everyone, from the home to car and everywhere in between.

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The Road to HD Radio

HD Radio did not just appear out of nowhere twenty years ago. The technology went through years of beta launches, proof of concept tests, experimental launches of home radios, custom radios and more. One of the first breakthroughs occurred in 2003. Working with Kenwood, the team behind the tech built about 1,000 units, while concurrently developing a small network of about 100 radio stations.

That year also marked the launch of what we called “Tomorrow Radio,” a critically significant feature because it expanded broadcaster channel options by enabling them to split their digital bandwidth into multiple audio streams — turning one radio station into four with no new infrastructure required. The importance of this cannot be understated because it meant more voices and underserved formats, such as religious and foreign language, gained more airtime. Additionally, at a time when content demands driven by the digital revolution were growing, it enabled more niche programming which led, for example, to the launch of the first country radio station in New York City as a multicast channel.

Early wins were met with early fails, which is often part of the highs and lows of developing a new, disruptive technology. The engineers forged ahead and euphoria hit a new high when the dream of HD Radio became real in 2005 and the first BMWs (6 and 7 series) with fully installed HD Radio rolled off the assembly lines. Not only was HD Radio finally in OEM production – it was with one of the world’s finest engineering structures. BMW themselves marked the moment as ‘one of the most significant advances in radio broadcasting history.’

Driving Towards Major Milestones

Despite this successful launch, HD Radio was still miles away from mass market adoption. As the technology continued to evolve, the business also focused on expanding the number of stations in the network and increasing audience reach through OEM partnerships.

In 2010, HD Radio announced it was in 1 million vehicles, an impressive feat achieved in just a few years. A larger milestone was hit in 2014 when HD Radio could claim it was ‘built into over one-third of vehicles’. This also coincided with HD Radio being featured in a huge billboard in Times Square, reinforcing HD Radio had arrived and was on a trajectory to industry standard.

That trajectory over the next decade was nothing short of extraordinary. HD Radio was in 50 million vehicles by 2018, adopted by 25 car brands by 2020, and featured 4,500 separate digital channels across 2,300 unique stations in 2021. Last year you could find HD Radio in 60% of all vehicles shipped in the U.S. and today it is in 115 million vehicles globally.

HD Radio’s Impressive Impact

One of HD Radio’s early goals was to provide broadcasters with the tools to help keep their stations relevant and their listeners engaged. HD Radio has done that and more, transforming stations from mere numbers on a dial into rich digital experiences by improving fidelity, delivering clearer sound and offering more channels.

A great example of HD Radio’s innovation and impact came in 2018 when the mandate for back up cameras arrived and cars suddenly had to come equipped with big screens. HD Radio immediately worked to leverage this for our broadcaster partners, providing the capacity to offer richly visual on-screen information relevant to programming such as album art, station logos and song/artist info. This invaluable advancement enabled radio to offer the kind of visuals that out-of-the-vehicle digital users had come to expect. 

Another impact HD Radio has had on the industry is its capacity to bring more new voices and artists to radio, using multicasting to create new opportunities for airplay and discovery. Early on, HD Radio worked extensively with BMI and singer songwriters, bringing them onto the HD2 & 3 channels – new channels that were a perfect fit for burgeoning voices. An original program called the HD Radio Artist Spotlight helped shine a light on an up-and-coming talent, Charlie Worsham, whose career has continued to grow as evidenced by winning the 2024 CMA Award for Musician of the Year.

The tradition of spotlighting and revealing new voices continued through a program with Beasley called ‘How I Wrote that Song’. “For three consecutive years, Beasley partnered with BMI and Xperi/HD Radio to bring ‘How I Wrote That Song’ to our audience,” said Beasley Media Group chief content officer Justin Chase. “Interviews with some of the biggest hit songwriters in music aired on our radio stations and were prominently featured on our digital platforms. Our listeners and digital audience loved hearing the story behind their favorite songs!”

HD Radio’s most important industry impact, however, is offering broadcast partners — who are competing with more players for ad revenue than ever before — novel monetization opportunities on top of traditional ones. For example, through HD Radio’s visual display features, broadcasters can add an advertiser logo or a call to action, potentially generating millions of dollars in incremental ad revenue.

HD Radio has long prided itself on being able to help support the health of the industry overall, which supports the success of all industry stakeholders. This is especially important when considering that AM/FM radio’s in-car audience share is 86%. Anything HD Radio can do to amplify in-car advertisers’ ability to reach this massive audience is a big win for all involved.

Going Forward in the Connected Car

HD Radio has grown and evolved immensely over the past two decades, and it will continue to do so in the coming years. The technology is foundational for next-generation opportunities in the connected car. This is particularly true when it comes to DTS AutoStage, our global connected car entertainment platform that seamlessly combines linear broadcast with IP-delivered content.

DTS AutoStage would not exist without HD Radio technology, as it both complements and enhances FM and HD Radio via rich, consistent metadata, advanced services and broadcast content protection. Imagine today’s infotainment universe as a flood of media, with the associated media debris. In this scenario, DTS AutoStage operates like a personalized content sieve, removing noisy debris and making it easier for consumers in the connected car to safely discover and engage with the full spectrum of their personal entertainment preferences. Built around radio, DTS AutoStage incorporates video and gaming capabilities that broadcasters can leverage to increase engagement and ever-important revenue, as well as gain access to never-before-available listener data and analytics.

Furthermore, while the vehicle has historically been a listening blind spot for broadcasters, the DTS AutoStage Broadcaster Portal is delivering compelling actionable views of exactly how a station is performing. This includes not just which songs are played, but also a host of information about the songs and content in-vehicle listeners are engaging with. The DTS AutoStage Broadcaster Portal can tell broadcasters where and when listeners are engaging, for how many sessions, the length spent with each session and much more.

All of this is viewed as a first step toward getting broadcast radio in the car integrated with programmatic ad platforms. The resulting information may enable stations to generate ever-more individualized content recommendations and more effectively monetize their programming by providing highly relevant, targeted advertising, pairing audio and visual elements and, for the first time, enabling broadcast radio to participate in the programmatic advertising ecosystem.

HD Radio has been core to the development of innovations like DTS AutoStage, and to many steps of entertainment enhancement in the connected car. Today, twenty years after HD Radio led a radio revolution, we stand on the precipice of a movement every bit as dramatic, and important. This movement will continue to keep radio front and center in the vehicle, and ensure broadcasters are both firmly part of and helping lead the connected car entertainment ecosystem revolution.

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Broadcasters could arguably just rely on this data to reach audiences in the car. But content today easily crosses platforms without being married to traditional formats. It’s something we’ve being seeing outside the car for some time, and is now becoming truer inside the car, too.

Video Takes the Wheel

As big a hold as radio and audio have on in-cabin entertainment, video usage is on the rise, and fast: increasing from 31% of consumers watching video in the vehicle in 2022 to 47% in 2024.

That has coincided with over half (52%) of consumers now showing interest in having video-capable screens in the front cabin and considering screens important to have in their next car.

Forward-thinking automakers like Mercedes and BMW are listening. They are implementing front passenger screens which demand content that can be consumed by passengers when the car is in motion.

Electric vehicles, with the downtime of recharging stops, are also poised to impact the growth of video viewing in-vehicle. The same can be said for the autonomous vehicles on the horizon. Driverless Waymo vehicles are increasingly seen on the roads in LA, San Francisco and more, with passengers already able to stream on the vehicle passenger screens. It may just be a matter of time before video is enabled as well.

But the rise of video, and even gaming, in the car is not a death knell for audio. Recent research revealed that while consumers report ‘greater involvement’ watching video, they had a stronger visceral reaction to audio. From this we can surmise that both are important. And neither can be ignored.

Shifting Gears, and Approaches

Rather than thinking of taking an audio-first or video-first approach, broadcasters can instead pursue an approach that is content-first. We know consumers often search for content, then channel – and if there is one thing broadcast radio excels at, it is providing relevant, locally-oriented content.

Most radio stations are already crossing platforms, and have been for a long time, through their social media presence. That social media presence has been both an access point for consumers to listen to the station’s broadcast content and a means to enjoy a multitude of ancillary content, including video clips. All this activity has the potential to increase listener engagement and loyalty, provide more monetization opportunities and extend reach as content bubbles across social media. Similarly, that content can bubble across an in-vehicle infotainment platform.

Radio station websites offer useful insight into the potential of in-car video. Take radio icons like KROQ and KDKA for example. Interviews, performances, live shows and streams on both station sites showcase the goldmine of content opportunities video offers to radio. In addition to social media, another way to view the in-vehicle video opportunity is to think of the in-dash infotainment platform as a station’s website, rich with metadata, lyrics, visuals and of course, video.

Size Matters

The length of video content, even more so than the quality, is important. Our research shows that consumers prefer short-form video content (under twenty minutes) in the vehicle, which means broadcasters don’t have to worry about competing with high-production value, long-form streaming movies or series. If we use TikTok as an example, then the shorter and more informal the content the better. Stations that have a website and are already doing social media are likely doing reels on Facebook or Instagram – snackable video of existing content to push engagement that is perfectly watchable on a vehicle screen.

Even small, local stations with limited social media resources driving engagement have the ability to quickly create video content. Consider where a local councilman or other personality is in-studio to discuss a community issue. Just a few enhancements to the iPhone and that discussion is video-ready.

Many of today’s top podcasts also broadcast video (think Joe Rogan or Good Hang with Amy Poehler or Club Random), with broad acceptance of their varying levels of sophistication. Of course, ‘video-ing’ radio (or simul-casting) is really nothing new when you consider Howard Stern’s radio show in the 90s or go as far back as the first recorded simulcast – a symphony concert by the BBC – in 1926!

The Road Ahead

Radio is still firmly audio-first, with revenue driven by audio-listening, but broadcasters need to take advantage of the opportunity to reel in video-first or video-second engagers. For a radio programming manager who’s mandate it is to make content compelling enough to find, engage and maintain an audience, video simply offers an extra tool to do this.

As much as a broadcaster might desire an audience who does nothing but listen to their station all day long, the reality of this is becoming less likely in our fractured media world. In that sense it just makes more sense to be able to also reach that same audience through video.

Imagine this scenario: a driver is listening to music on a specific station then stops to recharge, or to wait for their kid’s practice to be over, or for their partner to finish shopping. If that driver opts for video on the console screen, wouldn’t it be better if they can stay seamlessly with the same station to watch a video interview with the artist they were listening to, or an in-studio concert of that artist – all from the station’s existing inventory? Or, if it is “talk” content, the driver can watch a live video feed of the current show. Let’s even say the driver has not been listening to that station, but, when stopped, searches for an artist or a topic and discovers video content from the station. The odds are then pretty good that once on the road again that driver will continue listening to the same station’s audio feed. 

At DTS we are committed to keeping radio front and center in the vehicle dash while also understanding that the dash of the future – and in many cases, today – includes video. We believe radio stations have terrific opportunities to leverage the wealth of video content that already exists in their libraries or to bolster future audio content with new video.

Video should not be seen as replacing radio and audio offerings, but as a way to enhance, extend and deepen station engagement, allowing broadcasters to reach radio audiences with the content and format they want, where most of them are listening: in the vehicle.

Stay up to date on the latest technology and insights from DTS here.

[1] https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241204183362/en/DTS-Reports-Vehicle-Ownership-and-Role-as-Third-Space-Remain-Important-as-Consumers-Increase-Video-Consumption

[2] https://www.insideradio.com/free/edison-research-s-latest-share-of-ear-finds-am-fm-rules-in-car-listening/article_96218754-009d-11f0-8ee8-939d87ecc44a.html

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Tackling Technology with Intent

While broadcasters should be enthusiastic about the possibilities of technology, they should also be strategic. We’ve seen how larger broadcasters who really leaned into digital and took an often-frenetic approach in trying to reach their audience with latest platforms and content – but without the proper vetting – get burned by their decisions. In these cases, the broadcasters got into the wrong platforms and further fragmented their audience in their rush to get ahead of the competition.

On the flip side, there is danger in being too cautious and moving too slowly. Broadcasters can’t just stand still when technology is moving at the speed of light. A better approach is to be neither passive nor frivolous, but to move with intent. This means having a clear platform strategy, one that will help broadcasters find their audience more efficiently while comprising solid domain expertise that straddles both the technology and content spaces.

Being in the Right Place at the Right Time

There was an adage that broadcasters ‘need to be everywhere.’ That later evolved into ‘broadcasters need to be everywhere their audience is.’ It’s the right thought, but one that is expensive and unnecessary. That’s because with today’s technology-driven fragmentation, audiences are going to be in many different places searching for a multitude of content. Chasing an audience literally everywhere they engage is not an ideal approach. 

A better direction for broadcasters is to ‘be in the place where their audience is when that audience is looking for the content that you are offering.’ It’s a strategy that demands broadcasters be proactive and precise. For example, consider a broadcaster with sports-focused content. Their audience is more than likely to engage with broadcast content when they are out of the home and, more specifically, in the car. If the broadcaster in this example is not engaged with platforms in-vehicle, that content is unavailable and their station is missing a critical audience opportunity.

Finding the Right Platform Fit

When it comes to platforms, the right size matters. The idea of ‘going big’ doesn’t always pay off for broadcasters. In one recent example, a major broadcaster integrated with over 300+ different digital audio platforms, which proved to be a huge resource lift given the need to ensure each platform’s connections were correct and the right metadata was going out, among other considerations. An audit revealed the broadcaster was not finding a groundswell of listeners in those 300+ places. But when the broadcaster reduced the number of platforms by almost 80% in favor of platforms where audiences were clearly raising their hands for their content, the ROI began adding up.

Smaller broadcasters with limited resources make similar mistakes, sometimes falling for the allure of huge popular platforms (e.g. Apple podcasts) where they have little chance of being noticed. A better approach could be to focus on smaller platforms where their core audiences already exist and where they will be noticed.

Today’s religious broadcasters offer a great example of a smaller cohort finding the ‘just right’ platform. These broadcasters operate as an industry subgroup to bring their audiences to the family-friendly environments they want. Instead of trying to be everywhere, they are simply trying to be where they need to be.

Partnering with a Purpose

With the understanding of the importance of finding the right platform, the next issue for broadcasters is whether to build one designed to meet their specific needs. Many broadcasters believe this to be the case, but a better route may be to find a platform partner who is both credible and willing to listen and collaborate. The ideal platform partner serves as a technology provider with experience, efficiency and scale, along with the prominence and the functionality a broadcaster desires.

DTS AutoStage, for example, is that kind of platform. Built to fit a broadcaster’s needs, DTS AutoStage addresses the key challenges of a modern dashboard with personalized content discovery and platform control for the broadcasters. DTS AutoStage also ensures a comprehensive metadata set based on years of experience. The best part? It comes at no cost to broadcasters.

Whether a broadcaster chooses DTS AutoStage or not, finding a credible platform provider who can build, sustain, evolve and provide content and metadata management is paramount. Broadcasters should also look for partners with an understanding and respect for copyright and content protection, for privacy — and, increasingly, AI management.

Managing AI is Important, Not Impossible

The capacity to manage AI is critical. That’s true for partner platforms or platforms built by the broadcaster themselves. Upcoming AI regulation and legislation include the obligation to inform consumers whenever they encounter or consume AI-generated content, meaning everyone in the ecosystem will be liable. Having controls in place to identify and label AI content is of utmost importance to any broadcaster’s future.

The added level of scrutiny should not make AI feel like a burden because the truth is there is so much opportunity with AI. Consider the example of local advertising where there is a large gap between having personally targeted local ads – for as few as 500 households – and the substantial cost of creating those ads. If, however, AI was used to generate those local ads (with an AI disclaimer, of course), the financial model could make sense. Most consumers are more likely to respond to an ad that’s relevant to them even if it is AI-produced. Looking at it this way makes AI less of a problem and more of a problem solver.

Measuring the Measurements

Finally, considering all the changes happening today, and the rapid pace of those changes, it’s important for broadcasters to ask themselves if they have the right metrics and data sets to analyze how well they are reaching their audience and serving their advertisers. Traditional ratings continue to be an important and accepted protocol for determining ad spend. However, audiences have already shifted, are currently shifting and will continue to shift into spaces where traditional ratings are not penetrating, and, in some cases, even abandoning. 

To keep up, real-time, deeply trackable user data is increasingly important for broadcasters to include in their metrics mix. Sample-based legacy rating systems that are used to represent the market/audience are simply not as precise as digital platforms. These platforms are both precise in their measurement and provide the kind of targeting and attribution that radio needs to deliver. 

The core of the digital revolution is the ability to be far more granular when it comes to tracing listener behavior. As such, moving into a measurement model that blends both traditional and ‘in the moment’ data sets should be part of every broadcaster’s strategy for 2025.

Stay up to date on the latest technology and insights from DTS here.

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“Over-the-air radio remains the most important thing,” Gereon emphasized, underscoring Xperi’s commitment to enhancing the in-car listening experience through hybrid radio technology. With DTS AutoStage now embedded in over 11 millions vehicles from 12 OEMs, the platform is delivering hundreds of billions of events back to vehicles—enriching radio with visuals, metadata, and real-time insights.

Gereon also shared how this data is transforming infrastructure planning and broadcaster strategy. “We believe radio should be free for broadcasters. It’s your content that needs to get in the car,” he stated, reinforcing Xperi’s vision of a sustainable, broadcaster-first ecosystem.

From heat maps of DAB+ listening in Madrid to deep dives into German and UK markets, the session offered a data-rich look at how hybrid radio is driving relevance and reach. As Joachim concluded, “We need to make sure radio stays on the level where it is—and we can only do that with good data and good content.”

If you missed this session live you can watch the video recording below and if you have any questions contact us at getconnected.emea@xperi.com.

This event was a great success and we are looking forward to the next year!

The post Driving Digital Radio Forward: Xperi at WorldDAB Automotive 2025 appeared first on DTS.

1. Video Services in Cars are the Next Big Thing

The automotive industry is shifting gears from traditional radio to integrated video services. Xperi’s DTS AutoStage platform, already in over 10 million cars, is leading the way. This isn’t just about making your car journeys more entertaining; it’s a smart move by car manufacturers to generate recurring revenue through bundled connectivity packages. Video services are set to become a standard feature, offering new ways for consumers to interact with media while on the go.

2. Partnerships are Key to Success

The evolution of in-car entertainment is similar to the early days of smart TVs, where strategic partnerships were crucial for growth. Joyn’s approach to forming alliances with automotive companies highlights the importance of these collaborations. As in-car media becomes a major distribution stream, these partnerships will be essential for scaling the business and delivering innovative user experiences. The industry is ready for rapid growth, and those who establish strong partnerships early will lead the charge in transforming in-car entertainment.

3. Personalized, Snackable Content is the Future

In-car media consumption is all about shorter, more frequent viewing periods compared to traditional TV. This means a focus on personalized, snackable content that can be easily discovered and enjoyed. The industry is moving towards highly localized content that caters to the unique needs of passengers. As autonomous driving technology advances, the opportunities for video consumption in cars will expand, making personalization even more critical. The goal is to create an immersive, seamless experience that keeps passengers engaged without distracting drivers.

The Connected TV World Summit highlighted the exciting potential of media in connected cars. The integration of video services, strategic partnerships, and the focus on personalized content are driving the industry forward. As these trends continue to evolve, in-car entertainment will become an integral part of the automotive experience, offering new opportunities for both car manufacturers and media providers.

Watch the video now to hear expert insights from the recent Connected TV World Summit.

The post The Road Ahead: Media in the Connected Car appeared first on DTS.

Our free eBook, HD Radio Best Practices 2025, has the answers. Featuring expert insights from leaders like Xperi, iHeartMedia, Inovonics, Nautel and GatesAir, this guide offers practical tips for optimizing your digital transmitters and preparing for the future of radio.

What You’ll Learn:

• Maximizing Your Current HD Radio Setup: Best practices for optimizing digital transmitters, improving coverage, and maintaining audio quality.
• Adapting to New Installations: Key considerations for integrating HD Radio into your infrastructure in 2025 and beyond.
• Expert Tips on Digital Audio: Insights into audio quality, multi-platform content, and keeping your station competitive.

Stay ahead in the digital radio world. Download your free copy of HD Radio Best Practices 2025 today!

The post HD Radio Best Practices 2025: Your Free Guide to Maximizing the Potential of Digital Radio appeared first on DTS.

Radio Days

The history of in-car entertainment is nearly as long and colorful as the history of the automobile itself, beginning in 1922 when Chevrolet sold the first car in America with a radio installed. The device was a bulky Westinghouse radio with an antenna that covered the entire roof. The first European car radio, the Blaupunkt AS-5, launched ten years later and was more user-friendly but still a visually unappealing device. Aesthetics, however, were only one reason many car buyers were not interested in having a radio in the car. The perceived distracting nature of in-car radio also made it unappealing.

Despite initial opposition, AM radio became a standard feature in virtually all cars by the 1960s. FM capability followed soon after and since then there’s been a steady evolution of portable media platforms, including 8-track tapes, cassettes, CD and mp3 players. Streaming audio is now the norm, thanks to wireless networks; and it’s not uncommon to find car audio systems that deliver superior fidelity and quality compared to in-home audio systems.

TV Takes Off

Television was also largely pioneered in the 1920s, though a TV set wasn’t really affordable for most people until after World War II. Before then, television viewing was mostly a communal experience. By the 1960s TVs had evolved to be more accessible, colorful and even portable, and the changes have only become more dramatic in terms of TV shapes and sizes over the past few decades. Despite the changes, televisions have remained one of the primary devices for media consumption and, in particular, audio/video entertainment.

Today that screen-driven entertainment extends beyond our living room to include the screens in our pockets and, increasingly, those in our cars. Imagine telling someone in the 1960s that you would be watching TV in your car one day. They probably wouldn’t have believed you and may even have wondered why you’d want to, especially remembering that at one time people thought in-car radio was distracting. But times have changed.

Converging in the Car

What we’re witnessing today is a convergence of evolutions never seen before. The car has evolved, as has personal entertainment technology – both audio and video – along with wireless infrastructure. These convergences were simply not possible before because the component technologies were not ready individually.

The benefits of all these advances are especially noticeable in the car which has become an ideal, if unexpected, environment for premium entertainment. Today’s car interiors are acoustically treated to minimize road and engine noise, making it quiet and acoustically favorable for high-fidelity audio. The interior surfaces of most vehicles also don’t tend to create unwanted reverberation. And since speaker placement is fixed, it’s easier to balance and tune those speakers to the characteristics of the cabin and the desired sound.

Even the idea of what premium in-car entertainment is has evolved. Higher-end sound systems that used to be offered exclusively from luxury vehicle brands can now be found further down market. Premium brands like Burmester, Bang & Olufsen and Bose are available in various classes of cars around the world. That means luxury automakers have to explore other premium experiences to use as differentiators. Screens have become a big part of this exploration.

Front Seat Screens Move to the Forefront

In-dash screens, like the offerings that came before it, have evolved over the years. They were intended to provide infotainment in the forms of navigation and other non-video uses to the driver primarily. Meanwhile, rear-seat screens were mainly intended to deliver video entertainment to back-seat passengers with one of the earliest applications designed to keep kids occupied during long drives.

Now the script has flipped with the advancement of autonomous driving and popularity of EV cars making entertaining the driver important, too. Electric vehicle owners who periodically spend time in their car while it’s parked at a charging station can use this time to catch up on a favorite TV show or watch a movie. With this convergence of video and audio technology, the chore of charging the car turns into an enjoyable experience.

Drivers of autonomous driving vehicles benefit in similar ways. For example, if you’re behind the wheel on the German autobahn in a vehicle with a Level 3 Autonomous Driving Certification, you’re allowed to watch a movie at speeds of up to 90 kph (roughly 55 MPH). As the world trends toward higher levels of autonomous driving, we will get to a point where humans are not required to take over the driving task from the computer. It will then become increasingly common for front seat screens to be more prominent and more advanced.

A good example of an automaker getting out ahead is Mercedes-Benz. At CES in January, the German luxury car manufacturer demonstrated the delivery of IMAX Enhanced content in its E-Class sedans via the Sony Pictures Entertainment RideVU app. Combining a great sounding car audio system with the highest quality video and DTS:X immersive audio powered by the IMAX Enhanced format takes the entertainment experience in the Mercedes E-Class to the next level and is a strong differentiator for the brand.

As it stands today, most cars still have one single screen in the center of the dashboard which serves more for infotainment for the driver. But like the in-car entertainment that came before it, those screens will evolve into wider, more eye-catching options that run the length of the dashboard. There is a fascinating future ahead for in-car entertainment as the technologies grow and mature and their convergence continues.

The post In-Car Entertainment: Technologies Converge to Create New Opportunities appeared first on DTS.

These were the key takeaways:

1. The Competitive Landscape of Digital Audio

Digital audio platforms now boast over 900 million registered users and generate nearly $42 billion in revenue. Traditional broadcasters must understand this landscape and adapt their strategies to stay relevant. The depth of resources that vertically integrated companies deploy to attract listeners is immense.

2. Content and Distribution Strategies

Broadcasters are revolutionising content delivery through digital apps like Nation Player, which offers nearly a hundred services, including third-party content. A wide content offering is crucial to leverage market opportunities. Controlling content within an ecosystem, as seen with RTL’s streaming service RTL+, which combines video, TV, and audio content, is a strategic advantage.

3. The Role of Connected Cars

Connected car technology is transforming radio broadcasting. Platforms like DTS AutoStage enhance the in-car radio experience, making it easier for listeners to access brands. Hybrid radio, which combines digital and broadcast elements, is essential for maintaining and growing in-car audiences.

4. Data and Analytics: The New Frontier

Real-time data is transforming content planning and audience engagement. Contextual data enhances user experiences and ad targeting, while real-time feedback is invaluable for content planning. Streaming data informs strategic decisions, such as expanding radio stations based on listener locations.

5. AI: Friend or Foe?

AI offers numerous opportunities in ad tech and content production. It is already being used for research, programming, and generating content drafts. AI’s potential to enhance efficiency and creativity is immense, but human oversight remains crucial.

Radiodays Europe 2025 provided a wealth of insights into the future of radio broadcasting. From the competitive digital landscape to the transformative power of data and AI, the need for innovation and adaptability in an ever-evolving industry is clear.

Watch the full recording here:

If you have any questions, contact us at   getconnected.emea@dts.com

The post Behind the Microphone: Key Takeaways from Xperi’s Session at Radiodays Europe 2025 appeared first on DTS.

To learn more about the evolving role of personal vehicles and the opportunities for automakers to enhance the in-car experience, read the full DTS report, “Consumer Survey 2024: Vehicle Ownership, and Its Role as a ‘Third Space,’ Alive, Well and Enduring.”

The post Vehicles as a Third Space by the Numbers appeared first on DTS.

The pandemic’s impact on vehicle ownership

As the world shut down during the pandemic, personal vehicles became the only COVID-safe way to get around. Public transportation and ride-sharing services were no longer viable options for many people. With these safety concerns, car owners began to view their vehicles as more than just a means of transportation; they became a refuge, a third space away from home or work. Nearly half of the drivers surveyed (49%) are more likely to view their vehicle as a third space, after home and work, compared to pre-pandemic times.

The car as a third space

The DTS survey reveals people are increasingly using their cars for more than just commuting and running errands. In fact, 36% of respondents cited “taking some time to get away alone” as a reason for spending time in their vehicle. This trend is particularly prevalent among Gen Z and Millennial car owners, with 65% and 63% respectively considering their vehicle as a third space.

This concept of a car as a third space means car owners are using their vehicles to destress and relax. Thirty percent of respondents have parked their car in a quiet location to recharge, while 29% have driven around without a specific destination just to clear their heads. Additionally, 26% have stayed in their car past arriving at their destination to relax before going into the house — often to finish listening to a song, audiobook chapter or podcast.

The growing significance of vehicle audio entertainment

As people spend more time in their vehicles for relaxation and alone time, in-car entertainment has become increasingly important. Audio entertainment is the most preferred option for 88% of respondents. In fact, 62% of consumers would not even consider buying a vehicle if it did not have an AM/FM radio. Among audio entertainment options, music ranks as the most essential, with 71% of respondents citing it as crucial to their driving experience.

Video is also popular, with 44% of respondents reporting they have watched videos in their parked cars, either to pass the time while waiting (58%) or to keep children entertained (38%).

Enhancing the third-space experience

As consumers increasingly view their vehicles as a third space, automakers have an opportunity to enhance the in-car experience by improving comfort, personalization and entertainment options. The survey found that making the inside of the vehicle more physically comfortable ranked as the top improvement for creating a better third space, closely followed by intuitive personalization, such as automatically adjusting seat position, lighting and temperature to the driver’s preferences.

Other desirable features include a system that can respond to verbal commands and offers as many entertainment choices on the vehicle’s infotainment system as a TV or mobile device. By incorporating these features, automakers can create a more immersive, efficient and productive third-space experience for their customers.

The future of personal vehicles

The DTS survey suggests that personal vehicle ownership is here to stay. Sixty-one percent of respondents believe that consumers will never give up their personal vehicles or, if it happens, it will be more than 10 years from now. Additionally, 61% expect their vehicle to eventually become an extension of their office or living room — a place to work, play and relax.

As technology advances, the potential for vehicles to seamlessly integrate with our digital ecosystems at home, work and on mobile devices becomes increasingly realistic. Automakers who embrace this trend and focus on enhancing the third-space experience will be well-positioned to maintain the relevance and appeal of personal vehicle ownership in the years to come.

To learn more about the evolving role of personal vehicles and the opportunities for automakers to enhance the in-car experience, read the full DTS report, Consumer Survey 2024: Vehicle Ownership, and Its Role as a ‘Third Space’, Alive, Well and Enduring.

The post From Rush Hour to Refuge: Redefining the Role of Cars in Our Daily Lives appeared first on DTS.

IMAX Enhanced is the exclusive way to enjoy IMAX’s signature picture and sound outside the theater. Sony Pictures library includes the largest catalog of IMAX Enhanced titles in the world, with fan-favorites such as ‘Venom: The Last Dance’, ‘Spider-Man: No Way Home’ and ‘Uncharted’.  Through RIDEVU, drivers and passengers will be able to enjoy these titles and many others featuring IMAX’s expanded aspect ratio (EAR), IMAX’s proprietary DMR process and DTS:X sound, available in multiple dubbed languages. 

CES attendees were able to get a special preview of the offering, which was demoed in a Mercedes-Benz E-Class in Xperi’s connected car booth. This new offering was well received by the press and left a strong impression on those who experienced it firsthand. Among them were the judges from eCoustics, who awarded IMAX Enhanced sound by DTS:X a ‘Best in Show’ award, stating, “We got to hear a demonstration of this new system at CES 2025 and were blown away by the sound”.  

At CES, Jeff Jury, General Manager of Connected Car at Xperi, joined Joseph Perry, Executive Director of Automotive Streaming Entertainment at SPE, and David Stuffer, Head of Connected Services at Mercedes-Benz, for a discussion on the collaboration between these leading companies.   

Watch the video to learn more.

The post Sony Pictures Entertainment’s RIDEVU service to feature IMAX Enhanced movies with DTS:X sound in Mercedes-Benz Vehicles appeared first on DTS.

DTS and AIM presented their latest innovations and engaged with industry peers showcasing Xperi Broadcast Technologies including:

AIM Rapid, the innovative solution that helps visualise radio wherever your listeners are, garnered significant attention.

This powerful tool is designed to streamline content creation and distribution. Rapid can generate high-quality content quickly, reducing the time and effort required for content creation. It optimises content distribution across various platforms, ensuring maximum reach and engagement. Furthermore, Rapid provides valuable insights into content performance, helping creators refine their strategies.

AIM Player, a versatile aggregator app for all your stations and podcasts, was also showcased at the summit.

The solution supports a wide range of audio and video formats, ensuring compatibility with various media types. Users can personalise the player interface to suit their preferences, making it a flexible solution for different needs. Additionally, it integrates smoothly with other AIM solutions, providing a cohesive media experience.

DTS AutoStage was a key topic of discussion at the Summit.

This advanced in-car entertainment solution integrates seamlessly with digital radio, providing an enhanced user experience. It offers personalised content recommendations based on user preferences and listening habits. Additionally, it delivers rich metadata, including album art, artist information, and song lyrics, making the listening experience more engaging. With support for multiple languages and regions, AutoStage ensures a consistent experience for users worldwide.

Ted Laverty, VP, Global Standards, Xperi, commented, “The enthusiasm and interest we’ve seen at the summit have been truly inspiring. It’s clear that our innovations are resonating with the industry, and we’re excited to continue pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in digital radio.”

DTS and AIM sponsored the gala dinner, providing a wonderful chance for attendees to network and celebrate the advancements in digital radio.

Chris Gould, VP of AIM, said “Our presence at the WorldDAB Summit has been a fantastic opportunity to connect with industry leaders and demonstrate the capabilities of AIM Rapid and AIM Player. We’re excited about the future of digital radio and our role in shaping it.”

Stay tuned for more updates and insights from DTS and All in Media!

Get in touch with us: getconnected.emea@xperi.com

The post DTS and AIM at WorldDAB Summit 2024: Key Highlights appeared first on DTS.

The event provided an excellent opportunity for engaging discussions, innovative demonstrations, and networking with industry leaders. We explored the latest advancements in broadcast radio, gained valuable insights into the newest trends and technologies shaping the future of in-car entertainment and connectivity.

Gereon Joachim, Xperi’s Vice President Automotive Sales & Strategy, EMEA and Member of WorldDAB Steering Board sat on a panel with other industry leaders from BBC and StrategiaNow for a vivid and great discussion about Challenges and opportunities for broadcast radio in today’s connected cars.

In this in-depth conversation about the significance of broadcast radio in modern connected cars, experts delved into topics such as in-car media, radio trends, the evolving role of radio in today’s automotive landscape, and the future prospects for radio. They highlighted how radio provides entertainment, critical information, and plays a significant role in the connected car experience.

Gereon explored various challenges and opportunities that radio is exposed to nowadays. Additionally, he examined how DTS AutoStage is contributing to overcoming these challenges by providing a global solution for broadcasters, automakers, and audiences worldwide.

“Radio is a love story, and everyone has one to share. And it is exciting to see how important radio is for the car. But we should not forget about the challenges the industry is facing. We at Xperi are dedicated to ensuring radio keeps it prominence on the dash and an elevated lean-back experience” Gereon highlighted.

WorldDAB Automotive 2024 was an incredible experience for Xperi and we are eagerly looking forward to the upcoming year!

Watch the video recording here:

Contact us at getconnected.emea@xperi.com for further information or if you have any questions.

PHOTO GALLERY

Xperi’s Gereon Joachim on a panel with Lindsey Mack from BBC and Roger Lanctot from StrategiaNow

Xperi’s Gereon Joachim VP Automotive Sales & Strategy, EMEA and Geroge Cernat, Sr Dir Automotive Connected Media

The post Experience Xperi at WorldDAB Automotive 2024 in Prague! appeared first on DTS.

A Bridge Between Broadcasters and Automakers

Joe kicked off the presentation by explaining Xperi’s role in the automotive entertainment value chain. Broadcasters produce and curate content, which DTS AutoStage then aggregates and distributes to consumers on the infotainment systems designed by automakers.

The Clear Choice of the Auto Industry

Joe then highlighted the scale and momentum of DTS AutoStage. The platform has 12 automotive partners in production, including BMW, Hyundai, and Tesla, with another 6 in final development. Additionally, DTS AutoStage is in over 7 million cars on the road ranging from economy to ultra-luxury, with 80% of equipped cars selling for under $65,000.

DTS Broadcaster Portal: Leveraging Analytics to Tell Your Story

With broadcasters as the main audience of NAB, Joe shifted focus to the DTS Broadcaster Portal, a free and powerful analytics platform broadcasters can use to gather actionable audience insights from DTS AutoStage-equipped vehicles. Among several other capabilities, the DTS Broadcaster Portal enables radio stations to see what content resonates most with their listeners as well as when and where people are tuning into their content.

Joe then invited panelists Pierre Bouvard – Chief Insights Officer at Cumulus Media, Mike Hulvey – CEO of Neuhoff Communications, and Greg Strassell – EVP of Programming and Development at Hubbard Radio to discuss how the DTS Broadcaster Portal allows them to measure performance of their programming and take action to improve it. Examples included observing listening behavior after a format change as well as using geographic audience data as a proof point for selling ads to local retailers.

Finally, Joe showcased several new and upcoming features of the DTS Broadcaster Portal. For a specified time period and coverage area:

• The Audience Spotlight® shows the number of DTS AutoStage-equipped cars tuned to radio
• The Ad Spotlight® shows how many times and in how many cars a specific ad was played
• The Track Spotlight® shows how many times a specific track was played

Learn More

With DTS AutoStage, the future of radio is bright in the connected car!

For broadcasters: sign up for the DTS Broadcaster Portal here.

For automakers: request a demo of DTS AutoStage here.

The post A Closer Look: DTS AutoStage at NAB Show 2024 appeared first on DTS.

DTS AutoStage and HD Radio Take Center Stage

The Xperi exhibit featured a trio of eye-catching vehicles equipped with innovative and immersive entertainment technology, including a Hyundai Sonata with DTS AutoStage, a BMW i7 with DTS AutoStage Video Service Powered by TiVo, and a BMW R18 motorcycle with HD Radio. DTS AutoStage has recently reached a footprint of over 7 million vehicles worldwide.

Joe D’Angelo, Xperi’s SVP of Global Radio and Digital Audio, and George Cernat, Sr. Director of Business Development for Broadcasting, also moderated a discussion about broadcaster needs called “Small and Medium Market Radio Forum Connected Car Roundtable”. Additionally, Joe walked through the DTS Broadcaster Portal with an industry panel and showcased how DTS AutoStage empowers broadcasters to optimize their content programming in the presentation “DTS AutoStage: Your Station, Your Content, Your Analytics.”

IMAX Enhanced Excitement

Xperi talent was on full display in events and activities surrounding IMAX Enhanced. IMAX used their exhibit space to host a product demo led by Sven Mevissen, Xperi’s Director of Product Management for Home and Media Solutions. Sven then joined Deston Bennett of IMAX for the panel discussion “IMAX Enhanced: Elevating Home Entertainment to Blockbuster Heights”, where attendees learned how IMAX’s visual and DTS’s sound technology combine to create transformative experiences for streamers as well as opportunities for device OEMs. 

Data and Disney+

Xperi was part of two notable announcements at NAB Show 2024. The first was the DTS Broadcaster Portal press release which highlighted Q1 data around top genres and songs in the US and abroad. This included a use case example of the portal – which won acclaim at last year’s NAB in Las Vegas – where data was put into real context for broadcasters interested in learning how to monetize that information.  

IMAX and Disney also announced that the immersive 3D surround sound of DTS:X would be available on Disney+ with IMAX Enhanced compatible devices. “Queen Rock Montreal” was announced as the first concert film available with IMAX Enhanced and immersive sound from DTS – its global streaming premiere on Disney+ is on May 15 along with IMAX Enhanced sound for 18 fan-favorite Marvel films.

The Winning Hand

The Xperi team was proud to leave Las Vegas with the NAB Innovation Award for in-vehicle gaming features of DTS AutoStage, as well as Radio World’s Best of Show 2024 award for the AIM Player app. But we were even more proud to sponsor the Broadcasting Hall of Fame awards, where Geir Skaaden, Chief Product and Services Officer, offered opening remarks for an event recognizing radio and television personalities as well as programs that have earned a place in broadcasting history. Geir saluted the inductees, saying “We appreciate your extraordinary contributions to an industry with a rich and important history and one ready to help drive the future of entertainment in the car.”

As evidenced by our showing at NAB Show 2024, Xperi is already primed to drive the future of in-car entertainment with DTS AutoStage and HD Radio. Learn more about Xperi’s product offerings at https://dts.com/connected-car/.

The post Xperi at NAB Show 2024 appeared first on DTS.

According to the data, the majority of UK car drivers prefer their vehicles to traditional relaxation spaces. Notably, 67% see coffee shops as equally or less important than their vehicles as a place to relax. While 65% view restaurants and bars in the same vein, 63% gyms and 60% for beaches and parks.

Gereon Joachim, vice president of automotive sales & strategy at Xperi, comments: “We’re witnessing a remarkable evolution of cars. Modern vehicles are more than a mere transportation vessel. With comfortable seats, full surround-sound and ever-increasing screen sizes, they are quickly becoming a space that rivals the comforts of our homes.

“As we head rapidly towards a future of autonomous vehicles and younger generations increase their purchasing power, the need for car brands to meet the desire for a personalised, mobile sanctuary will only amplify. The in-car entertainment experience, including personalised preferences, the highest quality audio, and easily discoverable content is now of the utmost importance to consumers looking for a personal retreat.”

Further highlights from The Evolution of In-Car Experiences report:

• Built-in entertainment experiences hold high value: The evolving nature of the vehicle as a personal haven demands a comprehensive range of entertainment options to cater to diverse preferences, with84% of those aged 17-44 regarding this as highly significant

• A priority for male consumers: Interestingly, 46% of men — compared to 36% of women — identify their vehicle as a third space. This implies an affinity of vehicle interiors and experiences among male consumers

• Personalisation is a must: A majority (59%) emphasised the importance of having content curated to their individual preferences or past choices in their ideal in-car entertainment system

 To read more findings from the report, visit: https://dts.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/DTS_2023_Report_UK_The_Evolution_of_InCar_Experiences_2024.pdf

The post Nearly half of UK consumers say their car is a personal retreat appeared first on DTS.

The event theme was Shaping the Changing Audio Landscape and in this time of change Radiodays Europe brings the industry together and leads the development as the most innovative and creative initiatives in the radio and audio world.

EXTRAORDINARY EXPERIENCES ON THE ROAD

Xperi’s exhibit area included a stand with meeting spaces and two vehicles, a BMW iX2 and Tesla Model Y, where we showcased our automotive media platform DTS AutoStage, alongside solutions from All in Media that are transforming the radio and automotive entertainment experience by bringing high-quality multimedia and personalisation to the connected car, just like at home.

Our expert Joe D’Angelo, senior vice president of broadcast radio and digital audio, had an insightful diverse panel session with Jim Receveur, chief exectutive officer at  Bauer Media,  Rudiger Landgraf, chief digital officer at Kronehit, Iris Rothkirch, product owner for connected radio feature at BMW, and  Kai-Michael Gutjahr, product manager audio entertainment at BMW about Radio’s Future in the Connected Car – Your station, the digital dashboard and your audience.

It was an in-depth discussion about the importance of broadcast radio in today’s connected cars, different challenges and opportunities and how DTS AutoStage is helping to address some of those challenges by delivering a global solution for broadcasters, automakers and audiences around the world.

“Radio is no longer a simple broadcast one-to-one medium that lives alone in the dash” Joe D’Angelo said,” but it is a technology now that has to compete for prominence channel control, it has to be integrated with very complex multimedia system.” 

Joe closed the panel summarising that the sense of the strength of this collaboration between BMW, Bauer Media, Kronehit and Xperi is that “we are really working together to enhance radio, to keep radio prominent in the dashboard, make sure radio is discoverable, engaging and most importantly measurable.”

If you missed this session live you can watch the video recording here:

If you have any questions contact us at  getconnected.emea@xperi.com.

This event was a great success and we are looking forward to the next year!

The post Xperi at Radiodays Europe 2024 appeared first on DTS.

In an effort to help the broadcasting industry continue to elevate, innovate and reach new audiences, Xperi has been working to expand its offerings across the European market with the introduction of Nation Player and Rapid Four.

Nation Player – Combining the Power of AIM Player and Nation Broadcasting

Starting in June, Xperi’s All In Media (AIM) and Nation Broadcasting will begin offering a free to access radio and audio app in the UK. Aptly titled ‘Nation Player,’ the new aggregator app, which is powered by AIM Player technology, is open to radio operators and major podcast producers who want to reach a UK audience in the home, on mobile and in the car.

Nation Player allows AIM and Nation Broadcasting to bring an optimum audio experience to UK audiences. For example, if a listener wishes to switch between commercial stations or podcasts, they can do so. Additionally, the Nation Player app can be used alongside a radio station’s existing app. The open platform also welcomes non-UK radio stations to ensure a diverse array of content catering to varied interests while maintaining a user-friendly experience.

Some of the stations that are already committed to feature in the Nation Player app include Tindle Radio, Sunrise Radio, Panjab Radio, Countryline: The Big 615, Podcast Radio, Fun Kids, Dee Radio and Silk Radio. Nation Radio, Nation 80s and all of Nation Broadcasting’s fast growing brand extensions will also feature on Nation Player.

Nation Broadcasting executive chairman, Jason Bryant, said, “As streamed listening share accelerates, the in-car, connected experience becomes critical for listeners. We wanted to build a platform that is united and industry wide. With Xperi, we’ve delivered a best-in-class app, offering partner broadcasters the best experience for their listeners and a chance to share a collaborative revenue model with our content partners.”

Introducing the Award Winning Rapid Four to Europe

Xperi is bringing its award-winning AIM Rapid middleware platform to Europe. Since its launch in 2022 in North America, it has become the preferred solution for over 500 radio stations. Rapid delivers visuals to car dashboards, home receivers and mobile apps, making radio as visually appealing as it sounds.

Some of the key features of Rapid Four include:

• European Market Support: Compatible with platforms such as DAB+
• Enhanced Monetisation Opportunities: Support of visual advertisements
• Cross Platform: Broadcasters can manage and deliver visual radio services across multiple platforms
• Enhancing Content: Inclusive of licensed album artwork from TiVo®

As the European radio industry looks to the future, its ability to adapt to changing listener habits and tech advancements will be the key to its success. Collaboration between broadcasters and technology providers will be crucial in navigating the future of in-cabin entertainment advancements. Partnerships such as those between Xperi and Nation Broadcasting showcase the power of innovation to deliver compelling, personalised and interactive listening experiences. By embracing innovation and staying attuned to the evolving needs and habits of listeners, radio is poised to remain an indispensable asset to the European media landscape.

Xperi will be showcasing these products at Radiodays Europe in Munich, Germany on 17-19 March.

For more information visit: https://radiodayseurope.com

The post Xperi Expands its Radio Offerings Across Europe with AIM Player and Rapid Four appeared first on DTS.

In January, DTS published a UK based report on consumers preferences for in-car entertainment. The report, The Evolution of In-car Experiences, shines a light on Gen Z’s desire for connected cars with dynamic content experiences. An overwhelming 88% of 17-24 year olds expressed the importance of in-car entertainment experiences that are personalised to their tastes and interests. Also, the report found a striking 65% view their car as a ‘third space’, a mobile place outside of work and home to relax and escape the stresses of daily life.

As a part of this in-car sanctuary, 64% of UK Gen Z’s are interested in having video, including live TV and on-demand streaming, safely available as part of their vehicle dashboard. While over a third (36%) go as far to say that a high-quality video capability in a specific vehicle model would positively impact their purchasing decision.

Further Gen Z insights from the Evolution of In-Car Experiences report:

• Abundant features matter: 65% Gen Z want rich visual/textual information about the artist and song they are listening to, and 61% desire a broad range of content such as local radio, streaming, podcasts, and audio books.
• Built-in experiences must fulfil the uniqueness of their third space: 62% say the in-car experience must be more than a mirror of their smartphone. They want the highest quality audio experiences, easily discoverable content, and the ability to adjust the in-cabin environment to comfort and wellness preferences.
• Cars are taking getaway experiences to new heights: Over a third (37%) Gen Z said the gym/yoga studio and beach (29%) are less important spaces than the car as a third space to relax and escape the stresses of work.

To read more findings from the report, visit: https://dts.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/DTS_2023_Report_UK_The_Evolution_of_InCar_Experiences_2024.pdf

The post Gen Z wants video content in their car dashboard appeared first on DTS.

In a recent study, DTS uncovered that the personal vehicle is rivaling or outpacing other personal third spaces, which refers to a physical or virtual environment where one can relax or unwind. As the importance of the vehicle as a third space grows, consumers want more from their dashboard, valuing rich, comprehensive, personalized and discoverable content, including video.

The study, which was conducted by Censuswide, with 2,021 consumers who own/lease a vehicle (17+) across the UK and USA between September 29, 2023 – October 3, 2023,  found that 67% of UK adults say that in-car entertainment is of the utmost importance. Similarly, in the US, 71% of those between 25 to 34 say they want their built-in vehicle entertainment experience to be more than a mirror of their smart phones.

The report further explores the entertainment and features consumers want in today’s vehicle cabin, including personalization and how video in the car impact purchase intent.

Top US Takeaways:

• 70% of respondents between 25 and 34, and over 50% overall, view their vehicle as a third space.
• 67% of those between the ages of 17 and 44 also say that having high-quality video capability in the dashboard/screens in a specific vehicle model/brand would make them more likely to purchase that vehicle.
• 70% of all respondents say that an in-vehicle, built-in entertainment experience that automatically personalizes to their particular tastes/interests is important, with the largest number saying it is very important because they ‘don’t have to fiddle with controls when they are driving.’

Top UK Takeaways:

• Nearly half (42%) of UK adults insist in-car entertainment systems need to go beyond being a mirror of their smartphone
• High-quality video capabilities are a deciding factor in vehicle purchases for over a third (37%) of consumers
• More than half (58%) express the importance of having details such as album cover images and biographical information displayed on the dash increasing to 75% of those aged 35-44 and 70% aged 25-34

Access the full US and UK reports at the below links:

US: From In-Vehicle Entertainment to Integrated In-Cabin Experience

UK: The Evolution of In-Car Experiences

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Xperi was a prominent participant at the 9th edition of the Broadcast Mexico Show 2023, held at the Expo Guadalajara on October 26 and 27. As a consistent sponsor of the event, Xperi had a strong presence in promotional materials, along with a booth showcasing comprehensive information about their broadcast solutions, including HD Radio, DTS AutoStage, AIM, and RAPID.

Jorge Chávez and Fabián Zamarrón, responsible for Xperi’s business development in Mexico and LATAM, delivered a compelling presentation titled “The Empowerment of Radio through User Experience and Analytics.” They highlighted the groundbreaking DTS AutoStage, which elevates radio’s position on the car dashboard, delivering an unparalleled user experience for listeners. Additionally, they shared the numerous benefits of the DTS AutoStage Broadcaster Portal, which provides radio stations with invaluable insights into audience behavior, reach, user interactions with their favorite stations, listening preferences, user locations, and favorite songs and shows.

During the event, Xperi was honored with the prestigious “Most Innovative Technology of the Year” award for DTS AutoStage and its accompanying broadcaster portal. This accolade adds to Xperi’s growing list of recognitions in 2023, which includes the “Product of the Year” award from the NAB Show, the “Best of the Show” award from RadioWorld at the same event, and the “Best of the Show” award from the IBC event.

Fabián expressed his gratitude during the award ceremony, saying, “It is an honor for me to receive this award on behalf of Xperi and to continue collaborating with broadcasters in Mexico to grow the Radio Industry in the country.”

The post Xperi Receives Prestigious Award for DTS AutoStage at Broadcast Mexico 2023 appeared first on DTS.

The Xperi broadcast team showed up in force at the Javits Center in New York City for another successful NAB Show, the New York edition.

Stars of the Show: HD Radio and DTS AutoStage

Under the show’s Connect + Discover theme, the broadcast team led by Joe D’Angelo, svp of global radio and digital audio, in partnership with the National Association of Broadcasters, went big with a dazzling display of technology. This was encapsulated by the presence of Mercedes Benz C-Class, model year 2023, equipped with both HD Radio and DTS AutoStage. The car was a hit with the attendees, who queued up excitedly to see the best of radio technology enabled by Xperi.

Radio Analytics for the Connected Car Era

The team showcased the award-winning DTS AutoStage Broadcaster Portal, which won several accolades at the NAB Show in Las Vegas earlier this year and was recognized for its impact most recently at the IBC Show in Amsterdam. In addition, svp of global radio and digital audio Joe D’Angelo spoke about the significance of the DTS AutoStage Broadcaster Portal for radio stations worldwide in his sessions titled: “Your Station’s Data-Driven Story: The Connected Car and Your Listeners’ Station Experience.” Joe shared the stage with Xperi partners Justin Chase, chief content officer, Beasley Media Group, and Steve Shultis, CTO, NY Public Radio. The session was a deep dive into how stations across the broadcast spectrum can use the DTS AutoStage analytics tool to make intelligent and informed decisions on programming and their infrastructure spend based on real data from real listening habits.

Radio’s Biggest Night

Every year, Xperi is a proud presenting sponsor of radio’s biggest night, the Marconi Radio Awards. 2023 was no different, as the industry gathered to as celebrate local stations from across the country with the highest honors in radio. Joe D’Angelo delivered a few remarks to mark the festive moment and highlight Xperi’s continuous support of the radio industry via HD Radio and DTS AutoStage.

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Revolutionizing In-Car Entertainment

The world of automotive entertainment is changing rapidly, and DTS AutoStage is leading the charge.  With 20% of content consumption trending toward video in the car¹, DTS AutoStage is best positioned to create a truly immersive and personalized in-car entertainment experience beyond audio, seamlessly integrating radio, music, podcasts, TV shows, movies, games, and more.

One of the key trends driving DTS AutoStage’s success is the proliferation of multiple displays within vehicles and the emergence of various attention zones. With screens in the driver’s seat, co-driver’s seat, and passenger seats, there are more opportunities than ever for delivering entertainment through both audio and video. A Vision for the Future.

DTS AutoStage isn’t just about adding more entertainment options to your car. It’s about creating a seamless transition from your digital ecosystem at home to your vehicle and on the go. By anticipating your entertainment needs based on factors such as your content consumption history and real-time information from the vehicle’s sensors, DTS AutoStage ensures that your in-car entertainment is personalized, localized, and relevant for all vehicle occupants. For example, for families with children, DTS AutoStage can adjust content delivery for kids in the car, ensuring a fun and safe content consumption experience.  For drivers, DTS AutoStage can incorporate biometric data into its machine learning algorithms, responding to fluctuations in heart rate or breathing to provide a calming or stimulating experience, contributing to both entertainment and safety.

Three-Pronged Approach to Excellence

DTS AutoStage’s success is underpinned by a three-pronged approach:

Deep Knowledge of Automotive OEMs: With over two decades of partnerships with global automotive manufacturers, the technology is integrated into over 150 million vehicles worldwide.

Expansive Content Ecosystem: DTS AutoStage leverages partnerships with broadcasters, music labels, movie studios, TV broadcasters, and OTT platforms to offer a truly global content ecosystem.

Customer-Centric Technology Stack: Using AI-based core technologies, including an award-winning discovery engine, DTS AutoStage delivers personalized and engaging content experiences.

DTS AutoStage offers numerous benefits:

For Automotive OEMs, it provides design flexibility, global coverage, secure networking, and customizable options.

For Content Service Providers, it opens new audiences and enhances content discovery and consumption.

For Consumers, it makes entertainment in the car more seamless, immersive, and personalized.

DTS AutoStage’s Impact on the Industry

The impact of DTS AutoStage is already evident. It was integrated into the Daimler MB User Experience (MBUX) in the new Mercedes-Benz S-Class in 2020, and it has since been adopted by five OEM partners across 52 models. BMW has also announced its adoption of the DTS AutoStage video service Powered by TiVo in its new 5 Series vehicles.

DTS AutoStage showcases the need for the automotive industry’s need for cutting-edge entertainment solutions as well as a testament to the power of innovation. It represents the future of in-car entertainment, making every journey more enjoyable, personalized, and safe.

In the world of automotive entertainment, DTS AutoStage is steering us into an exciting new era. As it continues to evolve and expand its reach, we can expect even more thrilling innovations on the horizon.

“Thank you Digital Entertainment Group for recognizing our DTS AutoStage product family by awarding us the DEG EnTech Emerging Technology Award. This award validates our strategy and our product that delivers exceptional automotive media discovery and delivery experiences for radio, music, podcasts, TV, and movies. Demand for our product has been extremely strong, and this EnTech Emerging Technology Award is confirmation that both the automotive AND media industries enthusiastically embrace our product” Bob Dillon, senior vice president of DTS AutoStage expressed.

To experience this game-changing technology for yourself, visit dts.com/autostage.

1 TiVo Video Trends Report

The post DTS AutoStage Wins the Digital Entertainment Group’s Emerging Tech Award appeared first on DTS.

This blog post is part of a white paper on the Future of In-Car Entertainment. To download a full copy, go here.  

As I mentioned earlier, the future of in-car entertainment is full of uncertainty.  We’re offering a platform and the automotive industry is responding very, very strongly to both our DTS AutoStage audio and video offerings. Furthermore, we’re positioned to deliver what automakers need for the present and the future: wherever this goes, and whatever emerges, we can deliver it.   

The role of in-cabin sensing in shaping in-cabin experiences.  

While I live and breathe the entertainment piece of it, I do know for certain that our in-cabin sensing DTS AutoSense solution of the Xperi connected car business is a very, very important part of the future.  

As I see it, the future of entertainment across the board is personalized. The extent to which you can personalize an experience depends on the extent to which you understand who you’re personalizing to, or what you’re personalizing to. We think about personalization in terms of what people listen to over time. What in-cabin sensing offers is new dimensions of personalization and new dimensions of understanding people. Not only historically but in real-time. For example, you’re a generally happy person, but right now you’re sad. Your play history doesn’t tell you that. And we think we know you as an individual, but now that I know you’re in a car with a baby in the back, that’s a different part of you. And those kinds of insights can only come from our DTS AutoSense in-cabin sensing technology. This leads to a unique type of entertainment experience, made possible by that combination of sensing technology and personalized entertainment technology. 

What are some exciting features that DTS AutoStage has to offer? 

Let’s start with this famous roadmap of ours that starts at radio and goes to video. It starts with HD Radio, right? If we didn’t have hundreds of millions of cars on the road, we wouldn’t have the credibility that we have in the automotive industry. The death of radio has been greatly exaggerated, and it continues to be the number one thing that people listen to in cars. We get this question all the time from car companies: isn’t radio dying? Well, it’s been dying for 15 years now. And it’s not. It’s no more dead now than it was the first time they said that 15 years ago, radio is not dying.  

Talking about emerging entertainment trends that are supposedly supplanting radio, another way to look at it is market share. When you have 100% market share, there’s only one place to go and it’s down. And when you have 0% market share, there’s only one way to go and it’s up. And when you go from zero to 1%, you grew infinitely. I think people get confused about that.  

Going back to radio, we revolutionized radio with HD Radio, we revolutionized it again with connected radio (a component of DTS AutoStage). We’ve built on HD Radio and reduced the cost, leveraged the internet connection, and opened it up geographically. So that’s what we did with connected radio. Then we created more options like lyrics and events and tied things in through an internet connection.  

From there, when we combine that with the TiVo music metadata product, now you get into enhanced audio, you can bridge it from your radio, listening to a catalog or streaming music. And with that, you introduce a personalized experience. Radio was not exactly a personalized experience, but with connected radio the music piece is much more personalized. The personalized content discovery team’s content now starts to come into it as we make recommendations for music listening, for audio listening, whether it’s podcasts or music, and now you’ve got a platform, that’s the first time you’ve got the platform there. And we’ve added Vewd core to that. Then you got our TiVo OS for the car, you got our video offering. And once you’ve got all that in place, you’ve got your radio, you’ve got your podcast, you’ve got your music, you’ve got your TV, you’ve got your video, and you’ve got a platform, and we can layer gaming on top of that and we can layer all of the future services that come up on top of that platform. So that’s what DTS AutoStage has to offer. See why I’m so excited?   

This blog post is part of a white paper on the Future of In-Car Entertainment. To download a full copy, go here.  

The post Solving for In-Car Entertainment with Innovation and New Content appeared first on DTS.

This blog post is part of a white paper on the Future of In-Car Entertainment. To download a full copy, go here.  

The in-vehicle experience with entertainment is like no other. Take for example the tablet experience vs the smartphone experience. A tablet looks like a larger version of a phone but it’s not. Tablet applications are often different from their handset counterparts. A TV is not a tablet turned sideways, made big and stuck in the living room. And in a similar way, the desktop computer is not a bigger tablet. All these are unique devices that lead to tailored experiences for the use case.  

Bringing this full circle, the car is not a handset on wheels.  

First, the kind of attention that people have in the car is different. From the driver to the front seat passenger, to the rear seat passengers, each of those three zones require different levels of attention from the occupant, especially as the cabin is moving.  

Second, the audio environment is pristine. It’s a sealed environment and the car companies deliberately tune it in a particular way. If it’s a sports car, it’s tuned one way, if it’s a luxury car, it’s tuned a different way, if it’s an SUV, it’s tuned a different way. But they’re all tuned. And that environment is intentional. And entertainment should take advantage of that.  

Third, let’s look at the quality of those systems. Regardless of the content you choose, it is extremely likely that your car is the best audio system you own. Hands down. That’s just one of these universal truths.  

To be prepared for the future, OEMs must leverage platforms, such as DTS AutoStage, that capture these differences in the automobile entertainment system. And if all you do is glue a handset experience to the dashboard, you’re going to get none of it.  

This blog post is part of a white paper on the Future of In-Car Entertainment. To download a full copy, go here.  

The post What Makes the In-Cabin Environment Unique appeared first on DTS.

There are known knowns, known unknowns and unknown unknowns, to quote a certain former Secretary of Defense and what is a definite known known is that, today, the center of in-car entertainment is audio. And it’s going to be that way for the foreseeable and distant future, even as one of the most exciting things on the immediate horizon is video. We know that video has a role in the car, but what its role will be is one of those known unknowns. 

Today, the automobile is primarily driven by people, but we know that the automobile of the future will also be driven by computers. How that all plays out, is another known unknown, but video will be a big part of it. And there are other candidates, for example gaming, which will have a place, as will other categories of emerging entertainment. When looking at the future of in-vehicle entertainment, it comes down to the fact that the car is a unique environment and one that is on its way to becoming unlike any other. 

Dealing with uncertainty in a changing landscape 

How can OEMs best navigate this landscape of knowns and unknowns? With a versatile platform that is able to evolve as rapidly as the entertainment and digital world. That platform is DTS AutoStage, which bring together our connected radio, audio, and TiVo OS video, as well as Vewd Core – an embedded rendering and streaming engine for digital media devices – to deliver a globally scalable solution ready to adjust rapidly to the changing landscape. This versatility is the future of in-car entertainment. 

This blog post is part of a white paper on the Future of In-Car Entertainment. To download a full copy, go here.

The post The Future of In-Car Entertainment appeared first on DTS.

Earlier this year, Xperi announced a ground-breaking partnership with the BMW Group to bring the video content consumers know and love from the living room to the car.  

DTS AutoStage is the only global entertainment platform for the connected car that seamlessly combines linear and on-demand content in a unified, user-centric experience. The platform gives automotive OEMs more control over their brands while giving consumers access to a personalized, immersive entertainment experience, including radio, music, podcasts, TV shows, movies, games and more. 

Through this implementation of the video service, customers can access an ever-expanding range of video content. This includes a vast collection of linear and on-demand streaming services, as well as country-specific channels that feature news, movies and media libraries. Customers will be able to cut through the clutter of streaming and linear content options with simplified, universal discovery. This implementation integrates the DTS AutoStage video service, powered by TiVo into the car to deliver immersive in-car entertainment experiences. 

Robust in-vehicle entertainment choices are important to consumers as they increasingly view their vehicle as a third space — a place outside of work and the house, a place to relax, enjoy hobbies and escape the stresses of work. Being able to use their vehicle as a third space is the top reason drivers say their personal vehicle is more important to them today than ever before.[1] 

“Consumers are evolving to view their car as a meaningful and enjoyable third space, rather than as a simple transportation device. It’s from the privacy and safety of their vehicle where they increasingly choose to relax, communicate or be productive,” said Jeff Jury, senior vice president and general manager of connected car. “The automotive industry’s response to add connectivity and larger screens marks a new era for entertainment and in-car experiences, which favors companies such as Xperi and includes the adoption of seamless video streaming, movies, games and more.” 

Based on decades of experience growing profitable consumer electronics and entertainment ecosystems, the DTS AutoStage video service, Powered by TiVo is designed to delight consumers and help them find, watch and enjoy the entertainment they love, maximizing the in-car entertainment experience. 

[1] “The Vehicle as a Third Space” report 

The post DTS AutoStage™ Video Service, Powered by TiVo™ to Launch in 2023  appeared first on DTS.

Kicking off the event’s first full day, Adrian Capata, Senior Vice-President for InCabin Sensing at DTS, expressed his gratitude for the collaboration and feedback received from Sense Media and industry professionals, setting the tone for an engaging session. 

The core focus of Capata’s presentation was the in-cabin journey, with a call to redefine the interior space of vehicles. While acknowledging the significant advancements made in car safety features, he highlighted the persistent utilitarian nature of the cabin, lacking a truly immersive and engaging user experience. Capata emphasized the importance of advanced driver sensing and underscored the need to address the occupants’ needs beyond mere safety measures. 

Introducing the concept of the car as a third space, Capata delved into the potential of a connected and adaptive environment within vehicles, challenging the industry to adopt a vision of a flawlessly distinctive in-vehicle environment that seamlessly blends the physical and digital realms. 

Capata emphasized the crucial role of imaging and sensing technologies in augmenting the cabin, enabling a seamless human-machine interaction experience. He envisions a future where vehicles create an exquisite third space, where the digital universe intertwines with the physical world, transcending the traditional notion of a car’s interior, across four dimensions: entertainment, productivity, well-being, and HMI. 

To illustrate this vision, Capata also played a video featurette related to the production of a DTS AutoSense-centric short film showcasing a day in the life of a family with a connected car featuring an evolving cabin.  

By integrating cutting-edge technologies and embracing innovative design principles, the Augmented Cabin aims to redefine the in-cabin space, offering a harmonious blend of comfort, safety, and digital connectivity. 

Wrapping up the InCabin Brussels event was another DTS appearance, where Vice President of Automotive Sales & Strategy, EMEA, Gereon Joachim, led a panel of peers from Bosch and QNX in a conversation on entertainment in the car, and how DTS AutoStage helps OEMs transition from a pure content delivery platform to an experience-centric one.  

Stay up to date on the latest technology and insights from DTS here.

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The Hispanic Radio Conference is an annual event organized by Radio INK Magazine that gathers the main representatives of Hispanic broadcasters based in the US who could share ideas, discuss and debate challenges in the radio industry.

As in recent years, Xperi was one of the sponsors of the event and had a branding presence in all collateral materials, a booth with general information about the broadcast solutions: DTS AutoStage, AIM Apps, and Rapid.

Fabián Zamarrón, responsible for business development of Xperi for Mexico and LATAM, had the opportunity to participate in the Technology and Innovation in Hispanic Radio panel along with other technology, sales, and content experts that shared with the audience their thoughts and ideas about how the radio stations need to work and which platforms must put their content, to stay in the public eye.

All the participants in the panel agreed that the pandemic changed the behavior of the listeners and raised their expectations in terms of content consumption and that is where innovation and technology can help broadcasters to continue serving their users and create new business opportunities.

Fabian shared with the audience how DTS AutoStage is helping radio stations worldwide to have again a privileged place in the car dashboard putting the content of the radio within the reach of users and creating a multimedia experience in connected cars and how the analytics presented in DTS AutoStage Broadcaster Portal, can serve as a guide to broadcasters to understand the interactions between users and radio stations, to plan the correct content that the listeners love and created targeted advertising campaigns according to the location of the users.

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This second edition of the RedTech Executive Summit – an event where DTS / Xperi is a founding sponsor – was held at the beautiful Chateau de la Tour, about 50km north of Paris near the town of Chantilly, which is famous for its cream!

The event took place over two days and brought together a carefully curated audience of 50 CEOs and CTOs from across the world to discuss the latest topics that are of relevance to radio broadcasters and their technology suppliers. This year the audience came from as far away as Malaysia, the USA and South Africa.

Key topics that were discussed included how to grow revenue and audiences in a non-linear world, how regulation in Europe should be shaped, the potential for generative AI in radio and the emerging technology that radio should keep an eye on.

The event gave the Xperi team valuable insights into these topics and also gave them the opportunity to showcase DTS AutoStage live in two demo cars: a Tesla Model Y and Mercedes S-Class. The broadcast executives in the attendance were given front-row seats to a visually rich augmented radio experience powered by DTS AutoStage, whose stated mission is to maintain radio’s dominance and relevance when compared to streaming services. The executives also found Joe D’Angelo’s presentation big data for radio as exemplified by the DTS AutoStage on Broadcaster Portal extremely compelling.

Following the RedTech Summit, the DTS Connected Car team headed into central Paris for the WorldDAB Automotive gathering which was held at Radio France’s HQ – La Maison de la Radio – on the banks of the Seine. This annual event, hosted in a different city each year, focuses on the automotive sector and how DAB radio is featured in the dashboard.

Joe D’Angelo, SVP Broadcast Radio presents at the RedTech Executive Summit

The conference had about 200 attendees in person and another 300 online. The sessions were held in both French and English with simultaneous translation and they covered the continued importance of broadcast radio for Europe’s public service media, how to keep radio prominent in the dashboard in a world of streaming and personalisation and the connected car.

Joe D’Angelo chaired a panel with Lindsey Mack from BBC Sounds and Caroline Beasley, CEO of Beasley Media Group. The discussion took a deeper dive into audience behaviours using data from the Broadcaster Portal to demonstrate how DAB+ is becoming the foundational source of radio listening in Europe. Joe also led a discussion on the latest in-cabin design trends, the introduction of Android Automotive OS 14 and the impact of multiple screens on the radio experience.

DTS also hosted multiple demonstrations for the conference attendees and Radio France employees in the Tesla and Mercedes that were positioned on the building forecourt.

The post A Week in France – Focus on Radio appeared first on DTS.

Building on the success of its subscription-FREE HD Radio expertise, DTS AutoStage, a global media platform for connected cars, offers personalized entertainment choices, seamlessly combining audio streams with over-the-air radio signals. Driver and passengers alike have access to visually rich displays of radio stations as swipable tiles on a dashboard.

It is the preferred choice of automakers and broadcasters, currently live in 147 countries and supporting over 90,000 radio stations. For broadcasters, DTS AutoStage provides powerful analytics at no cost while complying with customer privacy laws. DTS AutoStage has witnessed a 14-fold increase in tuning occasions from January 2022 to April 2023.

To access the platform, broadcasters need to provide static data for their stations, audio streaming URLs, and live data from their programming systems. Once accessed, the analytics tool offers listener journey heat maps, allowing sales teams to showcase audience proximity to retail locations, and analyzes song exposure for programmers. Galdamez emphasized the platform’s global presence, OEM partnerships, and innovative capabilities in revolutionizing the connected car radio experience.

Sign up for the DTS AutoStage Broadcaster Portal here.

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El evento anual fue organizado por la Asociación de Radios de República Dominicana (ADORA). Rosa Olga Medrano, presidente de ADORA, inauguró el evento en el hotel Embajador de la ciudad de Santo Domingo.

Este evento reunió a ejecutivos de asociaciones de radiodifusores de 13 países de Latinoamérica como Brasil, México, Costa Rica y Perú, entre otros.

Xperi fue invitado a esta reunión para poder platicar de los últimos avances de sus soluciones de broadcast, entre ellas la plataforma DTS AutoStage y nuestro último lanzamiento, el premiado DTS AutoStage Broadcaster Portal.

Tuvimos la oportunidad de explicar a la audiencia que la plataforma DTS AutoStage fue diseñada para brindar al usuario una experiencia de entretenimiento envolvente, segura y enriquecida visualmente en el automóvil conectado, con el objetivo de ofrecer una plataforma global de radio conectada. Además, permite a las estaciones de radio, tener control editorial del contenido al mismo tiempo que ofrece una experiencia de usuario rica y consistente, con el beneficio adicional de poder comprender el comportamiento y el hábito de consumo de los radioescuchas a través de análisis y estadísticas.

El portal DTS AutoStage Broadcaster Portal, proporciona información útil del comportamiento de los radioescuchas en el automóvil y como éstos interactúan con el contenido de las estaciones de radio. Esta información incluye detalles sobre la ubicación geográfica de los radioescuchas, vías populares por las que transitan, su interacción con los programas y mapas de calor que permiten crear una relación directa entre lo que se está escuchando en el auto y puntos de venta cercanos a los usuarios, generando  así nuevas oportunidades de monetización y publicidad.

La presentación fue bien recibida por los delegados de AIR, quienes coincidieron en que DTS AutoStage es una muy buena plataforma para poner a la industria de la radio en la misma posición competitiva que otras opciones de entretenimiento digital disponibles para los consumidores en el automóvil.

Al final de nuestra presentación, tuvimos charlas uno a uno con los asociados para abordar cualquier pregunta sobre el portal. Esperamos la próxima oportunidad de seguir mostrando las soluciones de broadcast que tiene Xperi en Latinoamérica.

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The annual event was hosted by the Dominican Republic Radio (ADORA). Rosa Olga Medrano, president of ADORA, opened the proceeds at the Embajador hotel in Santo Domingo city.

This event gathered executives of broadcaster associations from 13 LATAM countries such as Brazil, Mexico, Costa Rica, and Peru, among others.

As Xperi was invited to talk about the latest developments in broadcast solutions, we prepared a presentation to showcase the DTS AutoStage platform and our latest feature, the award-winning DTS AutoStage Broadcaster Portal.

We explained to the audience that the DTS AutoStage platform was designed to deliver a visually enriched and safe immersive entertainment experience in the connected car, with a focus on delivering a globally connected radio experience. In addition, it allows broadcasters to have full editorial control of content while offering a rich and consistent user experience, with the added benefit of understanding listener behavior through analytics.

The DTS AutoStage Broadcaster Portal provides insights into how  in-car radio listeners engage with the content of the radio stations. These insights include details about the geographic location of the listeners, popular locations and thoroughfares, program performance, and heatmaps that match listening with retail outlets to enable new use cases for advertising and monetization.

The presentation was well received by the AIR delegates, who agreed that DTS AutoStage is a very good platform to put the radio industry on the same competitive footing as other digital etertainment options available to consumers in the car.

At the end of our presentation, we had one on one conversations with the associates to address any questions about the portal. We look forward to the next opportunity to continue showing Xperi´s broadcast solutions in LATAM.

The post Event Recap: The International Association of Broadcasting (AIR) Board of Directors Meeting appeared first on DTS.

The CEOs’ & Top Execs’ Summit is one of EGTA’s three annual physical events – gathering over 200 senior decision-makers from across Europe and beyond, whose main mission is to monetise content, optimise revenue and sell advertising on behalf of major broadcasters. This year, as the TV and radio industry faces a tipping point on several fronts, the conference focus was on mastering the art of balance as the key to successfully transforming our industry for the better. Several speakers were talking about joining forces, cooperation, balancing between collaboration and competition in a very ad-tech and data-oriented audio ecosystem to establish growth in the future.

The first day of the Summit was full of TV and Radio joint sessions hosted by several speakers from companies like Uber, Central European Media Enterprises, NRJ Global, Nielsen and Orange. The speakers presented use cases and shared their expertise on themes like navigating the streaming landscape, opportunities for audio and video players, delivering deduplicated cross-media measurement, new in-car advertising opportunities, strategies for success and more.

On the second day of the conference, TV and Radio sessions were split into dedicated keynote presentations running in parallel in separate rooms. Our DTS Connected Car team’s Gereon Joachim, VP automotive sales & strategy, EMEA and Desmond Fuller, senior director of hybrid products, gave a well-received and highly anticipated radio keynote. They talked about DTS AutoStage, the only global hybrid radio platform and its newly launched DTS AutoStage Broadcaster Portal whose unprecedented big listening data insights empower radio broadcasters everywhere in the world to better understand and connect with their audiences and to power new revenue opportunities with advertisers.

You can watch the session recording below.

The DTS AutoStage Broadcaster Portal was revealed earlier this year in March at Radio Days Europe in Prague. The portal is available to all broadcasters who sign up and integrate with DTS AutoStage, at no cost, and provides insights into how their in-car listeners engage with their content. The powerful analytics tool gives broadcasters key audience data on the geographic location, popular locations and thoroughfares, program performance and heatmaps that match listening with retail outlets to enable new use cases for advertising and monetization.

Broadcasters can request access and sign up for free at onboarding.connectedrad.io. To join, broadcasters need to provide three things: Static data, Streaming URL, and Live data from station’s programming system.

To learn more about our award-winning DTS AutoStage platform visit dtsb2b.wpengine.com/autostage.

Watch the recording here!

A few snapshots from the event

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DTS wows NAB with latest broadcasting tech innovations 

DTS brought its A-game to celebrate the 100-year anniversary of National Association of Broadcasters (NAB), showcasing their latest technologies and innovations in the broadcasting industry at the NAB show in Las Vegas. Our booth was filled with excitement and energy, featuring demos and technologies that aim to revolutionize how broadcasters position their station to advertisers and foster deeper connections between artists and radio listeners.

DTS AutoStage Broadcast Portal recognized with two awards  

The newly launched DTS Broadcaster Portal was recognized for its ability to provide unique insights into how car listeners engage with content, enabling new use cases for advertising and monetization for radio broadcasters.The solution ensures all radio stations retain editorial control of content, enjoy a rich and consistent user experience and benefit from rich listener insights and analytics. 

Aside from universal acclaim, DTS AutoStage Broadcaster Portal won a couple distinctions during the NAB Show, including Best of Show 2023 by RadioWorld and Product of the Year by the NAB. The Product of the Year recognized companies in 15 categories that contributed to innovative breakthroughs that transform how content is connected and capitalized. As one of the recipients alongside other cutting-edge solutions, we are proud to provide the industry with tools that futureproof radio programming as broadcasters gain insights into program performance, geographic location of audience, popular radio formats and content, and more.   

Learn more about the broadcaster portal here. 

Preserving the Prominence of Radio in Connected Cars 

As car remains the number one location for listening to radio, it has become quintessential for broadcasters to connect with audiences in a more unique and data driven way that competes with big tech. By leveraging DTS AutoStage, broadcasters have access to data that changes how advertisers and retailers view radio in the media mix. 

In the panel Driving Revenue and Insights with Connected Car Listening, Joe D’Angelo Senior VP, Broadcast Radio & Digital Audio, DTS, sat alongside other industry experts to discuss the power of understanding radio consumer behavior for the first time outside of the home. 

“When we designed this system five years ago, we went out to the leaders in the industry for their support, and we promised that we would deliver back to the industry analytics and metrics on how people are listening to the radio. And we would do that at no cost to the industry,”  D’Angelo explained. 

HD Radio and DTS AutoStage deepen artist-listener connections 

The How My Song Appears and Sounds on the Radio panel showcased Xperi’s HD Radio and DTS AutoStage as tools for creating new opportunities for artists to foster deeper connections with in-vehicle radio listeners. The panel featured Marshall Altman, a songwriter, Justin Chase, Chief Content Officer at Beasley Media Group, and Joe D’Angelo, Senior Vice President, Broadcast Radio & Digital Audio at Xperi, discussing how connected car technologies are bridging the gap between artists and radio listeners through modern, consumer-first ways.  

Through DTS AutoStage, broadcasters create more avenues for listeners to experience new music with easier access to music discovery and up and coming songwriters. By leveraging more robust metadata displayed in a visually friendly way, recording studios gain more in-depth exposure for new artists while broadcasters can optimize visibility for their partners through new music discovery. D’Angelo said, “we’re able now to take what starts with a song broadcast on the radio and build a relationship and an experience in the car that establishes a connection with the artist, and songwriters, that was never really possible before”. 

DTS AutoStage shakes up NAB with in-vehicle data 

DTS demonstrated multiple technologies in various demos at the booth that highlighted how in-vehicle listening revolutionizes how broadcasters connect with drivers through programming and user metrics. 

In addition to the DTS AutoStage Broadcast Portal demo, users witnessed the lyrics feature implementation in the Mercedes C-Class through DTS AutoStage, while the Hyundai Sonata displayed the first implementation of DTS AutoStage in mass market.  

DTS AutoStage provides an “amazing user experience for both analog and HD radio stations delivering back insights and measurement data and heat maps so you know exactly where your audience is, exactly what they’re listening to, when they’re tuning in and when they’re tuning out.” 

Paving the way for a brighter future with connected car tech 

DTS’s presence at the NAB show was electrifying, with demos, speaking sessions, and event sponsorships that were a testament to their passion for revolutionizing the broadcasting industry. Xperi’s cutting-edge connected car technologies are paving the way for a future where broadcasters can better understand their audience’s behavior and preferences, enabling them to tailor their advertising and programming to better suit their audience’s needs. 

The post DTS Drives Home Two Wins from NAB 2023, Showcasing Revolutionary Tech for the Broadcasting Industry appeared first on DTS.

At the end of March, the radio industry in Europe and beyond gathered in Prague, Czechia for the annual Radio Days Europe event. Held in a different host city each year and hosted by a local broadcaster, the event focuses on all things related to radio and podcasts. This year, Czech Radio hosted and they celebrated turning 100!

Xperi’s broadcast radio, automotive connected radio and All-In-Media (AIM) teams came together to promote our solutions. We activated a main display on the show floor that had a meeting areas for DTS AutoStage and our AIM solutions — RAPID, RADIO and apps. Our in-booth barista provided coffee and a continuous stream of attendees to our display for our sales and business development teams to engage with.

We also showed a demo vehicle – a Mercedes S500 – in the building lobby, creating buzz and awareness as visitors entered the conference.

While our booth and the car allowed us to showcase our solutions, the key part of the activation at the show was a session by Joe D’Angelo, senior vice president of business development – broadcast, and Desmond Fuller, senior director of hybrid products – connected radio, announcing the launch the DTS AutoStage Broadcaster Portal to the world.

The new portal, which is free for broadcasters to sign up and use, provides insights into how their in-car listeners engage with their content in the car. Including insights into geographic location, popular locations and thoroughfares, program performance and heatmaps that match listening with retail outlets to enable new use cases for advertising and monetization.

“This is a global solution,” said Joe. “Participation in the platform is free to broadcasters… the company monetizes the service by charging car makers a license fee to use it. We are expanding rapidly within the auto industry.”

Desmond explained the Broadcaster Portal gives editorial control of content and access to audience data. “You can see when and where people are listening and what they are listening to.” “We’ve been working in the car radio space for over 20 years. We saw what was happening in the dash and decided we are uniquely placed to help the radio industry compete with big tech’s attack on the car’s multimedia dashboard… Big Data has changed every industry, why should radio be left behind,” said Desmond.

Immediately following  the session, several  broadcasters came to Xperi’s booth to see the portal and find out the next steps for signing up.

“Early indications are that Xperi’s insights into in-vehicle radio consumption have been nothing less than shocking to automakers and broadcasters alike and will likely lead to an industry-wide re-evaluation of the relationship between the automotive and broadcast industries,” said industry analyst Roger Lanctot. “Advertisers, too, are likely to want to see this data – a decision that will be in the hands of broadcasters as to their willingness to share and under what circumstances.”

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As a co-founder alongside SenseMedia, DTS had an outstanding presence at InCabin Phoenix ’23, where industry leaders and professionals came together to discuss the future of in-cabin experience.

Industry Experts Share their Insights

In addition to a keynote session from Adi Capata, InCabin Phoenix also featured panels and roundtables with industry stakeholders and thought leaders.

In the keynote session, Capata highlighted the importance of in-cabin sensing in creating a third space that promotes productivity, wellbeing, entertainment, and human-machine interface (HMI) solutions. To ensure the transformation of the in-cabin space, the future requires advanced sensors for both drivers and occupants, improved algorithms, and a curated user experience with safety implied.

DTS conducted an interview with Greg Plageman, a visionary writer and producer of science fiction series and primetime favorites including Person of Interest and The Peripheral on Amazon Prime, who shared his thoughts on the future of in-cabin and the customized experiences that shape drivers’ relationships with their car. The interview focused on the importance of collaboration and how the movie and auto industry can come together to reflect how Hollywood is translating the concept of the third space to the big screen.

Engage in Meaningful Conversations

One of the highlights of InCabin Phoenix was the roundtable discussions. These discussions brought together industry professionals and leaders to engage in meaningful conversations on a variety of topics. The roundtables provided a unique opportunity for attendees to network, exchange ideas, and gain new perspectives.

DTS led a roundtable discussion alongside industry leaders to discuss the role of in-cabin experience in defining the car of the future. The discussion focused on avoiding confusion in the future and how the industry can work together to create a more coherent vision.

Reception with Industry Professionals and Leaders: Connect and Network

Finally, InCabin Phoenix featured a reception with industry professionals and leaders. This reception provided attendees with an opportunity to connect and network with others in the industry. It was a great opportunity to meet new people, exchange ideas, and build relationships as we furthered discussions about the future of in-cabin experience.

The post InCabin Phoenix Recap 2023/ A Comprehensive Guide to InCabin Phoenix appeared first on DTS.

Serves the 97% of Latinos 18+ who listen to radio every month

Radio continues to rule as the most important media source for Hispanics. In fact, recent data confirms the power of radio which beats both streaming (97% vs 59%)[1] and TV (90% vs 67%) among Hispanic listeners by significant margins[2] and ranks as the highest audio source ever used in vehicle among Hispanics[3]. Xperi, the creator of the DTS AutoStage® in-vehicle media platform, a hybrid radio system purposely designed to support broadcast radio and bring a modern, compelling and robust solution to the cars of tomorrow, is committed to serving this important and valuable demographic.

Starting today Spanish Broadcasting System, Inc. (SBS), one of the largest owners and operators of radio stations in the United States, which along with its affiliates serves 95% of US listeners, has now been added to the expanding repertoire of DTS AutoStage’s broadcast partners.

According to Pierre Jaspar of SBS, its listeners who own vehicles on the platform will now have dashboard access to robust radio station information and metadata, premium audio and event content, all supported by a global music metadata catalog of over 40 million tracks powered by sophisticated AI technology that makes discovery easy for users. “This means that our listeners will no longer have to switch from station to station to find their preferred content; instead, they can intuitively discover a list of stations updated in real time with a metadata layer that enhances the audio experience in the car. In short, they will be experiencing one of the most modern, immersive radio experiences available in-vehicle today,” said Jaspar.

In addition, the platform includes information regarding local events related to an artist played or station genre, and song lyrics in multiple languages to enrich the discovery process[4].

Xperi has been a committed partner to the broadcast industry for some time and provides broadcasters a great way to deliver services to OEMs and retain prominence in the dash. “With this new partnership, we are offering SBS radio advertisers an important path to reaching the Hispanic community,” said Joe D’Angelo SVP/Radio and Digital Audio, Xperi.

According to a recent article[5] in HispanicAd.com, AM/FM radio has a unique ability to reach Hispanic adults during prime hours of the day and while listeners are away-from-home and closest to retail. It can also plug them into local communities: more than half (54%) of Latino adults agree that their favorite radio station helps them stay connected to their community, according to Nielsen Scarborough.

Broadcasters that integrate with DTS AutoStage technology gain access to unique in-car branding opportunities through logo, slogan and album art, and these benefits will be available to SBS. They can participate in DTS AutoStage technology at no cost and are assured editorial control and freedom to pursue their strategic objectives.

“In addition,” says D’Angelo, “DTS AutoStage gives station managers and program directors unprecedented access to quantifiable and actionable in-vehicle listener data. This analytics tool, combined with an enhanced in-car radio user experience, preserves radio’s competitive advantage in the digital cockipit.”

Broadcasters who invest in technology, partner with the right players, and leverage the opportunities the evolving digital landscape offers can secure a prominent place, front and center, on the dashboard.

“Radio station fragmentation is a reality,” continued D’Angelo. “A consistent global user experience is impossible to achieve by broadcasters alone and the DTS AutoStage technology is on a mission to solve this. Our partnership with SBS is another important step on this journey.”

Find out more about the DTS AutoStage hybrid radio platform in the video below.

[1] https://hispanicad.com/news/am-fm-radio-still-dominates-when-reaching-u-s-hispanics-offers-unmatched-value-to-advertisers-report/

[2] https://www.radioworld.com/news-and-business/headlines/radio-ratings-overtake-tv-in-some-demos

[3] https://radiomatters.org/index.php/2021/04/06/a-look-at-black-and-hispanic-radio-consumers/

[4] Not all features are available in every car or every market

[5] https://hispanicad.com/news/am-fm-radio-still-dominates-when-reaching-u-s-hispanics-offers-unmatched-value-to-advertisers-report/

The post DTS AutoStage Brings Spanish Broadcasting System to the Connected Car appeared first on DTS.

How listeners consume content in the vehicle is evolving rapidly, and radio has a narrow window of opportunity to act and preserve its prominence in the connected dash.

Hear it straight from leading industry expert Juan Galdamez, Senior Director of Broadcast Strategy & Development for Xperi.

Radio is still the #1 source of entertainment inside the vehicle! Remaining competitive and relevant is the biggest question for local radio.

Watch the recordings below.

Aug 9th , 2023: Webinar for the Missouri Broadcasters Association

The post The Connected Car: What Does It Mean for Radio? appeared first on DTS.

Tune in to this compact and powerful podcast captured at NAB:NY, where Xperi’s Senior Vice President, Broadcast Radio, Joe D’Angelo sat down with Cumulus Media/Westwood One Chief Insights Officer, Pierre Bouvard, to explore the game-changing insights DTS AutoStage can deliver.

Deploying in Mercedes and eight other brands over the next eight months, DTS AutoStage is the only global hybrid in-dash entertainment solution. Joe D’Angelo explains,

“It combines broadcast radio, with IP-delivered metadata to basically make radio more discoverable … the driver would simply touch on the logo of the radio station they want to listen to and the receiver would automatically then tune to that radio station…. It’s really a revolutionary user experience for broadcast radio.”

But it’s not all about a more engaging UI. As Pierre Bouvard says,

“No matter how big your market or your station, you know, this is the first time you’re going to have kind of electronic updated information on how people are using your station.”

Discover the incredible benefits DTS AutoStage offers to automotive manufacturers, broadcasters and drivers alike with a quick listen here.

The post Hear It Now: Get Big (Data) With DTS AutoStage appeared first on DTS.

SAN JOSE, Calif. – November 1, 2022— Xperi Inc. (NYSE: XPER), developer of HD Radio technology, the most successfully deployed commercial digital radio system in the world, today announced a significant expansion into Canada through Pattison Media’s conversion to HD Radio technology. Pattison Media is Canada’s largest western-based media company which spans British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba with forty-five FM and three AM radio stations. The adoption of HD Radio in Canada will begin with the Vancouver-based 102.7 FM channel

The new 102.7 The PEAK HD2 channel can be heard on any HD Radio-enabled vehicle and streaming platforms, joining the growing number of stations worldwide that have adopted HD Radio technology, including 2,400+ HD Radio stations in North America. HD Radio technology is now available from more than 40 manufacturers, across more than 300 passenger vehicle models, and in more than 90 million vehicles.

“Our switch to HD Radio technology means that Canadian listeners of Pattison stations, starting with 102.7 in Vancouver, can now benefit from superior audio quality and a wealth of content choices with relevant imagery and metadata that elevates their in-vehicle radio experience, making it more immersive and engaging,” said Pattison Media President, Rod Schween.

HD Radio technology’s system for AM and FM radio stations broadcasts a digital signal over traditional radio frequencies, allowing for up to three additional channels of new audio programming and resulting in a broader reach. HD Radio boasts crystal clear, static-free sound, and on-screen information such as album art, station logos, song and artist information, traffic, weather, and critical emergency alerts, all of which elevate the in-vehicle infotainment experience. Broadcasters enjoy low implementation costs, as well as opportunities for deeper listener engagement and increased ad revenue through multicast channels and visual ads.

“Pattison Media continues to blaze new trails in Canadian broadcasting  and this partnership furthers HD Radio technology’s ability to offer more Canadians the best possible radio listening experience,” said Jeff Jury, Xperi SVP and general manager, Connected Car. Jury noted the number of stations in Canada that have converted to HD Radio technology doubled during the pandemic. “We are proud to be at the forefront of radio’s transition to digital and innovative solutions, helping consumers not just in Canada but around the world have an extraordinary listening experience.”

Building on 20 years of broadcast radio success and innovation, Xperi has developed a wide range of solutions designed to improve the in-vehicle experience in addition to HD Radio technology. DTS AutoSense in-cabin solutions comprise occupancy and driver monitoring systems implemented at the edge. And the DTS AutoStage infotainment platform is built on the largest and deepest data set of broadcast and music metadata, and combines over-the-air broadcast with IP-delivered content for a robust, richer, more personalized in-cabin infotainment experience.

For further information, please visit https://hdradio.com/.

About Xperi Inc.

Xperi invents, develops, and delivers technologies that enable extraordinary experiences. Xperi technologies, delivered via its brands and partnerships (DTS®, HD Radio, IMAX® Enhanced, TiVo®), and by its startup, Perceive, are integrated into billions of consumer devices and media platforms worldwide, powering smart devices, connected cars and entertainment experiences. Xperi has created a unified ecosystem that reaches highly engaged consumers driving increased value for partners, customers and consumers.

Xperi, DTS, IMAX Enhanced, HD Radio, Perceive, TiVo, and their respective logos are trademarks or registered trademarks of affiliated companies or partners of Xperi Inc. in the United States and other countries. All other company, brand and product names may be trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies.

About DTS, Inc.

Since 1993, DTS has been dedicated to making the world sound better. Through its pioneering audio solutions for mobile devices, home theater systems, cinema and beyond, DTS provides incredibly high-quality, immersive and engaging audio experiences to listeners everywhere. Now, DTS is also powering imaging and sensing technologies as well. For more information, please visit www.dtsb2b.wpengine.com.

About Pattison Media

Headquartered in Kamloops, B.C., Pattison Media, is the country’s largest, private, western-based media company. Spanning British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba, their operations currently encompass 45 FM and 3 AM radio stations, 3 television stations and 19 online news portals in 29 different markets. Pattison Media is a proud division of the Jim Pattison Group, a diversified group of operating businesses, based in Vancouver, which has grown to become one of the largest privately held companies in Canada. Please visit www.pattisonmedia.com or www.jimpattison.com for more information.

# # #

Xperi Media:

Allyse Sanchez, Xperi

Allyse.sanchez@xperi.com

Xperi Media:

Angela Jacobson, mWEBB Communications on behalf of Xperi

angela@mwebbcom.com

Xperi Investors:

Jill Koval, Arbor Advisory Group

IR@xperi.com

The post HD Radio™ Technology Expands in Canada appeared first on DTS.

Download this eye-opening white paper from Strategy Analytics, Personalize, Monetize In-Dash Content, to get the insights on how automakers can strengthen brand loyalty, preserve access to data and prioritize safety.

“Most of the time spent behind the wheel revolves around visual and audio inputs to the driver. It makes sense for car companies to focus on delivering a top-notch content-first experience. DTS AutoStage helps make that happen.”

Find this takeaway and more, including how DTS AutoStage provides the tools to enable the creating of branded in-vehicle experiences and integrates broadcast radio sources worldwide with streaming content sources.

Create a detailed, personalized experience and uncover new revenue opportunities beyond audio. Download the white paper now.

The post Download Now: Redefine the In-Car Experience with DTS AutoStage™ appeared first on DTS.

Tune in to this impactful video to gain true insights into the connected-car experience – and how you can take advantage of the automotive content revolution.

Xperi’s SVP of DTS AutoStage, Bob Dillon, explores both the unique in-car environment and the best opportunities for monetization.

“The question,” Dillon asks, “is how can we, from a UX perspective, do it in a way that accrues maximum value to the OEM brand, is accepted by the end users, and is relevant to the automotive media experience?”

Spearheading a unified, personalized content-first approach, DTS AutoStage drives value to OEMS with UX-driven opportunities that can include:

• Inserted audio advertising
• Sponsored discovery
• Subscriptions
• Subscription Bounties
• User Metrics

Get ahead of the in-car entertainment curve and watch now.

The post Watch Now: Monetizing the Connected Car Experience appeared first on DTS.

Achievement in Broadcasting Awards

Day 1 saw the Achievement in Broadcasting Awards honor the 2021 and 2022 recipients across television and radio. 

Broadcasting legends across television and radio inducted into the NAB Broadcasting Hall of Fame included:

2021 inductees

• Television: Lester Holt (anchor and managing editor of NBC’s flagship news broadcast NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt)
• Radio: All Things Considered, the flagship news program of NPR

2022 inductees

• Television: The Price is Right, CBS’s daytime daily game show
• Radio: Jim Bohannon, host of Westwood One’s nationally syndicated radio talk show, The Jim Bohannon Show
• Digital Strategy: Jeremy Sinon, vice president of Digital Strategy at Hubbard Radio.

Xperi CEO Jon Kirchner spoke at the awards ceremony and shared Xperi’s unique commitment to broadcasting and its evolution. In particular, our focus on HD Radio means it is now in more than 85 million automobiles with 4,700 digital channels, with a reach of more than 400 million listeners worldwide. This allows us to immerse drivers in more of their favorite audio content, with crystal-clear, subscription-free digital radio.

NAB Radio Engineering Achievement Award

Xperi also celebrated the achievement of Ashruf El-Dinary, senior vice president of digital platforms, who received the NAB Radio Engineering Achievement Award for 2022. El-Dinary’s work has been key to HD Radio becoming the most successfully deployed commercial digital radio system worldwide. His ongoing work on these solutions have been key to the global and digital evolution of the most consumed media in the world – radio.

Speaking of his win, El-Dinary reminisced on his radio background and said “Listening to radio really transported me to another time, and another place. My hobby became my passion,” he continued, “and over the past 23 years I’ve worked with many great teams contributing to the success of digital radio, and I wouldn’t be here without them.”

RAPID Wins Product of the Year

The accolades don’t stop there – Xperi’s RAPID technology won a Product of the Year Award, Radio category. This award honors the innovative breakthrough products and technologies from the show. The RAPID team from AIM (All In Media) developed this solution that streamlines metadata delivery for radio stations. “Our team is very excited about this win, a fitting reward for the tremendous amount of collaborative work we’ve done internally at Xperi,” said Chris Gould, vice president, All In Media. “I’d also like to recognize the crucial contributions of external partners such as NPR and NYPR in the US, as well as that of commercial and non-commercial radio stations around the world.”

Integrated Solutions at Forefront of our Offerings

We continue to invest in technology that enables and champions radio – in fact, DTS AutoStage is the only global hybrid radio offering to the auto industry and our in-depth TiVo music metadata makes us a pre-eminent discovery tool, which is another way we enhance our in-vehicle offerings.

While at NAB we announced a new strategic partnership with Quu, Inc. that makes it easy for radio to display and monetize content in connected cars. As a result, we plan to roll out an integrated solution to sync programming and sales messages on vehicle dashboards. In the past, stations would go to Xperi to deploy its RAPID technology and then Quu for content management, monetization and reporting. Now, Quu is a one-stop shop for both.

Joe D’Angelo, senior vice president of broadcast for Xperi, was excited about the return to NAB for the Xperi team. “After two years, we were back in a big way. This was one of the busiest and most productive NAB show ever for Xperi,” D’Angelo said. “The advances and innovations we have worked on during these last two years were finally unveiled, including the power of including TiVo metadata into the DTS automotive offerings,” D’Angelo continued.

Xperi is Well-Positioned for the Future

With autonomous vehicles evolving consumer expectations, our top minds are rapidly innovating to create the dashboard of the future, accommodating more types of entertainment, from video to gaming and more.

D’Angelo wrapped up the show by saying “Our broadcast technology portfolio and our progress with in-car offerings was met with awe and enthusiasm from the industry and I believe we are better positioned than ever to drive innovation in the industry and deliver meaningful change to broadcast radio audiences around the world.”

The post National Association of Broadcasters Revs Up Again in 2022 appeared first on DTS.

This report presents the findings of an Online CARAVAN® survey conducted by ENGINE Insights among a sample of 1,004 adults 18 years of age and older, comprised of 502 men and 502 women. The online omnibus study is conducted three times a week among a demographically representative U.S. sample of 1,000 adults ages 18 and older. The survey was live on August 2-4, Most questions in the survey were asked among those who own or lease a vehicle, or who plan to purchase one in the next year (N=900).

Respondents were members of an online panel and had agreed to participate in online surveys and polls. Completed interviews are weighted by five variables – age, gender, geographic region, race and education – using data from the U.S. Census Bureau to help ensure reliable and accurate representation of the total U.S. population, 18 years of age and older.

Throughout this report, results are analyzed in total as well as by gender and generation where statistically significant differences exist at a 95% confidence level. Generations are defined as Gen Z, ages 18-24 (N=133); Millennials, ages 25-40 (N=323); Gen X, ages 41-56 (N=215); and Baby Boomers, ages 57-75 (N=289).

Survey Objectives

The personal vehicle grew in importance for consumers during the pandemic – today, 77% of adults own a vehicle, with another 6% leasing and 10% planning to purchase. Meanwhile, those vehicles are becoming more automated, with a new generation of autonomous vehicles on the horizon. How is this impacting consumer attitudes towards in-vehicle safety for both passengers and occupants, whether parked or in motion?

In 2018, distracted driving claimed 2,841 lives and, in the United States alone, there are an average of 39 reported hot car child fatalities and hundreds of pet casualties per year. A new generation of secure vehicle In-cabin sensing systems are coming into market, designed to save the lives of vehicle passengers and drivers and to improve the in-cabin experience, often using computer vision solutions that can detect distracted driving or children/pets left in vehicles.

This survey seeks to understand how vehicle safety impacts purchase choices and interest in systems that can enhance vehicle safety and the incabin experience among adults who own or lease a vehicle, or who plan to purchase one in the next year.

Safety Plays Key Role in Vehicle Purchase Choices

More than three-quarters (78%) of respondents say safety is “very important” to their vehicle purchase choice. Another one in five (20%) rate safety as “important” when determining which vehicle to buy.

While viewpoints are consistent across generations, women (81%) are more inclined than men (74%) to view safety as a “very important” consideration when purchasing a vehicle.

In-cabin Sensing Systems Considered Beneficial by Most

Automation that can detect – and notify – drivers when they’re drowsy, falling asleep or not paying attention to the road is regarded as beneficial by 92% of adults, with 56% saying it is “very beneficial”.

Majority Recognize Importance of Assessing Occupant Safety Status

The vast majority of respondents (88%) agree that the increase in automation in vehicles increases the importance of assessing the safety status of in-cabin occupants to prevent dangerous situations.

Although overall agreement levels are equally high among women (87%) and men (88%), women are significantly more likely than men to strongly agree with the statement (63% vs. 53%, respectively).

Across generations, strong agreement with the statement runs highest among Baby Boomers (63%) and lowest among Gen Z (52%).

High Likelihood to Purchase Model/Brand with In-vehicle Camera Computer Vision System

Having an innovative in-vehicle computer vision system increases the likelihood that consumers will purchase that vehicle, with 86% of respondents saying it would influence their decision.

This feature was described in the survey as employing cameras that are able to detect children/pets left in a hot vehicle, seatbelt status, sudden sickness, driver drowsiness and other distracted driving indicators and then trigger alerts to the driver. Respondents are nearly equally split between being very likely (44%) or somewhat likely (42%) to buy a vehicle model/brand that offers this feature.

While results between men and women are nearly identical, opinions vary a bit more by generation, with Millennials (92%) significantly more likely than Gen X (83%) and Baby Boomers (84%) to purchase a vehicle model/brand with this type of computer vision system.

In-vehicle Computer Vision Systems to Ensure Child Safety Embraced by Majority

In-vehicle computer vision systems that detect if a child is present and properly secured in the vehicle – and can trigger alerts to the driver to ensure child safety – are considered beneficial by nine out of ten adults, with 56% considering them “very beneficial” and 36% finding them “beneficial”. A mere 8% think this feature is “not beneficial”.

Millennials (96%) are the most likely, and Baby Boomers (89%) the least likely, to see the benefits of this system. Three in five Millennials (61%) believe the feature is “very beneficial”, significantly higher than the 51% of Baby Boomers who feel the same.

Distracted Driving Alerts Are Beneficial, Say Nine in Ten …

Positive feelings abound toward a vehicle feature that detects distracting activities and triggers alerts to avoid an accident, with 91% of respondents finding it beneficial. Half (51%) found this feature “very beneficial” while another 40% found it “beneficial.”

… As Are Driver and Occupant Health Monitors

Ninety percent of respondents say a vehicle feature that could monitor, in real-time, driver and occupant immediate health and act on it to prevent accidents is beneficial – with 50% viewing it as “very beneficial.”

Not surprisingly, digitally habituated Millennials (58%) are the most inclined of all generations to consider this feature “very beneficial”, while Baby Boomers are the least inclined (46%).

Child Safety Most Important Computer Vision-enabled Vehicle Feature

Respondents were presented with four vehicle features enabled by computer vision systems and asked to rank them in importance from highest to lowest. Seven in ten (71%) respondents chose the ability to detect a child left in a hot vehicle and trigger alerts to the owner as their top or second most important vehicle feature. Ranking second in importance is the ability to detect driver drowsiness and trigger alerts (62%). Pet safety, while not surprisingly carrying less weight than children, is still of major importance to over a third of respondents (36%). The ability to detect emotional changes in the driver potentially impacting safety and then trigger an alert was important to nearly one in three (31%).

While detecting a child left in a hot vehicle and triggering alerts to the owner consistently ranks highest in top two importance among the four vehicle features across genders and generations, men (65%) are much more likely than women (58%) to choose detecting driver drowsiness and triggering an alert as one of their top two most important features.

Personalization of Vehicle Interior Based on Driver/ Occupant Preferences, Presence of Child Appeals to Many Drivers

The same sensing systems that can alert consumers to a child left in a hot vehicle or if a driver is distracted or drowsy can also improve the in-cabin experience by personalizing the vehicle’s infotainment, wheel and chair positions and more.

Over half (53%) of adults would like to have a feature that adapts their vehicle interior to driver/occupant preferences, such as wheel and chair position or loading preferred apps and/or music on the infotainment system.

Just as appealing is a feature that detects if a child is present in the car to personalize in-cabin infotainment to be appropriate, chosen by 52% of respondents.

Over one in three (37%) would like a feature that allows hands-free, automatic smartphone quality, full in-cabin selfies. Attractive to an equal proportion of respondents (37%) is a system that identifies driver emotions to enable features such as smart playlists or actions such as lowering the volume, changing the studio light settings inside the cabin, or modifying the HVAC settings to provide a richer journey experience.

Rounding out the list of desirable features is one that enables the driver to securely, hands-free pay-on-the-go based on facial recognition, selected by 25% of respondents. Just 14% are not interested in any of the listed features.

While men and women express similar interest levels for most features, the hands-free selfie feature is appealing to significantly more men (41%) than women (34%).

Across generations, Gen Z (98%) and Millennials (96%) are much more likely than Gen X (85%) and Baby Boomers (78%) to find any of these additional features appealing. Millennials are the most inclined to say they would like a feature that adapts the vehicle interior based on driver/occupant preferences (58%) and/or one that detects the presence of a child to personalize in-cabin infotainment (60%). When it comes to hands-free selfies, Millennials (48%) are significantly more likely than all other generations to find this feature appealing [Gen Z (36%); Gen X (38%); Baby Boomers (31%)].

At least half of Gen Z (52%) and Millennials (50%) like the idea of a feature that identifies driver emotions to enable features that provide a richer journey experience – considerably more so than Gen X (36%) and Baby Boomers (23%). The same is true of facial recognition features that allow for hands-free pay-on-the-go, chosen by 31% of Gen Z and 38% of Millennials versus 24% of Gen X and just 15% of Baby Boomers.

The post The Increasing Importance of In-Vehicle Safety and Personalization Systems appeared first on DTS.

The challenge: finding the best audio content in the car

The increased variety of infotainment choices in the car can make finding the best content to listen to extremely challenging.

Choosing between AM / FM or digital, between satellite radio and streaming services can be a hassle. Think of the over 2 million active podcasts, as well as loads of other audio content apps available for in car listening, and you will realize that finding the creator or music you want to listen to can mean a lot of  time wasting.

Just juggling back and forth with different UXs can feel like a struggle when, really, finding the content you want to consume should be seamless.

The solution: a content-focused infotainment strategy

Considering this challenge, it might be time for OEMs and infotainment system suppliers to get involved more in the content delivery options.  This can be done by starting to understand the customer, in this case, the listener.

To the listener, searching for the right content – while at the wheel – can be unsafe. Multitasking is difficult in the best of times but while on the road, it can be distracting and dangerous.

So, instead of letting our customers search and scroll endlessly, potentially risking their lives until they find the right radio station, channel, or service playing their favorite programming, why not give them the chance to explore and search safely through better personalization and voice enablement?

Great in-cabin content personalization means delivering content the way it was intended, and it is demanded. To do so, you’d need to turn the vehicle into a smart media center, a content recommendation engine. By leveraging  and enhancing broadcaster-provided metadata, the in-cabin system can point out the radio station playing the artist or track the listener is looking for. A truly content-focused in-cabin infotainment strategy with personalized discovery would completely change the game and present the content the user is looking for without the need for searching and scrolling.

Moving forward, imagine adding proprietary information and premium content to that metadata, such as lyrics and events.

Drivers could find the info they need via voice commands, in record time, while passengers would take advantage of the multitude of screens the latest models are starting to offer. Some carmakers are also increasing the size of the front screen. By making Hyperscreens, like Mercedes-Benz, the chance of getting crucial info, as well as desired content, without clicking on anything increases significantly.

Suddenly, car occupants could have an IMDb-style experience. Besides getting basic information about the artist and song on the radio, such as artist name, picture, and album name, the system could confer related data. For example, the in-car display could show a longer bio and trivia about the artist’s personal and professional life. The system could also point out their social media channels and upcoming concerts and events. 

With lyrics on screen, it would be easy and fun for driver and passengers to sing along, record their performance for a long-lasting memory or upload directly on social media, showing off their skills on Smule. It wouldn’t be hard to imagine an in-cabin camera providing the tools necessary to turn a sound “audition” into a video one.

Location-driven music, emotion-based content, and a driver infotainment profile

And that’s just the beginning. A flexible content aggregation architecture that would put content first could spark an entirely new in-cabin multi-sensory experience. The music emitted by the car’s speakers could set the tone for the entire trip. If correlated with in-cabin illumination, seat massage or fragrance emission, it could create a completely personalized experience, a home.

Let’s imagine what that enhanced audio experience could look like if we throw location data into the mix. During a sunny coastal drive, medium to low volume audio could play on the radio. On a snowy off-road adventure, the in-cabin system could suggest loud, energy-fueled music. And on an evening drive in romantic Paris, instrumental tunes or soft jazz could play from the speakers. Those behind the wheel would feel like the main characters in their own movie, matching soundtracks with their lives.

And what if a camera was involved? In-cabin cameras are bound to become standard in vehicles for the drivers’ and passengers’ safety. Key in driving monitoring systems, cameras will detect, track, and record facial cues to determine the occupant’s status.

With the right algorithms, that data could be used to not only identify users, but also their emotions and eventually, find and play the music people truly need. A night owl forced to brave morning traffic might benefit from a dose of lively music or a positive, productivity-oriented podcast. A successful entrepreneur, who just got their big break, would probably enjoy dance tunes that call for celebration.

The right mix of metadata, content, location, cameras, and algorithms can create the ultimate, custom in-cabin experience. And we wouldn’t have to stop there. The next move for automakers and in-cabin suppliers would be to make that unique experience… portable.

The driver infotainment profile could be saved in a mobile app and reused in other vehicles. When renting a car from the same automaker or upgrading the vehicle for a newer model, all that data could come within a different vehicle in a seamless, secure way. That way, you would not only help car owners create their third space but give them the freedom to recreate it in all future personal vehicles.

Ready to join us and design the ultimate in-cabin connected experience?

Gereon Joachim is working in the automotive industry for 26 years now, and has been making car rides more enjoyable and safer ever since. He spends most of his time innovating, and thinking outside the box to create the extraordinary experiences customers are looking for. He is still looking to buy a Porsche 912 from 1969, so it matches the year of his birth.

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