Pelmorex Media Inc. Acquires Beat The Traffic

Pelmorex Media Inc., the Canadian parent company of The Weather Network and MétéoMédia, has acquired Beat the Traffic. Based in Santa Clara, Calif., Beat the Traffic is a provider of vehicle traffic reporting solutions for broadcast media and consumers. Following the acquisition,  Pelmorex said it will launch Travelers Network in late October. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

“It’s an exciting day for Pelmorex Media as we launch our traveler information service and add key resources to our Travelers Network team,” said Pierre Morrissette, Pelmorex chairman-CEO. “The expansion of our services demonstrates our continued commitment to providing consumers with detailed, real-time information that they’ve come to expect from us over the past 23 years and reinforces our position as a leading multi-platform media service.”

The acquisition of Beat the Traffic, Pelmorex said, gives it “access to technology and patents that will enhance the services provided by Travelers Network.”

“We are anxious to add to this significant international customer base as we invest further in product and market development initiatives,” Morrissette added.

“We are very excited to join the Pelmorex family; Pelmorex is an innovator and leader in weather and traveler-related information services. Its vision of helping consumers’ plan for anything aligns perfectly with the tools and technology that Beat the Traffic consumers depend on,” said Andre Gueziec, founder of Beat the Traffic. “Personally, I am very excited to be joining Travelers Network in the new position of director, research and development, and to work together to enhance existing services and develop innovative solutions for the travelers market.”

Pelmorex said Travelers Network will continue to invest in and grow the existing Beat the Traffic technology and consumer base while establishing its Canadian service, which will initially launch as a website (http://www.travelersnetwork.com) and iPhone application providing real-time traffic and routing information for all Canadians in both official languages. Travelers Network will have a dedicated team of travel experts for the Greater Toronto Area reviewing, validating and updating all traffic and travel data in real time, providing the most up to date information. Pelmorex Media then plans to roll out dedicated traffic desks to more cities across North America over time. Additional smartphone and tablet applications will also be introduced to provide broad market access.

Travelers Network will be established as its own division, but will also work in tandem with The Weather Network and MétéoMédia to provide updated travel-related information for all of their platforms.