SOURCE: Avis Budget Group, Inc.
January 08, 2009 16:28 ET
Avis Budget Group and RaySat Broadcasting Corporation to Bring Satellite TV to Rental Car Travel
PARSIPPANY, NJ--(Marketwire - January 8, 2009) - Avis Budget Group and RaySat Broadcasting
Corp. are teaming up to make road trips more enjoyable by offering Avis and
Budget Rent A Car customers AT&T CruiseCast(SM), a new satellite television
service that delivers popular news, family, sports, comedy and music
channels while traveling.
Starting in the second quarter of 2009, Avis and Budget customers can rent
AT&T CruiseCast at select locations for $8.95 per day or $62.65 per week.
The unit uses a receiver and compact, low-profile external antenna to
provide 22 popular satellite television channels and 20 satellite radio
channels to a rear seat entertainment unit.
AT&T CruiseCast utilizes video-buffering technology to automatically store
up to three minutes of content so that viewers can continually watch
programs even if there are obstructions such as an overpass, a tall
building or trees. The channel line-up includes the Disney Channel, Disney
XD, Discovery Kids, Animal Planet, Nickelodeon, Cartoon Network Mobile,
USA, COMEDY CENTRAL, MSNBC, CNN Mobile Live and CNBC.
"Parents and road warriors alike appreciate ways to make long drives seem
shorter," said Michael Caron, vice president of product and program
development at Avis Budget Group. "The AT&T CruiseCast service lets our
customers take their favorite channels with them on the road and makes
choosing to rent with Avis or Budget easier than changing the channel."
"We are very excited to bring this new offering to Avis and Budget
customers," said Winston Guillory, president of RaySat Broadcasting Corp.
"The service provides a great benefit to both business and leisure
travelers, and for parents, it ends the refrain 'are we there yet?'"
About RaySat Broadcasting Corporation
RaySat Broadcasting Corporation is a privately held U.S. company that is
introducing Total In-Car Entertainment to the marketplace with the
revolutionary AT&T CruiseCast service with the AT&T CruiseCast brand.
Headquartered in Dallas, TX, RaySat Broadcasting Corporation capitalizes on
pioneering technology that has enabled the creation of a small compact
antenna for use on cars, trucks and SUV's that also provides continual
coverage on-the-go thanks to an advancement that overcomes line-of-sight
obstacles such as overpasses, buildings, trees or tunnels. RaySat
Broadcasting Corp. is an affiliate of Vienna, VA-based global
satellite-antenna innovator RaySat™, Inc., a leading manufacturer and
supplier for the mass market of cost-effective, low-profile satellite
antennas that enable communication on the move.
About Avis Budget Group
Avis Budget Group, Inc. (NYSE: CAR) is a leading provider of vehicle rental
services, with operations in more than 70 countries. Through its Avis and
Budget brands, the Company is the largest general-use vehicle rental
company in each of North America, Australia, New Zealand and certain other
regions based on published airport statistics. Avis Budget Group is
headquartered in Parsippany, N.J. and has more than 28,000 employees. For
more information about Avis Budget Group, visit www.avisbudgetgroup.com.