“The FMExtra, SCA and Ibiquity Challenge” results
Hey everybody..
The Contest deadline has passed and It’s time to examine the results of …
“The FMExtra, SCA and Ibiquity Challenge”.
Before we do, perhaps we should recap the actual challenge. (not to be confused with what several people on this board have alleged IS the actual challenge)
It was…
QUOTE…
Here's my proposal to anyone. If you can point me to a real solution to convert my tenant, I'll salute you "On Air - Main Channel" for :30 seconds, every hour for an entire year. In fact, I'll even give you "Creative control" of the :30 seconds. (FCC rules must apply). Don't get too horny here. Paid rate for this airtime would be "New Midsized car" if you could sell the entire day ALL YEAR at full rate. More like "Used Honda Helix" for a real cash contract. (Assuming you could get one.) Still, you would have 30 secs an hour to proclaim "See Clouseau, I told you so" to Clouseau's world."
Now contrary to some people's belief on this forum, I'm not a moron. Nor do I necessarily believe any of the posters here are morons (Though some of you really try). But I DO believe that Ibiquity's version of HD is going to be the FM "Law of the land" in a couple of months. And if you really can provide a reasonable alternative in January of 2007 LET ME HEAR IT! I'll do it and you can proclaim on the airwaves that "Clouseau is an idiot!!" Not a bad offer since I'd be buying the electricity and you'd be on my station. Obviously, I would report this to Radio World and the like. You could be famous. Here's what we will need...
1) Now Available Transmission stuff. If I read this correctly, this is available from DRE for a little under $10k. I can go $15K if needed.
2) A (Mass Produced) working receiver available in quantity one quantities up to 1000. That means I DON't have to contract to have them made. I need to be able to buy them "Off the Shelf" and offer them to listeners. I'd like to keep the price to $199.99 or less. (If you find an easy solution with a slightly higher price tag I'm listening.) Right now I'm pricing HD FM at $199.99. I need an equivalent.
3) Client must agree. (I'm pretty sure a reasonable alternative will work)
Any takers? Beat me up. Post the Google trends garbage. Tell me I'm condescending when I describe a legitimate section of the population. You'll never see an offer like this again . As we used to stay on the afternoon show...
Stack me
Rack me,
But don't let AJ whack me.
I'm out!!
Clouseau
PS This is an honest and legit offer. I'll adopt this today if there is an answer. I don't think there is, but I'd really LOVE to be wrong. (Can you imagine how cool this story would be for the winner AND ME 5 years from now??)
This offer expires Feb 28th, 2007. Poster 's decisions final. No cash value implied. No purchase necessary. Loopholes excluded. Void where prohibited. Licensed Drives only (OK NOT THAT ONE) Etc...etc...Blah Blah blah
“End of Quote”
So let’s evaluate the results. First off let me say that there was exactly “ONE” entrant. That is… ONE person said “I accept the challenge, and will meet it”. That’s Supercaster. I salute you SC. While your response of “[email protected]” was pretty weak, It DID get the job done. You awakened the lion and got a lot of Movers and Shakers involved in the challenge. And unlike a lot of you (SC included I would suspect), I now own an FMExtra radio. I’ll review it in the near future. But that’s not why you’re reading this. (Or maybe it is, but…)
Before I go on let me say that the FMExtra folks have been very accommodating and a bunch of good sports. My tiny foray into contesting put me between their living and my fun. They rose to the occasion and made sure we were straight and fair. I respect that. IMHO they and Bext got me priority placement on delivery of my FMExtra radio. Maybe not, but it seemed like it to me. I won’t forget that. I also had a nice discussion with the rep from Energy-Onix. Truly a passionate and well informed guy. The FMExtra sales team have a good product and good people. In fact let me say…
All things equal.. FMExtra is a superior system than Ibiquity’s HD..
Unfortunately, all things are NOT even close to equal.
Here’s the Line by line results.
The challenge was 3 parts…
1) “Now Available Transmission stuff. If I read this correctly, this is available from DRE for a little under $10k. I can go $15K if needed.”
It is available and I was told it could ship “Almost overnight”. Thanks to Tino at Bext for the help on this. Clearly every FM station is less than a week and $11K from transmitting FMExtra. (This includes EVERYTHING not just the main box… Sales reps were VERY helpful in setting me straight on how to do it. Hat’s off to the FMExtra family. GOOD JOB.)
Judges evaluation – PASSED.
2) A (Mass Produced) working receiver available in quantity one quantities up to 1000. That means “I Don't have to contract to have them made. I need to be able to buy them "Off the Shelf" and offer them to listeners.” I'd like to keep the price to $199.99 or less. (If you find an easy solution with a slightly higher price tag I'm listening.) Right now I'm pricing HD FM at $199.99. I need an equivalent.
This one is tough. First some background. I ordered ONE radio. From Bext. In the box I received a note which stated basically that the antennas are on back order from the manufacturer. It also stated that “The antenna will be shipped to you when it is available”. While being a hard ass, clearly what they offer as a product is not yet totally available. It’s shipping less a part, but is not yet “AVAILABLE”. I have trouble with this I also was led to believe that 1000 units would be possible in “A few weeks”. While our judges declare that quantity 1000 was NOT available by 2/28/07, it MIGHT well be available in the near future, These folks are “Kickin A## and takin’ names.” They missed my deadline, but I suspect they won’t miss yours. If we’d have done this challenge a month or so later, it would have passed #2. Un fortunately, IT DIDN’T. IN fairness, Lacking the desire to place an order for almost $200,000 I did not place an order. Indications were it would not be ready by 2/28/07.
Judges evaluation – FAILED. (By a couple of weeks)
3) Client must agree. (I'm pretty sure a reasonable alternative will work)
WOW did I underestimate the resistance to change from my SCA folks.
Our station may have the smallest SCA base ever. My client states they have 88 signed up users. His math is a cost of over $17,000+ to convert. Not only did he not agree to try and migrate, he alluded to legal action if we DID change to FMExtra (On behalf of his listeners.)
Based on our contract, I determined “he can get bent”. Still, He ain’t happy and does NOT agree. I sold the fidelity, even threw in an extra channel as well. NO SALE!! Clearly this does not work for him.
Judges evaluation – FAILED.
Based on the above results, “The FMExtra, SCA and Ibiquity Challenge” did not pass.
Sorry – Judges have ruled. There is no winner. This contest is over.
Now a personal note….
The challenge was not met “based on a few technicalities”. They are legit technicalities, which made the challenge not met, but it strikes me that the Clouseau “Listener base” isn’t going to like this result. So we’re going to do a “Consolation prize”.
On Tuesday March 6th, just after 9:00 AM Central, I will post a “Canadian Style Skill testing” Question. (Otherwise known as a legal workaround”). If you know what this is, you can relax. If you don’’t, don’t sweat it. I don’t think anyone has ever gotten one of these wrong.
The first correct response in a radio info personal message to “Clouseau” will receive their choice of digital radios. Either a Radio Shack Accurian HD radio from Radio Shack.com or an FMExtra from Bext, Inc.
Now the technicalities.
Obviously I need to have a real name and address to ship the prize. I will not pass your identity on to any one else aside from those necessary to deliver the prize. Should your prize become “Unavailable” due to unforeseen circumstances, the maximum liability to “Clouseau” will be $200.00. Duplicate prizes will not be awarded. Should there be a “Tie” a random drawing will determine a single winner. Taxes are the responsibility of the winner. Clouseau’s decision is final…. Blah Blah blah
One other note. If I’m going to give away $200 worth of my cash, I’m not giving it to mean people. It’s not happening. Supercaster and Cal Stymes are not eligible for this consolation prize. Their consolation was calling out my sincerity in a thread that was righteously deleted by the mods just after I read it. Sorry guys. You crossed the line and were put in timeout. You already had your consolation. Someone else will get the radio…
To everyone else…
Watch at the appointed time and good luck!!!
Clouseau
Hey everybody..
The Contest deadline has passed and It’s time to examine the results of …
“The FMExtra, SCA and Ibiquity Challenge”.
Before we do, perhaps we should recap the actual challenge. (not to be confused with what several people on this board have alleged IS the actual challenge)
It was…
QUOTE…
Here's my proposal to anyone. If you can point me to a real solution to convert my tenant, I'll salute you "On Air - Main Channel" for :30 seconds, every hour for an entire year. In fact, I'll even give you "Creative control" of the :30 seconds. (FCC rules must apply). Don't get too horny here. Paid rate for this airtime would be "New Midsized car" if you could sell the entire day ALL YEAR at full rate. More like "Used Honda Helix" for a real cash contract. (Assuming you could get one.) Still, you would have 30 secs an hour to proclaim "See Clouseau, I told you so" to Clouseau's world."
Now contrary to some people's belief on this forum, I'm not a moron. Nor do I necessarily believe any of the posters here are morons (Though some of you really try). But I DO believe that Ibiquity's version of HD is going to be the FM "Law of the land" in a couple of months. And if you really can provide a reasonable alternative in January of 2007 LET ME HEAR IT! I'll do it and you can proclaim on the airwaves that "Clouseau is an idiot!!" Not a bad offer since I'd be buying the electricity and you'd be on my station. Obviously, I would report this to Radio World and the like. You could be famous. Here's what we will need...
1) Now Available Transmission stuff. If I read this correctly, this is available from DRE for a little under $10k. I can go $15K if needed.
2) A (Mass Produced) working receiver available in quantity one quantities up to 1000. That means I DON't have to contract to have them made. I need to be able to buy them "Off the Shelf" and offer them to listeners. I'd like to keep the price to $199.99 or less. (If you find an easy solution with a slightly higher price tag I'm listening.) Right now I'm pricing HD FM at $199.99. I need an equivalent.
3) Client must agree. (I'm pretty sure a reasonable alternative will work)
Any takers? Beat me up. Post the Google trends garbage. Tell me I'm condescending when I describe a legitimate section of the population. You'll never see an offer like this again . As we used to stay on the afternoon show...
Stack me
Rack me,
But don't let AJ whack me.
I'm out!!
Clouseau
PS This is an honest and legit offer. I'll adopt this today if there is an answer. I don't think there is, but I'd really LOVE to be wrong. (Can you imagine how cool this story would be for the winner AND ME 5 years from now??)
This offer expires Feb 28th, 2007. Poster 's decisions final. No cash value implied. No purchase necessary. Loopholes excluded. Void where prohibited. Licensed Drives only (OK NOT THAT ONE) Etc...etc...Blah Blah blah
“End of Quote”
So let’s evaluate the results. First off let me say that there was exactly “ONE” entrant. That is… ONE person said “I accept the challenge, and will meet it”. That’s Supercaster. I salute you SC. While your response of “[email protected]” was pretty weak, It DID get the job done. You awakened the lion and got a lot of Movers and Shakers involved in the challenge. And unlike a lot of you (SC included I would suspect), I now own an FMExtra radio. I’ll review it in the near future. But that’s not why you’re reading this. (Or maybe it is, but…)
Before I go on let me say that the FMExtra folks have been very accommodating and a bunch of good sports. My tiny foray into contesting put me between their living and my fun. They rose to the occasion and made sure we were straight and fair. I respect that. IMHO they and Bext got me priority placement on delivery of my FMExtra radio. Maybe not, but it seemed like it to me. I won’t forget that. I also had a nice discussion with the rep from Energy-Onix. Truly a passionate and well informed guy. The FMExtra sales team have a good product and good people. In fact let me say…
All things equal.. FMExtra is a superior system than Ibiquity’s HD..
Unfortunately, all things are NOT even close to equal.
Here’s the Line by line results.
The challenge was 3 parts…
1) “Now Available Transmission stuff. If I read this correctly, this is available from DRE for a little under $10k. I can go $15K if needed.”
It is available and I was told it could ship “Almost overnight”. Thanks to Tino at Bext for the help on this. Clearly every FM station is less than a week and $11K from transmitting FMExtra. (This includes EVERYTHING not just the main box… Sales reps were VERY helpful in setting me straight on how to do it. Hat’s off to the FMExtra family. GOOD JOB.)
Judges evaluation – PASSED.
2) A (Mass Produced) working receiver available in quantity one quantities up to 1000. That means “I Don't have to contract to have them made. I need to be able to buy them "Off the Shelf" and offer them to listeners.” I'd like to keep the price to $199.99 or less. (If you find an easy solution with a slightly higher price tag I'm listening.) Right now I'm pricing HD FM at $199.99. I need an equivalent.
This one is tough. First some background. I ordered ONE radio. From Bext. In the box I received a note which stated basically that the antennas are on back order from the manufacturer. It also stated that “The antenna will be shipped to you when it is available”. While being a hard ass, clearly what they offer as a product is not yet totally available. It’s shipping less a part, but is not yet “AVAILABLE”. I have trouble with this I also was led to believe that 1000 units would be possible in “A few weeks”. While our judges declare that quantity 1000 was NOT available by 2/28/07, it MIGHT well be available in the near future, These folks are “Kickin A## and takin’ names.” They missed my deadline, but I suspect they won’t miss yours. If we’d have done this challenge a month or so later, it would have passed #2. Un fortunately, IT DIDN’T. IN fairness, Lacking the desire to place an order for almost $200,000 I did not place an order. Indications were it would not be ready by 2/28/07.
Judges evaluation – FAILED. (By a couple of weeks)
3) Client must agree. (I'm pretty sure a reasonable alternative will work)
WOW did I underestimate the resistance to change from my SCA folks.
Our station may have the smallest SCA base ever. My client states they have 88 signed up users. His math is a cost of over $17,000+ to convert. Not only did he not agree to try and migrate, he alluded to legal action if we DID change to FMExtra (On behalf of his listeners.)
Based on our contract, I determined “he can get bent”. Still, He ain’t happy and does NOT agree. I sold the fidelity, even threw in an extra channel as well. NO SALE!! Clearly this does not work for him.
Judges evaluation – FAILED.
Based on the above results, “The FMExtra, SCA and Ibiquity Challenge” did not pass.
Sorry – Judges have ruled. There is no winner. This contest is over.
Now a personal note….
The challenge was not met “based on a few technicalities”. They are legit technicalities, which made the challenge not met, but it strikes me that the Clouseau “Listener base” isn’t going to like this result. So we’re going to do a “Consolation prize”.
On Tuesday March 6th, just after 9:00 AM Central, I will post a “Canadian Style Skill testing” Question. (Otherwise known as a legal workaround”). If you know what this is, you can relax. If you don’’t, don’t sweat it. I don’t think anyone has ever gotten one of these wrong.
The first correct response in a radio info personal message to “Clouseau” will receive their choice of digital radios. Either a Radio Shack Accurian HD radio from Radio Shack.com or an FMExtra from Bext, Inc.
Now the technicalities.
Obviously I need to have a real name and address to ship the prize. I will not pass your identity on to any one else aside from those necessary to deliver the prize. Should your prize become “Unavailable” due to unforeseen circumstances, the maximum liability to “Clouseau” will be $200.00. Duplicate prizes will not be awarded. Should there be a “Tie” a random drawing will determine a single winner. Taxes are the responsibility of the winner. Clouseau’s decision is final…. Blah Blah blah
One other note. If I’m going to give away $200 worth of my cash, I’m not giving it to mean people. It’s not happening. Supercaster and Cal Stymes are not eligible for this consolation prize. Their consolation was calling out my sincerity in a thread that was righteously deleted by the mods just after I read it. Sorry guys. You crossed the line and were put in timeout. You already had your consolation. Someone else will get the radio…
To everyone else…
Watch at the appointed time and good luck!!!
Clouseau
