Commericals about HD radio

[BruceS8852]

Commericals about HD radio

I am sure that the radio enthusiasts who post to this folder are abreast of current developments in HD radio. How much does the average listener of AM and FM radio know about this new technology? I have heard several commercials on NYC radio promoting HD radio. They say the quality is better and that new and expanded formats are available on HD stations. The listener is then directed to http://hdradio.com.

I feel that these advertisements are quite premature since presently there is only one HD radio that can be purchased and the programming has not been fully developed. I think that this type of advertising should wait until HD radios are readily available in consumer electronics stores. Any thoughts?

Bruce

 

[RadioDoc]

Re: Commericals about HD radio

> I am sure that the radio enthusiasts who post to this folder
> are abreast of current developments in HD radio. How much
> does the average listener of AM and FM radio know about this
> new technology? I have heard several commercials on NYC
> radio promoting HD radio. They say the quality is better
> and that new and expanded formats are available on HD
> stations. The listener is then directed to
> http://hdradio.com.
>
> I feel that these advertisements are quite premature since
> presently there is only one HD radio that can be purchased
> and the programming has not been fully developed. I think
> that this type of advertising should wait until HD radios
> are readily available in consumer electronics stores. Any
> thoughts?
>
> Bruce
>


Sure...

I think that the broadcasters need to drive demand in order for manufacturers to make the radios. It isn't cheap or easy to develop an IBOC radio, so if there isn't sufficient demand, there's no incentive for manufacturers to make them.

I see HD for now as a "boutique" item for early adopters, exactly like the CD player was in 1985. Expensive, but neat. After a few years, the price drops substantially and it's available to anyone.

Radio is simply trying to help accelerate it. Everyone I've demo'd HD radio to has been impressed. Look to stations (like mine) to set up "listening stations" at events and remotes so that everyday comsumers can experience HD for themselves.

There is no guarantee that this will work. It may be that the market doesn't care, radios don't sell and we shut everything down! OTOH, people could really like it, seek out the radios, and spur manufacturers to make more and less expensive radios.

It's an unwritten story at this point that could go in any of several directions.<P ID="signature">______________
</P>

 

[gr8oldies]

Re: Commericals about HD radio

They really need to get models in the stores. You can't hear a demo anywhere locally, and I'd think before the massive promotion that CC stations are doing on the air, it'd be nice to see on at Best Buy.<P ID="signature">______________
"Your right to know supersedes your right to exist"..Gary Burbank</P>

 

[sbe]

Re: Commericals about HD radio

Repeat after me: "AM Stereo" write that on the blackboard 100 times. Yes, they are putting the cart before the horse.




> They really need to get models in the stores. You can't hear
> a demo anywhere locally, and I'd think before the massive
> promotion that CC stations are doing on the air, it'd be
> nice to see on at Best Buy.
>

 

[Mr_Wizard]

Re: Commericals about HD radio

> Repeat after me: "AM Stereo" write that on the blackboard
> 100 times. Yes, they are putting the cart before the horse.

Oh, c'mon, who would have move up to a color teevee
in the 60s if there wasn't any color teevee being broadcast
to begin with??

I barely remember an uncle who bought a early RCA color set
when about the only color broadcast was the Rose Bowl on NBC,
which was owned by RCA back in those days. Maybe an hour of
regular programming in color per evening, too. That was enough motivation
for him and millions of others to buy those lousy early, outrageously
expensive and bulky color sets.

This is the same RCA that made the first color sets.
ABC and CBS were way behind the NBC peacock.
Seems like a smart business plan to me.

Whether or not XM and Sirius were in existence today,
it's time the broadcasters transitioned to digital,
anyway.

The radio broadcasters are doing the right thing instead
of sticking with 1950s technology.