WRAL just got a little more connected.
Technology is constantly evolving and changing the way news is consumed, and WRAL is staying on the leading edge of this evolution with its integration into Amazon’s Echo platform.
Amazon Echo is a hands-free, always-on speaker that responds to voice commands, and delivers information requested by the user through interaction with Amazon’s voice service, Alexa.
Much like Apple’s “Siri” and Google’s “OK, Google,” Alexa is a cloud-based virtual personal assistant that provides voice feedback to user interaction.
Among its features is automating a home’s connected devices, ordering necessities from Amazon.com, hailing an Uber, ordering pizza, playing music, setting a timer or alarm, checking the time, providing weather and traffic updates, and reading the news.
More than 65 percent of Echo users have asked Alexa to read the news. Now, for the first time, the news will be localized for Echo owners in the WRAL viewing area.
By simply adding WRAL to Echo’s Flash Briefing, users can hear the latest headlines read by WRAL’s anchors and reporters. Echo users can also enable the WRAL skill, which offers even more content, including weather updates from WRAL’s team of expert meteorologists.
“We are excited to offer WRAL News on Amazon’s Echo platform and other Alexa-enabled devices,” said Jake Seaton, digital product manager for WRAL.com. “This is new territory for everyone, and we think that the growing user base here in the Triangle will find value in on-demand access to the local news they know and trust.”
To access WRAL news and weather, user can simply say: “Alexa, enable WRAL.” Echo owners also can use the Alexa app on their smartphone or tablet to enable content from WRAL. Tap Skills from the main menu, search for WRAL and enable the skill.
Once the WRAL skill has been enabled, users can say, “Alexa, open WRAL,” or “Alexa, ask WRAL for the weather,” or “Alexa, ask WRAL for my news.”
To enable WRAL news headlines as part of Echo’s Flash Briefing, open Settings from the left sidebar in the Alexa app, tap Flash Briefing, tap Get more Flash Briefing content and search for WRAL. Once enabled, Echo owners can get WRAL News by asking, “Alexa, what’s my flash briefing?” or “Alexa, what’s new?”
Alexa is built into the Amazon Echo, Echo Dot, Amazon Tap, Fire TV (second generation), Fire HD 8 tablet and Triby, a portable smart speaker and message board.
According to survey of nearly 1,300 consumers, Alexa scored higher on satisfaction with its voice recognition technology than both Siri and OK Google.
About CBC New Media
Locally owned and operated by Capitol Broadcasting Company, Inc., headquartered in Raleigh, NC, CBC New Media Group, LLC builds and operates digital news and information platforms. The company delivers rich, locally-oriented content and sales and marketing solutions on desktop browsers, tablets and mobile phones.
The flagship property, WRAL.com, delivers more than 100 million page views to more than 4 million unique visitors each month. Local and international news, up-to-date weather, sports, business, traffic and entertainment. The site has one of the highest market penetration rates among all media sites in the country, reaching more than half of adults at least once a month.
Learn more at https://capitolbroadcasting.com/divisions/digital-media/cbc-new-media-group/.
Thanks to NMG’s Laura Worthington for this capcom story & for these capcom graphics.