It's known as broadcast datacasting - the distribution of data using digital television - and it's showing promise for the National Weather Service as an alternative means of getting the word out.

According to a report on the tvtechnology.com website, the NWS is working with the broadcast datacasting specialist Spectra Rep, to evaluate how the technology can provide a redundant pathway for delivering NOAA weather audio and other data during emergencies.

The transmitted data would be undetected by viewers, according to the SpectraRep website.

Broadcast datacasting has been around for quite some time and originated with closed captioning that appears on many TV screens. Broadcast datacasting is also in some European countries although European TV employs different systems than those used in the US, such as Digital Video Broadcasting and Digital Audio Broadcasting.

NOAA said that the research will help strengthen Weather Radio and broaden access to its information across the country.