A couple of interrelated issues are pretty much beyond dispute: those would be one, HD Radio has big problems; and two, the radio industry has big problems. You doubtless have your own opinions as to how solveable those problems are, or perhaps even "if" they're solveable.
I would argue that given the current atmosphere, The Last Things Radio Needs are dissolution of evaporating resources to pursue questionable goals, and pointless contention and divisiveness. The recent proposal to increase FM-HD injection levels 10db is just another in the continuing parade of HD Radio controversies. Without beating the horse, we can briefly check off the list: coverage problems, not enough receivers, receivers which aren't consistent with listeners' lifestyles or needs, excessive costs, every imaginable kind of interference and degradation of existing analog service, consumer disinterest, broadcaster disinterest, lack of candor in regard to claims made for the system, etc., etc.
I would further argue that outside of SOME HD Alliance members (even some of the HD "inner circle" now appear to be backing away from IBOC) and - Scott Fybush please note - "pubcasters who have been having a measure of success with HD-FM subchannel simulcasts of limited-signal AM outlets" - there is a growing list of operators, executives and engineers who simply wish that the HD disaster would just wrap up and go away.
The problem thus far: simply put, it's politics, with a huge dollop of ego on top, which has thus far prevented an HD coup de grace. Nobody wants to go to the Board of Directors and say, we just wasted tens of millions of dollars on a massive engineering boondoggle. Nobody wants to say: I was just plain wrong about HD Radio. And as we all know, there is always the powerful organizational dynamic where SOMEbody can always argue for "one more shot" at fixing a bad idea, one which should be put out of its misery. It's always: let's just try THIS, and maybe I'LL get the credit for pulling the chestnuts out of the fire.
Industry revenues were down a staggering 20 percent in November with little optimism existing for the new year. Thus I predict (admittedly dangerous to do) in 2009 you'll start hearing:
Hey, we gave HD Radio a shot - but further commitments will "have to be deferred until economic conditions improve." We REALLY want "the analog-to-digital transition" to happen, but with poor receiver sales and advertiser revenue declining, we can't afford new installs. Or to crank up FM digital power. So "we're going to concentrate on our core analog services." (You get the idea. Corporate-speak for, aha, now I've got the perfect "it's out of my hands" excuse to wiggle out of an embarassing dead-end.)
The economic meltdown: the custom-made pretense for anyone but an HD zealot to shelve IBOC. Watch for it - coming to a trade publication near you!!
I would argue that given the current atmosphere, The Last Things Radio Needs are dissolution of evaporating resources to pursue questionable goals, and pointless contention and divisiveness. The recent proposal to increase FM-HD injection levels 10db is just another in the continuing parade of HD Radio controversies. Without beating the horse, we can briefly check off the list: coverage problems, not enough receivers, receivers which aren't consistent with listeners' lifestyles or needs, excessive costs, every imaginable kind of interference and degradation of existing analog service, consumer disinterest, broadcaster disinterest, lack of candor in regard to claims made for the system, etc., etc.
I would further argue that outside of SOME HD Alliance members (even some of the HD "inner circle" now appear to be backing away from IBOC) and - Scott Fybush please note - "pubcasters who have been having a measure of success with HD-FM subchannel simulcasts of limited-signal AM outlets" - there is a growing list of operators, executives and engineers who simply wish that the HD disaster would just wrap up and go away.
The problem thus far: simply put, it's politics, with a huge dollop of ego on top, which has thus far prevented an HD coup de grace. Nobody wants to go to the Board of Directors and say, we just wasted tens of millions of dollars on a massive engineering boondoggle. Nobody wants to say: I was just plain wrong about HD Radio. And as we all know, there is always the powerful organizational dynamic where SOMEbody can always argue for "one more shot" at fixing a bad idea, one which should be put out of its misery. It's always: let's just try THIS, and maybe I'LL get the credit for pulling the chestnuts out of the fire.
Industry revenues were down a staggering 20 percent in November with little optimism existing for the new year. Thus I predict (admittedly dangerous to do) in 2009 you'll start hearing:
Hey, we gave HD Radio a shot - but further commitments will "have to be deferred until economic conditions improve." We REALLY want "the analog-to-digital transition" to happen, but with poor receiver sales and advertiser revenue declining, we can't afford new installs. Or to crank up FM digital power. So "we're going to concentrate on our core analog services." (You get the idea. Corporate-speak for, aha, now I've got the perfect "it's out of my hands" excuse to wiggle out of an embarassing dead-end.)
The economic meltdown: the custom-made pretense for anyone but an HD zealot to shelve IBOC. Watch for it - coming to a trade publication near you!!
