Chrysler FLO TV

Chrysler FLO TV

Starting in late December, customers of Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge, and the new Ram Truck brand, will be able to watch many of their favorite TV programs while on the road thanks to a dealer-installed mobile TV option from the company’s accessories division, Mopar.

Dubbed FLO TV Auto Entertainment, the new system will offer as many as 20 channels and is the first of its kind for a domestic automaker. Some of the channels will include CBS Mobile, CNBC, Comedy Central, FOX News, MSNBC, MTV, NBC 2Go and Nickelodeon.

A small antenna, similar in size to a laptop mouse, is mounted on a vehicle's roof to deliver the digital TV signal. Inside the vehicle, the receiver and wiring are installed under the interior trim of the vehicle and are not visible to occupants. Signals are then displayed on the vehicle’s navigation screen or a soon-to-be released headrest or seat-top DVD entertainment system.

Until now, the challenge for mobile TV has been to deliver high-quality, uninterrupted coverage in urban environments and at highway speeds. Existing mobile TV systems in the U.S. either offer limited channels or require large satellite dishes on vehicle roofs--and a large price tag to match.

Mopar's suggested retail price is $629, plus installation. A one-year pre-paid FLO TV service subscription is included with installation.

[Chrysler]