Kansas City's KSHB-TV Launches Free Mobile Traffic Camera Service to Help Lighten Traffic Load

Kansas City's KSHB-TV Launches Free Mobile Traffic Camera Service to Help Lighten Traffic Load

KANSAS CITY, Mo., April 10 /PRNewswire/ -- KSHB-TV Channel 41, the NBC-affiliate station based in Kansas City, Missouri, has launched a free mobile traffic camera service for area residents and commuters.

The advertising supported service, named KSHB Traffic Jam Cell Cams, targets the more than 150,000 daily commuters in the region who will now be able to view traffic tie-ups on their mobile devices before leaving their home, office or school.

"This service offers Kansas City drivers and passengers a hand in planning the quickest, most fuel-efficient and safest routes, wherever they're heading," said Craig Allison, vice president and general manager of KSHB-TV, Tribune Broadcasting Company, Kansas City. "This service further demonstrates that we are the leading news, weather and now source of real-time traffic information."

The KSHB Traffic Jam Cell Cams relies on over 100 traffic cameras operated by Kansas City Scout, the bi-state area's traffic management system. The Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) and Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) designed Scout to lessen traffic jams by improving rush-hour speeds, to increase safety by decreasing the number of rush-hour accidents and to improve emergency response to traffic situations.

"The Kansas and Missouri Departments of Transportation are pleased to develop an enhanced partnership with KSHB and 3rd Dimension to provide streaming video to the motorist of Kansas City," said Jason Sims, Kansas City Scout Traffic Center Manager. "This partnership provides not only enhanced services to Kansas City commuters, but it further maximizes Scout's comprehensive camera network."

Kansas City Scout cameras are installed throughout several cities in the Kansas City/Missouri metropolitan area. These cities include, Kansas City, KS, Independence, MO, Lee's Summit, North Kansas City, Overland Park, Merriam, Lenexa, Leawood, Olathe, Shawnee Mission, Blue Springs, and Grandview.

3rd Dimension, Inc., a New York-based mobile marketing and application company developed the system technology.

"Cell phones are becoming an important part of our culture and are growing increasingly more powerful and personal," said Eric Joseph, president, 3rd Dimension. "The 3rd Dimension real-time traffic application supports that trend in providing a value-added service to consumers whenever they need it."

The NBC Action News Traffic Jam Cell Cams application is compatible with data enabled phones on the Sprint, Verizon Wireless, AT&T and T-Mobile networks, and including popular smart phones such as the BlackBerry, Palm Treo and the Motorola Q.

To download the video application, commuters have the option to call 877-JAMCAM8 (877-526-2268) from their cell phone, go to the www.kshb.com website and request the service by entering their mobile phone number, or typing www.3tcam.com/kansascity on their cell phone's web browser.

Once the application is downloaded, drivers can choose to view near real-time traffic images from any of the cameras along their route and can even program keys on their phone to quickly access their favorites.

Kansas City is the fourth market in the country to launch the innovative mobile traffic service. The first was launched in early 2007 in collaboration with WCBS Newsradio 880 in New York City. The second market, Houston, went live in December 2007 followed by Indianapolis in March 2008. 3rd Dimension plans to roll out additional markets across the country in 2008 with the goal of creating a national mobile advertising network.

About Scripps

The E. W. Scripps Company (www.scripps.com) is a diverse and growing media enterprise with interests in national cable networks, newspaper publishing, broadcast television stations, interactive media, and licensing and syndication.

The company's portfolio of media properties includes: Scripps Networks, with such brands as HGTV, Food Network, DIY Network, Fine Living and Great American Country; daily and community newspapers in 17 markets and the Washington-based Scripps Media Center, home to the Scripps Howard News Service; 10 broadcast TV stations, including six ABC-affiliated stations, three NBC affiliates and one independent; Scripps Interactive Media, including leading online search and comparison shopping services, Shopzilla and uSwitch; and United Media, a leading worldwide licensing and syndication company that is the home of PEANUTS, DILBERT and approximately 150 other features and comics.

About Scout

Kansas City Scout is Kansas City's bi-state traffic management system. The Kansas and Missouri departments of transportation (KDOT, MoDOT) designed Scout to lessen traffic jams by improving rush-hour speeds, to increase safety by decreasing the number of rush-hour accidents, and to improve emergency response to traffic situations.

Scout manages traffic on more than 90 miles of continuous freeways in the greater Kansas City metropolitan area. Scout uses cameras to monitor the highways from its traffic management center in Lee's Summit, relies on sensors to gage traffic flow, uses large electronic message boards to send urgent traffic notices to drivers along the freeways, and activates a Highway Advisory Radio system that motorists in Missouri can tune to in the event of a freeway incident.

About 3rd Dimension, Inc.

3rd Dimension (www.3rdDimensionTech.com) is a mobile marketing and application company that creates and distributes innovative real-time video content to consumers through their mobile devices. Its mobile applications are designed to attract targeted niche audiences making its solutions attractive to advertisers and marketers.

   All trade names are the property of their respective owners.   This release is available on the KCSA Worldwide Web site at www.kcsa.com.   

*Editor's Note: Cell phone screen shots of KSHB Traffic Jam Cell Cams are available upon request.

   CONTACT:    Noah Milman / Rob Manfredo               KCSA Strategic Communications               (212) 896-1217 / (212) 896-1213               nmilman@kcsa.com / rmanfredo@kcsa.com  

Source: 3rd Dimension Inc.

CONTACT: Noah Milman, +1-212-896-1217, nmilman@kcsa.com, or Rob
Manfredo, +1-212-896-1213, rmanfredo@kcsa.com, both of KCSA Strategic
Communications for 3rd Dimension Inc.

Web site: http://www.3rddimensiontech.com/
http://www.kshb.com/
http://www.scripps.com/

---

Profile: International Entertainment