Cadillac first to offer satellite TV

April 20, 2005

If you're one of the few people who watch any of the endless TV shows about customizing your car, you probably know that putting a system capable of receiving television is pretty much de riguer these days.

To date, such systems have pretty much been the preserve of creative aftermarket stores. But recent days have seen plans from bigger firms to make TVs available for rear seat passengers, and now comes a plan from Cadillac to have the work done in dealerships.

So, starting soon, Cadillac dealers in the U.S. and possible Canada (these things are always flexible) will be able to attach the TracVision A5 satellite TV service from KVH Industries with DIRECTV programming in Escalades. The large SUV has been chosen at least in part because it's big enough to carry the satellite receiver.

KVH has been offering these kinds of systems for some time, primarily as an aftermarket item on the roves of RVs and the like.

For those keeping score, that makes GM's luxury car division the first automotive brand to offer live satellite TV (as opposed to pre-recorded DVDs or VHS tapes) as an accessory through an authorized dealer.

TracVision A5 was the winner of the 2004 General Motors Most Innovative Product Design Award and provides in-motion reception of more than 135 channels of live, satellite TV programming from DIRECTV, Inc., in vehicles traveling on open roads throughout the continental United States and the southern parts of Canada.

The decision to do this was made in part by a Canadian native, namely Jim Taylor, the general manager of Cadillac who started out life in Peterborough, Ontario. ''Vehicle personalization is very important to Cadillac customers,'' notes Taylor, and ''the TracVision satellite TV system offers our customers the ultimate rear seat entertainment system. We've shown the TracVision to our top dealers and they told us loud and clear that they want this kind of high-end accessory to enhance the appeal of the Escalade.''

The suggested retail price for the Cadillac package is US,695, which includes a custom installation kit for Escalades as well as an a multi-year warranty. Interested consumers should check the website at www.tracvision.com for more details of the system.

Speaking about this new offer, KVH president and CEO Martin Kits van Heyningen, says there's more to working with Cadillac than the honor of the connection with ''the gold standard for American luxury vehicles, with the Cadillac Escalade leading the way.'' Specifically, this program is ''a major milestone in our overall plans to widely offer satellite TV to the light vehicle market.''

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