CONNECTED CARS

STREAMING VIDEO

CES used to be mainly about TVS and in-home consumer electronics. Those will still be featured, but these days the show is just as much a showcase for the future of transportation, with automakers flocking to Las Vegas to show off new models and CE companies revealing their latest automotive-entertainment technology. After all, today’s cars are internet- connected computers on wheels, and drivers are increasingly looking to replicate the in- home entertainment experience on their daily commute.

That’s particularly true for streaming audio. Automotive continues to be one of Pandora’s fastest- growing listener segments, says the company’s VP of business development, Dave Geary. The reason: “Deepening directcar audio integration among automakers and smarter technology are driving personalized experiences that weren’t possible with AM/FM [radio],” he says. At CES, look for smart assistants to make the jump from the home to the car, via embedded systems from automakers as well as after-market devices.

While the current focus is still very much on audio in-car entertainment, the industry is gearing up for a future of autonomous vehicles that don’t require our eyes on the road — freeing them up for video consumption on the go.

At CES, Walt Disney Imagineering and Audi will show off a “premium entertainment experience” they collaborated on for the Audi e-tron electric vehicle. It’s intended for back-seat passengers today — and for everyone in autonomous cars of the future — which could unlock new revenue streams.