Traditional Radio Continues to Layer on the Technology

As a Radio listener, you may not be aware of how much is going on in the background - especially in the pursuit of keeping traditional Radio relevant by tying it to new technologies.

Traditional Radio companies - who have invested millions into the traditional, terrestrial AM/FM infrastructure, are doing what they can to leverage their properties as important operational bases while redefining their overall capabilities. This week brings more news of such movement.

HD Radio Tech to Improve Your Drive Home

Eight radio companies have formed a new joint venture, the Broadcaster Traffic Consortium (BTC), to build a new nationwide network to distribute traffic data.

BTC will use HD Radio technology to broadcast real-time NAVTEQ Traffic and other location-based information to portable navigation devices and automobile in-dash systems. NAVTEQ is a global provider of digital maps and traffic for vehicle navigation.

The high bandwidth capacity provided by HD Radio technology will let you access high-quality, up-to-date information including traffic flow and points of interest. In a press release, BTC describes itself as "...a data distribution service that allows broadcasters to expand beyond traditional audio programming as their sole use of the HD Radio spectrum and enable major service providers, like NAVTEQ, to leverage broadcasters’ free, over-the-air systems to meet consumer demand for interactive user-specific data applications."

More: HD Radio: What it is and What it is Not

Internet Streams are Ripe for Targeted Ads

At least that's how TargetSpot feels. The company has partnered with eight new radio groups and syndicators, including Fox News Radio. Since launching less than a year ago, TargetSpot has already partnered with nearly 600 stations nationwide.

TargetSpot's technology lets any size business create, buy and place their own advertising messages on Internet Radio. Ads are then targeted to a specific demographic, location (down to zip code) and/or station.

Background: TargetSpot Partnering to Place Ads on Internet Radio Streams