Siriuis Satellite Radio CEO Mel Karmazin told Reuters yesterday that consumers can expect to see live satellite video service in cars by late 2007. Karmazin said that the service will be available starting in 2008 car models, which will be appearing toward the end of next year.
Content is intended to be geared toward children and Sirius anticipates to have some deals struck with providers as early as Jan. 2007.
Am I the only one who is horrified by the concept of satellite video in vehicles? I it’s currently supposed to be kiddie content, but it’s only a matter of time before adults get shows too. The prospect of having people driving around watching TV is a scary one indeed. The last thing we need is something else diverting he attentions of drivers.
Sirius CEO sees live TV in cars in 2007 [via Orbitcast via Gizmodo]
Great, so now drivers can talk on the phone, or read emails on their blackberry while watching an episode of Hero.
Just what we need, more distractions… Sign me up!
The reality is backseat dvd systems are so inexpensive for kids, between the equipment and the subscription of this, is it really going to take off?
I say focus on GPS units with realtime traffic and rerouting based on that.
I read this one in the latest Fast company mag http://www.dash.net
They should market this more to the PMP market than the car market, I thinks.
What I’m worried about is will the guy with the pringles can attached to his hood be able to steal my signal! Not to mention change my channels with his hacked up wii-mote.
“…before adults get shows too…”
Seriously, if this is anything like satellite tv is now you won’t have to worry. Adult programming requires a ‘land line’ to order – or so I’m told.
I can really only see this taking off commercially on a bus or taxi’s etc. But for the day to day driver, I’m not so sure…
I think this awesome, but admit that its likely to cause some car accidents. Many young drivers “pimping” their rides already have in-dash DVD players.
I agree with Seth that service should be more focused on their PMP devices like the killer Stilletto. drdrew definitely brought up a good opportunity for the technology in buses, taxis, limos, the L, and monorail systems. It might also be good for mobile lunchwagons with the right super-sized plasma screen. I wouldn’t mind being able to pull up content on my laptop too like Sirius is already doing with their satellite radio service. The addition of video seems to be the natural progression particularly the success of YouTube and iTunes video content. Consumers seem to be ready for this media now.
From http://www.radiolovers.com:
“Before the days of video games, shopping malls, MTV, and the Internet, families used to sit in their living room each night to listen to radio shows such as Abbott and Costello, Superman, Groucho Marx, The Avenger, Gunsmoke, Sherlock Homes, and many others. When TV become popular in the 1950’s, most of these shows went off the air…”
… Point to Ponder
I also wonder how many available channels they’ll have for this? They don’t have the limitations of normal spectrums, but you have to wonder if they’ll have to bump off some tune stations to make room for this?