Time Warner Cable of Austin launched a new program service focused on traffic information on digital channel 348 on Dec. 30, 2002. News 8's Traffic Now features views of Central Texas freeways provided by selected TxDOT (Texas Department of Transportation) cameras. The traffic camera images will be supplemented by TxDOT information regarding road closures and construction as well as News 8 traffic and weather data.
"Traffic is an ever growing concern for our viewers", said Brian Benschoter, General Manager of News 8 Austin. "There are days where we could do traffic reporting all day long because of accidents, construction or weather related traffic snarls. So creating a digital channel dedicated to traffic information struck us as the perfect compliment to our Non-Stop Weather channel and our Doppler radar channel."
"We want to make news, weather and traffic information simple and easy to access," said Tom Kinney, president of Time Warner Cable of Austin. "Giving customers instant access to a forecast, a radar or traffic camera gives them more choices and control over how they get and use information. That's really what separates Time Warner from our competitors -- a focus on providing more options and more control through exclusive services like Video on Demand or real time local services like News 8's digital traffic and weather channels."
"The TxDOT cameras are a favorite feature on our Interactive Traffic Reports,” said Todd Callahan, manager of online content and information systems for News 8. "We will start with 20 to 25 cameras but we expect the service to evolve over time with additional data and camera views. We want to keep it simple to start and then get viewer feedback about how to enhance the service.”
