R
rbrucecarter5
Guest
This article was linked over on the Yahoo ABDX list:
http://www.rwonline.com/pages/s.0049/t.11929.html
My response over there ---
I thought this was a textbook case of mismarketing by the HD radio
industry. But it also highlights the basic problem with the system -
lack of robustness. Their response? 10 dB more power on the sidebands
to add to everybody else's misery. The problem is - consumer apathy.
I'm not convinced more robustness is the solution to consumer apathy.
This looks like another AM stereo in the making, and nothing short of
the FCC mandating the system in all radios is going to solve that. The
FCC can mandate things - they mandated teletext for the deaf, now it is
ubiquitous and people even like to mute the TV and turn text on when
they are on the phone.
Some further ramblings --- HD radio will be studied for years in college marketing courses as a textbook failure in how to market to consumers. Ibiquity was so wrapped up in figuring if the COULD make it work, that nobody in Ibiquity or the industry stopped to ask consumers if they SHOULD do it. Where were the focus groups - or was it a case of a bunch of high ranking suits in the industry getting together in a room, panic striken because people are deserting corporate radio, and somebody knew that people are accepting HDTV, so digital must be the answer. After all, there was nothing wrong with the programming - it must be delivery. A bunch of yes-men meetings later, and the race was on to adopt digital and foist it on the public - who were never consulted about whether they wanted it or not.
Fifteen years later, we have a system that doesn't work unless you are a DX'er (who by the way could have been strong allies, but were purposely alienated), receivers in stores that don't work, a public enamored with iPods, satellite, streaming audio, and DVD video in cars. The window of opportunity is gone, if it ever existed at all. Ibiquity needed to make darn sure it would WORK under normal to adverse listening conditions - just ideal - which they obviously did NOT. Without a working system in stores, any chance of the consumer "wow" factor vanishes and the 30 seconds they spent in front of the display goes to the flashing lights and "wow factor" in the satellite, iPods, or whatever is competing for their dollar. That half a billion dollar investment in marketing buys you the 30 seconds in the store when the decision is made, if the technology fails (or fails to impress), all the money in the world probably won't get them back for a second look. You can be darn sure that Apple, XM, and Sirius have invested the money to make sure their product works in the stores, and sales people understand it. As it stands now, HD radio doesn't stand a chance if it doesn't work in the stores. And the HD cartel are making ads that appeal to themselves, not consumers.
http://www.rwonline.com/pages/s.0049/t.11929.html
My response over there ---
I thought this was a textbook case of mismarketing by the HD radio
industry. But it also highlights the basic problem with the system -
lack of robustness. Their response? 10 dB more power on the sidebands
to add to everybody else's misery. The problem is - consumer apathy.
I'm not convinced more robustness is the solution to consumer apathy.
This looks like another AM stereo in the making, and nothing short of
the FCC mandating the system in all radios is going to solve that. The
FCC can mandate things - they mandated teletext for the deaf, now it is
ubiquitous and people even like to mute the TV and turn text on when
they are on the phone.
Some further ramblings --- HD radio will be studied for years in college marketing courses as a textbook failure in how to market to consumers. Ibiquity was so wrapped up in figuring if the COULD make it work, that nobody in Ibiquity or the industry stopped to ask consumers if they SHOULD do it. Where were the focus groups - or was it a case of a bunch of high ranking suits in the industry getting together in a room, panic striken because people are deserting corporate radio, and somebody knew that people are accepting HDTV, so digital must be the answer. After all, there was nothing wrong with the programming - it must be delivery. A bunch of yes-men meetings later, and the race was on to adopt digital and foist it on the public - who were never consulted about whether they wanted it or not.
Fifteen years later, we have a system that doesn't work unless you are a DX'er (who by the way could have been strong allies, but were purposely alienated), receivers in stores that don't work, a public enamored with iPods, satellite, streaming audio, and DVD video in cars. The window of opportunity is gone, if it ever existed at all. Ibiquity needed to make darn sure it would WORK under normal to adverse listening conditions - just ideal - which they obviously did NOT. Without a working system in stores, any chance of the consumer "wow" factor vanishes and the 30 seconds they spent in front of the display goes to the flashing lights and "wow factor" in the satellite, iPods, or whatever is competing for their dollar. That half a billion dollar investment in marketing buys you the 30 seconds in the store when the decision is made, if the technology fails (or fails to impress), all the money in the world probably won't get them back for a second look. You can be darn sure that Apple, XM, and Sirius have invested the money to make sure their product works in the stores, and sales people understand it. As it stands now, HD radio doesn't stand a chance if it doesn't work in the stores. And the HD cartel are making ads that appeal to themselves, not consumers.
