Audacy HD Cuts Reach Boston

[Least]

Made little sense to have WAAF on two HD-2 stations. With the all-Christmas station on WMJX-HD2, I question how much of an audience it gained during the Christmas season, when the normal format moved to HD-2.

I still stand by my statement that HD was too late to launch, and that streaming is much superior distribution method over HD. Had HD been 10 years earlier to launch (had the technology existed then), I could have seen more niche content being successful on HD. By the time it came out, listening methods were already going through transition, so there was little need for listeners to adopt it. Go out and buy a new car, at a higher trim, that includes HD Radio, or just stream the same content? Then, either have to buy a portable unit, or install the Audacy app on my phone?

 

[Wimmmex]

Go out and buy a new car, at a higher trim, that includes HD Radio,

My last two cars had HD as a stock item.
I imagine many don't have to purchase the "higher trim" to get HD.
For most, it's not an "extra" that you have to pay for.

Toyota CEO Jon Kirchner announced that Toyota had committed to including HD Radio as standard equipment on virtually all of its vehicles.

 

[johnster]

There is more than just audio. iHeartMedia HD Radio Data Services for Traffic and Weather - PILOT

 

[raccoonradio]

Streaming attracting more listeners. HD stands for Hybrid Digital not High Definition (though audio a bit better). As was said, having stations like Irish 96.9 and Mojo Blues was nice but couldn't sell ads--people didn't want or couldn't find the radios and no listeners is no ad sales.
"Free! No monthly fees like satellite radio."

But streaming in cars can get all sorts of content. Yes can use data but most people may not mind.
"I want to hear WRKO but the signal fades at night, there's thunderstorm or power line interference."
Option A: Streaming on tunein etc
Option B: WZLX HD2 (the HD3 is Talk1200)

And the HD signal only covers a certain area.
(Some streaming is confined to a certain area, admittedly...)
"I love WCRB but can't get signal too well:
Option A: Streaming
Option B: WGBH HD2

There's the thing about a format being pulled but "that's ok, listeners, we stuck it on an HD2..."

iHeart hasn't put Black Information Network on a regular AM or FM signal but it is on 94.5 HD2,, for those with HD radios.
Was going up the FM dial on my HD portable and did notice the various subchannels--Beasley does have sports hub content on 98.5 HD2.
GBH has WCAI from the Cape on HD3.
In some cities they have or HAD some interesting choices. Driving a rental in Pittsburgh I heard one station, maybe WWSW or Bob 96.9, with hits of 80s, 70s, and 60s on different HDs. KDKA AM and WJAS, both talk, were on FM translators as well--and I think KDKA AM at least is on an HD2 (for sister KDKA FM I believe).

I'd think most out there would prefer the FM translator or streaming to any HD2 simulcast.

Streaming can insert local ads. I was in eastern PA and had Howie on the WRKO stream. Ad break had things like "IRS job fair--for more info, call 215-..."
That's a Philly area code.

In Scranton-Wilkes-Barre area the station ID
for WILK NewsRadio also mentions simulcast stations WAAF and WODS
(Both on AM)
Ah,streaming--out near Pitt was driving (own car not rental) and took a local friend to dinner--on the way we enjoyed Ben on WMEX

 

[Least]

My last two cars had HD as a stock item.
I imagine many don't have to purchase the "higher trim" to get HD.
For most, it's not an "extra" that you have to pay for.

Toyota CEO Jon Kirchner announced that Toyota had committed to including HD Radio as standard equipment on virtually all of its vehicles.

We discussed this in past threads, and I remember your citations. Despite the commitment from companies, HD Radio is still not standard across all cars. The same as Satellite Radio isn't standard in all cars. Where you cite Toyota, I know that currently it's competitor, Honda, requires the customer to buy a higher trim. Yet, Bluetooth is standard across all models, and one can use Bluetooth to stream an HD station through a company's app.

That's how I personally listen to Satellite. My radio (older 2019 model) only has AM/FM and Bluetooth. So, I stream SiriusXM through my phone. I used to stream out-of-market stations through iHeart's and Audacy's apps, before getting offered $5 a month for two years.

 

[raccoonradio]

My '19 car has XM--got free trial and decided to keep--and bluetooth. In addition there's an aux jack and a feature called Android Auto (and a similar Apple feature) where I plug adapter into power and can play my phone (Audible, streaming etc) through stereo plus use Waze GPS on the screen. This happens if phone is paired.
I guess it's done by Google

 

[Wimmmex]

Despite the commitment from companies, HD Radio is still not standard across all cars. The same as Satellite Radio isn't standard in all cars. Where you cite Toyota, I know that currently it's competitor, Honda, requires the customer to buy a higher trim.

Whatever the "trim"....the reality is that most new cars come with HD. And most don't require any conscious decision by the purchaser

More Than Half Of New Cars Now Equipped With HD Radio.​

(And that was 3 years ago.)

 

[AbrahamJSimpson]

Whatever the "trim"....the reality is that most new cars come with HD. And most don't require any conscious decision by the purchaser

More Than Half Of New Cars Now Equipped With HD Radio.​

(And that was 3 years ago.)

That can also change in three years. My wife's car a few years ago came with HD. Accessing it, to put it bluntly, sucks. If there's such a thing the the complete opposite of user-friendly, it's that. It's user-hostile. And I'm comfortable with technology.

I'm not sure why it's hard to accept HD never caught on and never will. It had listenership you could (proverbially) count on your fingers. There's no way to monetize that, and it hurts nothing to drop it.

 

[kevtronics]

Chip shortages caused a lot of automakers to drop HD Radio from their new vehicles, and I don't know if it has returned. And even in vehicles which were equipped with it, HD Radio and RDS were often both disabled by default, requiring the user to go into a settings menu to manually enable them. (That is also true with AM on some new car radios -- it's still there, but disabled by default.)

 

[Wimmmex]

in vehicles which were equipped with it, HD Radio and RDS were often both disabled by default, requiring the user to go into a settings menu to manually enable them.

I have seen the ability to turn it on or off.....but every car I've experienced HD radio (friends family, my own), it has always been "on" by default.

I'm not sure why it's hard to accept HD never caught on and never will.

Not sure what "caught on" represents. No one thought it would overtake or replace analog broadcasts.

It's an ancillary service, if you like it, you can use it. If you don't,....don't.

It is what it is...and the technology (adding streaming digital data into an over the air signal) is here to stay.

 

[Least]

Whatever the "trim"....the reality is that most new cars come with HD. And most don't require any conscious decision by the purchaser

More Than Half Of New Cars Now Equipped With HD Radio.​

(And that was 3 years ago.)

That doesn't equate to all new cars. Others brought up chip shortages as one variable that will contribute to all cars not having HD Radio. So now, we have to say that everyone has 2022 or 2023 releases of their cars. Then, we need to say everyone has a model and trim that includes HD Radio.

I saw that you put trim in quotes. Is that due you quoting my word, as in you understand that each car make and model comes with separate packages (called trim), or are you not accounting for these differences?

Since I own it, I'll use the Ridgeline as an example. The lowest trim is the 2wd basic package (I don't know what it's exactly called). Above that is the Sport edition (which is what I have). That's basically the most performance in the engine, AWD, but cloth seating, no mechanical open rear window, no sun roof, no LED headlights, and basic AM/FM radio with standard Bluetooth. Above that is the trim that adds AM/FM/HD/Satellite Radio with the touch panel and built-in navigation.

Where some automakers are making that now standard, all have not as of yet. And that's the issue. You buy a car, and you can find Kiss 108, 98.5 The Sports Hub, or Hot 96.9. In order to get WAAF via HD Radio, I need to search for a car/truck I want, then for a trim that includes HD Radio. However, I can buy any modern car I want and stream it via Bluetooth. That's why HD is failing. It's not 100% available everywhere, and anyone wanting access can get the content anywhere for the price of a cellphone and plan.

 

[Larry]

Not owning a car I’m curious about experiences continually streaming while driving. I have taken Amtrak from Philly to Pittsburgh and had stretches where I couldn’t access cell phone data because of how rural or isolated the particular stretch was. Does our vast highway system have data (not even wifi but just data) available on 99% of the highways?

 

[Least]

Not owning a car I’m curious about experiences continually streaming while driving. I have taken Amtrak from Philly to Pittsburgh and had stretches where I couldn’t access cell phone data because of how rural or isolated the particular stretch was. Does our vast highway system have data (not even wifi but just data) available on 99% of the highways?

It depends on your plan. I was a big advocate for downloading podcasts and having music saved to my phone, when I had a 2GB a month limit. My wife went from Android to iPhone, and when she did, we upgraded to unlimited data. Family plan with four phones for just under $200 a month. I'm in the suburbs and urban area. So, for me streaming works fine. I did drive from New Hampshire to Miami back in December. We had no issue taking 95 all the way down, streaming SiriusXM. My kids also watched movies off Netflix and HBO Max, on that drive. I can't speak for your area. Last time I was in Pennsylvania was in 2017, on my way to Nashville. Back then, we used XM in my wife's minivan.

 

[davideduardo]

Streaming attracting more listeners. HD stands for Hybrid Digital not High Definition (though audio a bit better).

Actually, if you talked with the folks who developed and marketed "HD Radio" such as Bob Struble of iBiquity when they were rolling out the technology, they will tell you that "HD" means nothing. They looked for a term that sounded like digital, such as CD recordings, and made it up to sound high tech.

As was said, having stations like Irish 96.9 and Mojo Blues was nice but couldn't sell ads--people didn't want or couldn't find the radios and no listeners is no ad sales.
"Free! No monthly fees like satellite radio."

And HD was intended to counter the threat of satellite radio. The terrestrial radio industry was very afraid of the upcoming launch of satellite, and the big radio groups even invested in iBiquity as part of its earlier seed capital phase.

In some cities they have or HAD some interesting choices. Driving a rental in Pittsburgh I heard one station, maybe WWSW or Bob 96.9, with hits of 80s, 70s, and 60s on different HDs. KDKA AM and WJAS, both talk, were on FM translators as well--and I think KDKA AM at least is on an HD2 (for sister KDKA FM I believe).

And in markets like New York and LA, we have HDs in Persian, Russian, Armenian and a bunch of other languages. Since those groups have few alternative services, they do buy radios with HD. Those operators are often asked why they don't stream instead, and the answer is an explanation of how they can not make money streaming if they are doing predominantly music-based formats due to licensing fees.

 

[kevtronics]

I have seen the ability to turn it on or off.....but every car I've experienced HD radio (friends family, my own), it has always been "on" by default.

I had a brand new VW Tiguan SUV (with like 10 miles on it) as a service loaner, and unless someone at the dealer hated it so much they turned it off, it came with HD Radio disabled from the factory.

 

[Wimmmex]

That doesn't equate to all new cars.

No, it equates to what it says. Most New Cars Now Equipped With HD Radio.

 

[KeithE4]

No, it equates to what it says. Most New Cars Now Equipped With HD Radio.

Most, but not all. I'm renting a 2022 Chevy Malibu while my van is in the shop. It has SXM but not HD. I have SXM in my van as well, but have never used or needed it. AM, FM, and streaming are all I need. If I'm in a rural area away from cell signals, I also have my music library on my phone.

Satellite radio is a waste of time for me, but I listen to a couple of HD2 stations at home enough to justify buying a radio with it. But since most of those I listen to are AM sports stations, I don't need HD in my van.

 

[Wimmmex]

Most, but not all.

No one said all...the article said most.

 

[Least]

No, it equates to what it says. Most New Cars Now Equipped With HD Radio.

Most is not all; yet, streaming is an option in all via bluetooth. You get the same content via both platforms. If I want to listen to BiN, I can listen on 94.5-2, or I can stream it. Currently, streaming is showing to garner more listeners than HD. Additionally, most is a subjective term when it comes to this topic. If I'm deciding whether to pay and keep an HD station running, I'm not going off the deduction of "most." I would want numbers. Companies are cutting HD stations, and that is a sign that they don't share your conclusion.

My wondering is your investing into specifically HD. The content on HD is still widely available, just more widely available via streaming, due to a larger possible install base.

 

[Wimmmex]

Most is not all;

No one said all.

My wondering is your investing into specifically HD

No one is "investing" in HD. It comes with most new cars.