TV5 partners with Waze

MANILA, Philippines - Waze has become a byword among netizens when it comes to coping with Metro Manila’s notorious traffic. TV5 Network is extending Waze’s use to the general public through its strategic partnership with the crowd-sourced navigation app to help Pinoys save not only time but prevent frayed nerves on their daily drive.

The main platform for bringing Waze to the general public is TV5’s news program, Aksyon: Aksyon sa Umaga (mornings at 5 a.m.), and Aksyon Prime (evenings at 6 p.m.). The primetime and late-night editions of the newscast are both simulcast on radio through 92.3 News FM in Mega Manila and its provincial Radyo5 stations nationwide. With the Waze app, Aksyon viewers would be seeing traffic reports in real time based on constantly changing road conditions such as heavy traffic or accidents, especially in the Metro Manila area with its reputation for having one of the worst vehicle congested streets in the world. The users are provided with the fastest routes, lowest gas price alerts, slow-downs, collisions, weather conditions and other details beneficial for those always on the road.

What makes this possible for TV5 are the interactive map optimized for broadcast, the embedded Waze live map and the Waze team engagement feature where viewers connect with the station through their Waze app to share live updates, photos and reports directly to the network’s traffic department. The network is also proud to use the newest version, Waze 4.0, that shows easier-to-read map, cleaner look catered to driving-mode with faster visual reporting menu and color-coded reports and alerts, so one can instantly recognize the map. Voyager Innovations, Inc., the digital innovations arm of PLDT and its wireless unit, Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart) will serve as a critical partner, working with Waze in technology integration and exchanges of map data.

“Waze is one of the most innovative and fast-rising mobile apps in the world and we’re proud to make this available to our subscribers. With our fast-growing smartphone subscriber base, Waze is an exciting addition to the growing number of Smart and Sun’s leading global mobile apps partners,” said Orlando Vea, Smart chief wireless advisor and president and CEO of Voyager Innovations.

For his part, TV5 president and CEO Noel Lorenzana welcomes Waze coming into the network’s News and Public Affairs offering to the public. “We are most enthusiastic about this partnership that will provide practical and immediate solutions to our suffering commuters. We would like to encourage the public to participate in this crowd-sourcing program in helping alleviate the worsening traffic situation in Metro Manila.”