"FCC: Market to Decide Fate of HD Radio"

[PocketRadio]

"FCC: Market to Decide Fate of HD Radio"

"According to staff testimony at the meeting (which starts at ~1:01:00), the FCC appears unconcerned with HD Radio's potential pitfalls and more than willing to let the industry set the pace of radio's analog/digital transition... AM stations are now free to broadcast in HD 24/7, though there is nothing in the technical record that suggests iBiquity has done anything substantive to improve or mitigate interference problems caused by HD skywave signals... Finally, all petitions for reconsideration filed in the digital radio proceeding asking the FCC to consider alternatives to the HD Radio standard have been dismissed en masse, no reason given."

http://diymedia.net/archive/0407.htm#040407

Yup, the FCC was definately bought out by the HD Radio Alliance/iBiquity, just as we have been saying ! On a final note, the title of this article sure looks suspicious ! :

 

[Mike Walker]

The reason no other petitions are being accepted is the same that they're no longer accepting petitions for new analog FM Stereo, or Color TV systems. There's a time for debate and public comment, and a time for acceptance. EVERY standard is flawed, and could be improved upon if only they/we had waited. But if we always wait for a better standard, we NEVER HAVE A STANDARD. Once a standard is selected, that's it. End of discussion. As it ought to be! In case you haven't noticed, with the exception of the AM Stereo mess in the 80s/90s, that's the way it's always been.

 

[PocketRadio]

The reason no other petitions are being accepted is the same that they're no longer accepting petitions for new analog FM Stereo, or Color TV systems. There's a time for debate and public comment, and a time for acceptance. EVERY standard is flawed, and could be improved upon if only they/we had waited. But if we always wait for a better standard, we NEVER HAVE A STANDARD. Once a standard is selected, that's it. End of discussion. As it ought to be! In case you haven't noticed, with the exception of the AM Stereo mess in the 80s/90s, that's the way it's always been.

Nice spin on the quoted comments to the article.

 

[awj223]

The reason no other petitions are being accepted is the same that they're no longer accepting petitions for new analog FM Stereo, or Color TV systems. There's a time for debate and public comment, and a time for acceptance. EVERY standard is flawed, and could be improved upon if only they/we had waited. But if we always wait for a better standard, we NEVER HAVE A STANDARD. Once a standard is selected, that's it. End of discussion. As it ought to be! In case you haven't noticed, with the exception of the AM Stereo mess in the 80s/90s, that's the way it's always been.

The problem is that we still do not have a standard. "We'll approve this system and let the market ultimately decide" is NOT a standard. Look at what we have with TV: After Feb 17 2009, NTSC will disappear and all TV stations MUST broadcast an 8VSB digital signal. THAT is a standard.

Do we want a standard? Where is the sunset for AM on mediumwave and FM on VHF? Where is the mandatory switchover to the COFDM based Ibiquity system? If they set a mandatory AM/FM sunset, I don't think everyone would be so upset. For now their only promise is that they've approved the worst possible form of radio - the destructive, defective, hybrid version of it, inferior to both pure digital and pure analog - with no set end date.

If we are going to commit to digital radio in the Ibiquity form, what we need is the following:
1) Approval of IBOC beyond experimental status (done)
2) Prohibition of hybrid HD AM at night + Approval of full digital HD on mediumwave 24 hours a day. Stations need to make a choice: Hybrid daytime + Analog only night, or fulltime IBOC. We'll find out soon enough whether hybrid HD is too broadband for mediumwave. I happen to think it is.
3) Mandatory sunset of AM/FM. (where is it?)
4) Approval for stations to broadcast in pure digital IBOC in advance of the mandatory sunset, at discretion of the owner (Is it even legal to do this yet?)

No, we do not have a standard. No mandate, no standard. What we essentially have are two approved systems for broadcast radio - a standards war between AM/FM and HD Radio - and analog AM/FM with a head start of over 99% market share. The right way to do this is to look at the NTSC to DTV transition - mandate something and stick to it.

 

[R.F. Burns]

The reason no other petitions are being accepted is the same that they're no longer accepting petitions for new analog FM Stereo, or Color TV systems. There's a time for debate and public comment, and a time for acceptance. EVERY standard is flawed, and could be improved upon if only they/we had waited. But if we always wait for a better standard, we NEVER HAVE A STANDARD. Once a standard is selected, that's it. End of discussion. As it ought to be! In case you haven't noticed, with the exception of the AM Stereo mess in the 80s/90s, that's the way it's always been.

The problem is that we still do not have a standard. "We'll approve this system and let the market ultimately decide" is NOT a standard. Look at what we have with TV: After Feb 17 2009, NTSC will disappear and all TV stations MUST broadcast an 8VSB digital signal. THAT is a standard.

Do we want a standard? Where is the sunset for AM on mediumwave and FM on VHF? Where is the mandatory switchover to the COFDM based Ibiquity system? If they set a mandatory AM/FM sunset, I don't think everyone would be so upset. For now their only promise is that they've approved the worst possible form of radio - the destructive, defective, hybrid version of it, inferior to both pure digital and pure analog - with no set end date.

If we are going to commit to digital radio in the Ibiquity form, what we need is the following:
1) Approval of IBOC beyond experimental status (done)
2) Prohibition of hybrid HD AM at night + Approval of full digital HD on mediumwave 24 hours a day. Stations need to make a choice: Hybrid daytime + Analog only night, or fulltime IBOC. We'll find out soon enough whether hybrid HD is too broadband for mediumwave. I happen to think it is.
3) Mandatory sunset of AM/FM. (where is it?)
4) Approval for stations to broadcast in pure digital IBOC in advance of the mandatory sunset, at discretion of the owner (Is it even legal to do this yet?)

No, we do not have a standard. No mandate, no standard. What we essentially have are two approved systems for broadcast radio - a standards war between AM/FM and HD Radio - and analog AM/FM with a head start of over 99% market share. The right way to do this is to look at the NTSC to DTV transition - mandate something and stick to it.

The difference between what's happening in TV as opposed to radio is that certain TV freq's are being auctioned off for other services. That won't happen in radio. That's why radio is using a hybrid syste. In the end digital or analog 540 - 1700 Khz will remain a radio BCB as will 88.1 - 107.9 Mhz. What has been settled on is one digital system. The FCC doesn't want to have 2 or three competing digital systems which would cause the same confusion that all the stereo Am systems caused.

 

[Chuck]

What has been settled on is one digital system. The FCC doesn't want to have 2 or three competing digital systems which would cause the same confusion that all the stereo Am systems caused.

Has it really been settled? The "Catch 22" is FMExtra is already approved, since it uses existing technology. It is quite possible that additional systems may be introduced that also comply with existing rules. At best, I think you can call HD a "Quasi-Standard." That is a real problem. As someone pointed out, if there was a sunset for analog and we all agreed to switch to HD, then life would be simpler. For better or worse, we'd all have a goal and would work together to accomplish it. Right now, the FCC's action makes the future less clear. Now, we have a format war between analog and HD. There is probably more on the horizon. IMHO, that's not good news for radio.

In case you don't know, I'm a huge fan of radio. I'd like to see it prosper.

 

[Mike Sheridan]

I have lots of radio receivers, far more of them than the TV's around the house. For that reason I don't want to see analog radio go away. Are there other systems that do analog and digital at the same time? The other digital radio system I hear being talked about is DRM but that's strictly digital right?

Whatever standard the FCC decides on be it Color TV, FM Stereo, AM Stereo, Digital Radio or whatever, someone is going to be unhappy!

Mike

 

[Mike Walker]

Of course the marketplace will decide whether to buy new radios. But as for digital broadcasting, It IS a standard, and no other applications are being accepted. What the public may now "decide" is whether to buy the new radios. They MAY NOT decide to adopt another digital format. It ain't gonna' happen.

The public "decided" to buy fm stereo (eventually...it took a L O N G time) color tv (faster, but still no sprint to the finish line. MANY families didn't have color tvs until a decade or more after it's introduction...AFTER THE OLD SET DIED), etc. It took from the end of WW-II until the early 80s before FM reached audience parity with AM...nearly 35 years! These things take time...sometimes lots of it.

 

[PocketRadio]

Of course the marketplace will decide whether to buy new radios. But as for digital broadcasting, It IS a standard, and no other applications are being accepted. What the public may now "decide" is whether to buy the new radios. They MAY NOT decide to adopt another digital format. It ain't gonna' happen.

The public "decided" to buy fm stereo (eventually...it took a L O N G time) color tv (faster, but still no sprint to the finish line. MANY families didn't have color tvs until a decade or more after it's introduction...AFTER THE OLD SET DIED), etc. It took from the end of WW-II until the early 80s before FM reached audience parity with AM...nearly 35 years! These things take time...sometimes lots of it.

This is not the 60s/70s, where there was no other competition for FM Stereo - how much time do you think iBiquity has, with few HD radios being sold ?

 

[Mike Walker]

No, this is the 00s, where despite much competition (free and paid), the lion's share of the audience (hundreds of millions per week) STILL belongs to terrestrial radio.

And 40 years after the widespread introduction of cable tv, and 30 years after HBO came on the scene, the terrestrial broadcast networks STILL own primetime!

The biggest names in radio are ALL on terrestrial stations and/or networks, with the exception of Howard Stern, who now has fewer listeners than live on a Manhattan city block. Still that makes him the hottest (and most overpaid!) thing on satellite radio. And so it goes!

 

[radiopilot]

The biggest names in radio are ALL on terrestrial stations and/or networks, with the exception of Howard Stern, who now has fewer listeners than live on a Manhattan city block. Still that makes him the hottest (and most overpaid!) thing on satellite radio. And so it goes!

That must be one large Manhattan city block to house 12 million Howard Stern listeners a week...

http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/13.03/stern.html?tw=wn_tophead_5

Radiopilot

 

[amfmsw]

The article does not source their claim of 12 million listeners. From what independent research group did they cull that number from. Not Arbitron. It looks like a self-assereted number from the satcaster...there's no way to verify it independently.

 

[Mike Walker]

Sirius doesn't have 12 million subscribers, and (gasp) not all of their subscribers listen to Howard Stern. More retrieving "facts" from your rectal orifice.

There are blocks in Manhattan with Hundreds of Thousands of residents. A pretty good estimate for Howard's actual audience numbers on the #2 satcaster (in a field of two).

What's their stock selling for now? Sell a couple of hundred shares, and maybe you could buy lunch. GEEZ!

 

[radiopilot]

The article does not source their claim of 12 million listeners. From what independent research group did they cull that number from. Not Arbitron. It looks like a self-assereted number from the satcaster...there's no way to verify it independently.

I don't know where 'Wired' got their info, it may have been the terrestrial listeners, but surely alot went to satelite to follow Stern...

 

[radiopilot]

Sirius doesn't have 12 million subscribers, and (gasp) not all of their subscribers listen to Howard Stern. More retrieving "facts" from your rectal orifice.

Your remarks are proving your not worth a reply!

Radiopilot

 

[R.F. Burns]

The article does not source their claim of 12 million listeners. From what independent research group did they cull that number from. Not Arbitron. It looks like a self-assereted number from the satcaster...there's no way to verify it independently.

I don't know where 'Wired' got their info, it may have been the terrestrial listeners, but surely alot went to satelite to follow Stern...

Yes he brought some listeners with him but only the die hard fan. Not enough to make Sirius profitable.

 

[davideduardo]

The biggest names in radio are ALL on terrestrial stations and/or networks, with the exception of Howard Stern, who now has fewer listeners than live on a Manhattan city block. Still that makes him the hottest (and most overpaid!) thing on satellite radio. And so it goes!

That must be one large Manhattan city block to house 12 million Howard Stern listeners a week...

http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/13.03/stern.html?tw=wn_tophead_5

Radiopilot

Sirius' SEC filings talk about reaching 8 million subscribers, not 12. And that is for all 150 or so channels. Since there are no ratings of Sirius, and XM just cancelled Arbitron, anything you read is hype or a guess or puffery.

 

[radiopilot]

The biggest names in radio are ALL on terrestrial stations and/or networks, with the exception of Howard Stern, who now has fewer listeners than live on a Manhattan city block. Still that makes him the hottest (and most overpaid!) thing on satellite radio. And so it goes!

That must be one large Manhattan city block to house 12 million Howard Stern listeners a week...

http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/13.03/stern.html?tw=wn_tophead_5

Radiopilot

Sirius' SEC filings talk about reaching 8 million subscribers, not 12. And that is for all 150 or so channels. Since there are no ratings of Sirius, and XM just cancelled Arbitron, anything you read is hype or a guess or puffery.

Since it's obvious no one reads what I said... And it's obvious David you didn't read the SEC report either:

http://yahoo.brand.edgar-online.com/fetchFilingFrameset.aspx?dcn=0001193125-07-060346&Type=HTML

Courtesy Quote:

March 21, 2007 (March 20, 2007)

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported)


Sirius and XM are established audio entertainment providers. Both companies obtained satellite radio licenses in 1997 following an auction in which the companies collectively paid more than $170 million to the U.S. Treasury; their qualifications to hold those licenses are a matter of public record and have been reviewed and endorsed in prior proceedings. Today, Sirius operates three satellites in non-geostationary orbit and serves over 6 million subscribers. XM currently operates four geostationary orbit satellites and serves over 7.6 million subscribers. These subscribers’ satellite radios may be installed in homes, automobiles, boats, and aircraft, or may be carried as portable radios. Together, the companies offer approximately 300 channels of music, sports, news, talk, entertainment, traffic and weather, emergency, and informational data services. Each company also provides content to subscribers using streaming audio over the Internet as well as direct broadcast satellite (“DBS”) and wireless networks.


Just to do simple math for you David:

6 million + 7.6 million = 13.6 million


Radiopilot

 

[davideduardo]

Just to do simple math for you David:

6 million + 7.6 million = 13.6 million


Radiopilot

Stern is only on Sirius.

 

[clouseau]

The biggest names in radio are ALL on terrestrial stations and/or networks, with the exception of Howard Stern, who now has fewer listeners than live on a Manhattan city block. Still that makes him the hottest (and most overpaid!) thing on satellite radio. And so it goes!

That must be one large Manhattan city block to house 12 million Howard Stern listeners a week...

http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/13.03/stern.html?tw=wn_tophead_5

Radiopilot

Sirius' SEC filings talk about reaching 8 million subscribers, not 12. And that is for all 150 or so channels. Since there are no ratings of Sirius, and XM just cancelled Arbitron, anything you read is hype or a guess or puffery.

Since it's obvious no one reads what I said... And it's obvious David you didn't read the SEC report either:

http://yahoo.brand.edgar-online.com/fetchFilingFrameset.aspx?dcn=0001193125-07-060346&Type=HTML

Courtesy Quote:

March 21, 2007 (March 20, 2007)

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported)


Sirius and XM are established audio entertainment providers. Both companies obtained satellite radio licenses in 1997 following an auction in which the companies collectively paid more than $170 million to the U.S. Treasury; their qualifications to hold those licenses are a matter of public record and have been reviewed and endorsed in prior proceedings. Today, Sirius operates three satellites in non-geostationary orbit and serves over 6 million subscribers. XM currently operates four geostationary orbit satellites and serves over 7.6 million subscribers. These subscribers’ satellite radios may be installed in homes, automobiles, boats, and aircraft, or may be carried as portable radios. Together, the companies offer approximately 300 channels of music, sports, news, talk, entertainment, traffic and weather, emergency, and informational data services. Each company also provides content to subscribers using streaming audio over the Internet as well as direct broadcast satellite (“DBS”) and wireless networks.


Just to do simple math for you David:

6 million + 7.6 million = 13.6 million


Radiopilot

Ok congratulations, there are over 13 million satellite radio subscribers. How many of those receivers are able to receive Howard Stern?

Class? That's right, according to YOUR numbers there are 6 million Sirius Subscribers. Assuming EVERY SINGLE SIRIUS RADIO MADE (Including the unsold ones on car lots etc...etc..) was turned on during Howard's show, and none of the owners were sleeping, shopping, working or just didin't have the unit ON...(Sound Likely?) and every single Sirius radio was TUNED to Howard's show thus leaving each of the other 149 channels with ZERO LISTENERS...(Sound Likely?) and every one of those radios had two people listening to them, which would pretty well preclude any headphone listening AT ALL... (Sound Likely?) you would get to 12 million. If that doesn't seem possible, then maybe we're just seeing more wild claims from the anti-HD brain trust.

Here's a hint. The article was written in 2005. Here's another hint. A quote from the article.

Next January he'll start broadcasting his show on satellite radio - nationwide reach, no FCC oversight, no commercials to interrupt

As in "Now he's on terrestrial"... Ooops.

BTW there ARE commercials in the Howard Stern Sirius Show,

Clouseau
.