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Clear Channel Shuts Down Format Lab

C

Carmine5

According to this RBR report, Clear Channel has shut down their Format Lab.

http://www.rbr.com/radio/11252.html

I think this news can be filed under the "If a Tree Falls.." category.

What is most interesting, however, is RBR's (which is usually a cheerleader for HD Radio) candid observation:

"Seems many HD multicast formats are gone....the next round of budget cuts--out of necessity--is likely going to be HD Radio equipment and licensing renewals. It has cost broadcasters money that so far has not generated ROI. This CC Radio news above, along with the rumors that Citadel has told Engineering not to fix any broken HD transmitters on AM, may be the tip of the iceberg."

C5
 
The way I read the article, Format LAB is still alive, well and relied on for programming content for more than 300 CC signals and also has a place on satellite radio.
 
It's a little hard to see how you get THAT reading, LVRJ, at least as it relates to HD. I think the obvious purport of the article is that CCU is shifting the emphasis of the renamed Format Lab away from HD and towards providing content for competing platforms - including cellphone distribution and HD's much-vilified bete noir, Satellite Freakin Radio. So if you mean FL is "alive and well' because it's finding applications other than HD, in that case I'd agree with you.

It's kinda hard to read the article as meaning anything but CCU's commitment to HD Radio may be now living on borrowed time. (300 stations? Whoopdee-doo, especially when you consider that CCU alone owns a multiple of that number.)

FWIW, I never thought of RBR as rabidly pro-HD Radio. I read the first negative press coverage about HD's adjacent channel problems back in 2003 in RBR. And they were pretty strongly negative.
 
Savage...

We are pretty much on the same page and you make some good points.

BUT, there are more than 300 CC HD's. Many of their HD formats are programmed locally or are copies of their terrestrial formats in other markets. KBCO used to share music logs with about a half dozen HD's. I do not know if that is still the case.
 
You say “many of their HD formats are programmed locally, or are copies of their terrestrial formats in other markets.”

I wouldn’t call a computer in a dusty closet, playing music “local programming” And I doubt the king of cut backs and lowered commissions, is paying talent for real live local shows on ANY OF THEIR HD stations.
If I'm wrong, please name the stars of HD radio. Uh..Just what I thought, no one..

It's been proven again and again, music only stations don't pull ratings. They uh suck....

As for simulating other stations, what a bonus for CC, geez they get more free content.
I thought the idea of HD was providing hundreds of new and exciting stations that sound better. With programming like this, trust me nobody will be rushing out to buy HD receivers for Christmas.
 
As the RBR article indicates, CC has substituted I Heart Music for the Format Lab for web listeners. So the lab has been shut down, at least, to web radio use.

But when you consider what the Format Lab was supposed to be:

(Market Watch 4/26/06) "Clear Channel Communications said Monday that it has launched a new service that will make 75 new channels available to rival radio broadcasters for use in digital radio multicasts, station Web sites and other outlets."

and that, "More than 200 programmers and production personnel worked on the development of the Format Lab."

to what it has morphed into: "The list now only includes a few HD multicast formats.." it's clear that the Format Lab did not meet the objectives CC had envisioned for it.

C5
 
So who do you think will be the last company standing in the IBOC camp?

I’m betting on CBS. Why?

Not just because CBS is a member of the “HD Alliance” – and not just because its CFO is on the “iNiquity” board of directors. After all, there are suits from Entercom, Clear Channel and Radio One on that board, too. (See http://www.ibiquity.com/about_us/board_of_directors )

And not just because CBS engineering honcho Glynn Walden, whom Radio World’s “Guy Wire” called “the godfather of IBOC (he was a co-founder of “iNiquity” forerunner USA Digital Radio), has a lot of his pride tied up in the system. (I think "creator" – in the sense that Dr. Frankenstein was the creator of the monster – would be a better word than "godfather"!)

No, I think it’ll be CBS, because CBS has the deepest pockets. They have two broadcast TV networks, the Showtime premium cable channel, and the College Sports Television cable channel, as well as a syndication arm. With those TV operations CBS can support the radio division.

Of course, Radio Disney can depend on the other Disney operations, which include ABC TV, ESPN, etc. – not to mention the movies and theme parks . And unlike CBS and Citadel, Radio Disney has no pairs of AM’s causing mutual interference to each other at night. So wouldn’t be ironic if the last outfit to give up completely on “iNiquity” was the only one broadcasting almost exclusively on AM?
 
I agree it will be CBS, Mark Manuelian seemed to be VERY persuaded of IBOC's wonders when I wrote to him and complained last year.
 
Savage said:
FWIW, I never thought of RBR as rabidly pro-HD Radio. I read the first negative press coverage about HD's adjacent channel problems back in 2003 in RBR. And they were pretty strongly negative.
Click to expand...

OK, I'll grant that RBR is more balanced on their coverage of HD Radio than some other radio industry mags (or rags). Occasionally they'll run a press release from an industry wonk that sounds a bit too positive on the technology (at least for this cynic's sensibility).

But today, RBR posted a great article by Jennifer Lane: Internet radio - a bright spot for HD

http://www.rbr.com/features/ideas-working-now/11276.html

She says that the comparison of HD Radio with the beginnings of FM won't wash because, "this time around...there are too many easily available alternatives to compete with HD."

Referring to Delphi's announcement to build wi-fi devices for cars:

"Why would anyone want an HD Radio in their car when they could have a radio that can access the internet, interface with a browser, and do lots of other things? Car manufacturers want to install devices that will help them sell cars and I just don't think anyone is going to get excited about a radio that can get HD, given the alternatives."

Jennifer also thinks satellite radio is doomed because audience growth has been flat for the past three years.

She concludes by arguing that the real salvation for HD Radio side channel programming is the internet. It's a good read.

C5
 
Music formats on HD are just not HD's future. The digital channels future is in providing or LMA'ing the channels for most likely niche formats like different ethnic formats, or more religion. I cant possible see a radio station adding another music format that would compete with it's main signal. Advertisers will not like further dillution of the listening audience. What many that post here dont realize is that advertisers expect a radio station to deliver potential customers to their business.
 
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