ABC Announces New Free Alarm Clock App for iPhone
By: Caryn Robbins May. 24, 2012
The first alarm clock app from a TV station group launches today in Houston as the ABC Owned Television Stations Group begins the rollout of its new iPhone and iPod touch alarm clock apps. These new apps offer a wide range of features, including the latest headlines, current weather conditions, live radar and traffic reports. This unique product also offers users a variety of tones from which to choose, including custom wake-up tracks from their favorite anchors. The Alarm Clock app, available free through the iTunes Store, was announced today by Carla Carpenter, senior vice president, Digital Media, ABC Owned Television Stations Group.
The Alarm Clock app, branded locally from each ABC-owned TV station, debuts today in Houston as KTRK-TV's "ABC13 Houston Alarm Clock." The other seven ABC-owned TV stations - WABC-TV in New York, KABC-TV in Los Angeles, WLS-TV in Chicago, WPVI-TV in Philadelphia, KGO-TV in San Francisco, WTVD-TV in Raleigh-Durham and KFSN-TV in Fresno -- will each roll out an alarm app for their communities over the next few weeks. In addition to waking up users, the Alarm Clock app is designed to provide users with a quick and easy first look at the most important news, weather and traffic information to get them started with their day.
"This all-in-one Alarm Clock app represents the ABC Owned Television Stations Group's commitment to provide our communities with the most up-to-date news, weather and traffic information when they wake up and throughout the day," said Ms. Carpenter. "The Alarm Clock app is ideal for the growing numbers who turn to the small screens of an iPhone or an iPod touch first thing in the morning for news and information. This makes the trusted content gathered by our top-rated stations even more accessible to the people we serve."
The free app offers three different categories of wake-up options. Users can choose custom tracks recorded by the stations' on-air talent or can select from a variety of alarm tones, ranging from a traditional alarm tone to a waterfall or even a rooster crowing. Users can also choose to wake up to music by selecting a favorite song from their personal iTunes libraries.
In addition to offering the latest headlines, weather information and traffic reports, the Alarm Clock apps will allow users to check out animated local radar, local forecast videos, and daily, hourly and extended forecasts.
"We focused heavily on two things: the core features required in a great alarm app and the primary goals of our users," said Troy Dennis, vice president, Technology & Product Development, ABC Owned Television Stations Group. "We combined our best local content with the industry-leading features of iPhone and iPod touch to deliver a feature-rich alarm app that gives our local users exactly what they are looking for - first thing in the morning."
The ABC-owned TV station alarm clock apps were designed and developed by the ABC Owned Television Stations Group's Digital unit in conjunction with the Disney/ABC Television Digital group led by Albert Cheng, Executive Vice President & Chief Product Officer, Digital Media.
In addition to waking up users, the Alarm Clock apps can also be used throughout the day and night for a quick glance at the latest news, weather and traffic. The app content will be constantly updated.
The ABC13 Houston Alarm Clock App is available for free from the App Store on iPhone and iPod touch or at www.itunes.com/appstore<http://www.itunes.com/appstore>. Then search "ABC13 Houston Alarm Clock."
The other locally customized iPhone and iPod touch apps available within the next few weeks include:
* ABC7 New York Alarm Clock
* ABC7 Los Angeles Alarm Clock
* ABC7Chicago Alarm Clock
* 6abc Philadelphia Alarm Clock
* ABC7 News San Francisco Alarm Clock
* ABC11 Raleigh-Durham Alarm Clock
* ABC30 Fresno Alarm Clock
About the ABC Owned Television Stations Group
The ABC Owned Television Stations Group includes the broadcast and digital services of eight stations: WABC-TV New York, KABC-TV Los Angeles, WLS-TV Chicago, WPVI-TV Philadelphia, KGO-TV San Francisco, KTRK-TV Houston, WTVD-TV Raleigh-Durham and KFSN-TV Fresno. Among other Group businesses are ABC National Television Sales, a sales representation unit for the owned stations as well as outside clients, and the Live Well Network, a broadcast, online and wireless programming service for digital channels in local markets.
Comments
Videos