Be Part of Connected Cars, Emmis CEO Advises Radio Industry
The radio industry needs to be “front and center” in connected cars, regardless of how consumers “get their information from the dashboard,” Emmis CEO Jeff Smulyan said on a Thursday earnings call, speaking of NextRadio’s FM smartphone app. “If they…
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turn on their car and they see an embedded AM and FM radio with HD, that’s great,” he said. “If they turn on their car and they see what looks like an Android screen or an Apple screen, we’ve gotta be there.” Many Americans “are choosing to connect to their cars through their smartphones,” said Smulyan. “If you’ve got an Apple phone or you’ve got an Android phone and you plug them into your car, [NextRadio] seamlessly works in the dashboard and gives you a full interactive experience.” The radio broadcasting company in the next few weeks will launch “streaming-compatible versions” for Android and iOS devices, said Smulyan. NextRadio requires activation of the FM-reception chip embedded in virtually all smartphones. Activation is prevalent on many models of Android smartphones, not iPhones (see 1701060004). With international developments including FM chips in smartphones, the CEO said “we’re certainly still in the early stages of a very long process to make this a key component of the radio-listening experience." NextRadio FM-chip-activation agreements are in place with all major U.S. carriers, Smulyan said. “We’re now starting on manufacturer agreements.” Alcatel and BLU (Bold Like Us) “have been the first two,” he said.