Chrysler to offer in-car TVs this year

DETROIT - For the ultimate television junkie, Chrysler Group has the perfect Christmas gift.

The automaker will offer live television with up to 20 channels in its vehicles by the end of this year for $629 plus installation costs.

The service, called FLO TV Auto Entertainment, will be delivered through a seven-inch DVD screen made by Audiovox Corp. Chrysler will offer it through its Mopar aftermarket unit in more than 100 metropolitan areas and along certain interstate highways. Service won't be available in many rural areas.

The hardware also includes a small antenna, about the size of a computer mouse, mounted on the vehicles roof. Consumers who purchase the service will receive a one-year subscription for free, but would pay a monthly fee after that.

Chrysler spokesman Bryan Zvibleman said Chrysler is negotiating with FLO TV over the subscription rate after the first year, but would like to offers packages that start at $9 a month.

FLO TV is a division of Qualcomm Inc.

The 20 available channels will include CBS, CNBC, Comedy Central, Fox News, MSNBC, MTV, NBC 2Go and Nickelodeon.

(c) 2009, Detroit Free Press.

Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.

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