When motorists are charging their vehicle, waiting in line at a Starbucks drive-through or picking up their kids at school, they’ll soon be able to watch premium video content on that big video screen in the dashboard. Xperi is displaying its DTS AutoStage video service at Europe's biggest consumer technology trade show, IFA 2023,which runs Sept 1-5 in Berlin.
BMW Group is the first automaker to implement the video service in their BMW 5-Series, which is expected to roll out later this year. Xperi says it brings “an award-winning, content-first experience to the connected car, delivering free premium content across live TV, news, sports, movies and more.” Thanks to content providers that include Bloomberg Television, Pluto TV, Tubi, Yahoo and local German provider Joyn, consumers will be able to personalize their viewing experience and choose what they want to watch.
As more drivers 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 – Xperi says its video service lets them watch in-dash entertainment in an environment that is mutually beneficial to the consumer and the car brand.
The in-car video service is “powered by TiVo,” the video recording and metadata company Xperi bought for $2.4 billion in June 2020.
“The pace at which innovation and change is happening in the market is very exciting and we’ve proven our ability to evolve quickly with these needs,” Jon Kirchner, CEO of Xperi, said in the announcement. “We believe that the technological advancements we’re pursuing with our partners will allow consumers to create new and exciting experiences for video entertainment, whether at home, on the go or in the car.”
Showcasing DTS AutoStage video on the show floor at Berlin’s massive Messe exhibition center is part of Xperi’s demonstration of “its commitment to delivering extraordinary experiences at home and on the go, for millions of people around the world, elevating content and how audiences connect with it in a way that is more intelligent, immersive and personal,” the company said in a news announcement.
The video service piggybacks on DTS AutoStage, the hybrid radio platform that has been available on five Mercedes Benz models for several years. Xperi is also the technology provider that owns and licenses HD Radio.
At IFA, the tech company will also exhibit an updated version of its DTS Play-Fi Home Theater, which is touted as the only whole-home wireless solution to support 12 channels of discrete sound, for a higher-fidelity listening experience. Originally launched in 2021 with support for 5.1 surround sound, this latest update enables playback of immersive sound formats like DTS:X, Dolby Atmos and IMAX Enhanced from DTS Play-Fi compatible TVs to discrete speaker layouts, up to 7.2.4. The company says the home entertainment system “eliminates the need for unsightly wiring, TV dongles, and AV receivers by re-using the Wi-Fi radio built into every smart TV.”