Yes folks, the system we all claim to know and desperately want to love has put Mr. Jaws in the fence, fired up the wetbike and now is awaiting young Ritchie Cunningham's pep talk, before it rides off into the broadcast sunset.
Based, I'm sure, on their dazzling market penetration, Digital Radio Express has apparetnly raised their price on their encoder to $15000. Along with that price is the REQUIREMENT that you purchase 100 Aruba Radios at $200 each. That makes your initial investment (Drum Roll Please) $35,000.
Along with your initial package you get 100 radios which cost 2 "C-Notes" each which you might as well give away. Then you could claim higher market penetration than HD.
Now you DO get a nifty system which has most likely never sold a single receiver in your area.
I heard this rumor on a mailing list a week or two ago and recently checked to see if it is true. Yep, it is.
For your $35K you get a complete system to broadcast to NO ONE. Imagine pitching this from a sales perspective. Can you visualize the prospective client questions? And what you'd have to ANSWER? Visualize this...
Client)Good to talk to you again, Mr Accoount Exec.
Q) Is this the HD system I've heard about on some of the other big stations?
A) No, this is a system designed better, which gives you more flexibility, better range and crystal clear digital sound.
Q) Wow, that's a nice ARUBA radio you have there. And the sound sure is nice. Does "it" receive those new HD stations?
A) No
Q) Does it get AM? While I can't afford it, a lot of my customers listen to Rush?
A) No, but it does get conventional FM Stereo and sound great. Listen in these headphones.
Q) That does sound nice in stereo. Does it come with another speaker?
A) No.
Q) Well it does sound good. I don't recall seeing these radios before. Where in town can I buy one?
A) Actually, I brought this one just for you. Take it with our compliments. Radios for the general public will be available for now at the Radio station studios.
Q) Sweet. Thanks. I'm assuming you're not giving them away to everyone.
A) Nope, but we are doing a lot of contesting and will be giving away 100 of them over the next couple of months.
Q) What will they cost if you want to buy one?
A) The Radio station will sell them for $200
Q) Wow, that's a lot. Any chance they'll be avialable in local stores.
A) We hope so. There they'll go for $300.
Q) I have a friend who has one of those "HD" radios who moved here from San Antonio. Can he hear your digital station?
A) Not the digital part, just the Analog.
Q) Well that's sorta sux. I guess it's like the Sirius and XM thing, right? 2 Different systems. Think they'll ever merge?
A) I haven't heard anything about that, but I guess it could happen.
Q) So I assume there are other stations using this in other areas. Where's the nearest station.
A) Well we know of a couple. One in Wisconsin and one in Michigan.
Q) Are they selling a lot of radios up there?
A) Actually they use the system for a studio to transmitter link. They only own 1 radio and another they use for a backup.
Q) Well how many of these radios are there in our town right now.
A) Well I've given away 4 to other perspective advertisers in my travels this week.
I think you get the picture. Meanwhile, on a small facility like I own, which uses a broadband antenna, I could spend $49,000 and have a much better answer to a lot of these questions. All without going into the radio "Selling" business.
http://www.ibiquity.com/i/pdfs/Licensing_%20Fact_%20Sheet_2008A.pdfLicense for primary HD - $25000
http://www.fmamtv.com/products/Radio/Harris-Crown%20HD%20transmitter.html $24000 out the door.
Using my existing broadband antenna - N/C.
$2K annual license for the pair of subchannels. (More if they make money)
The FMeXtra folks appear to have totally lost it. Any chance they seem to have had will need a serious marketing overhaul before anyone will look at it from a broadcaster standpoint, IMHO.
So sad. It's really DOES appear to be a good system. But not at Ibiquity prices.
Give the Fonz a "Haaaayyyyy!". They've jumped the shark.
Clouseau
Based, I'm sure, on their dazzling market penetration, Digital Radio Express has apparetnly raised their price on their encoder to $15000. Along with that price is the REQUIREMENT that you purchase 100 Aruba Radios at $200 each. That makes your initial investment (Drum Roll Please) $35,000.
Along with your initial package you get 100 radios which cost 2 "C-Notes" each which you might as well give away. Then you could claim higher market penetration than HD.
Now you DO get a nifty system which has most likely never sold a single receiver in your area.
I heard this rumor on a mailing list a week or two ago and recently checked to see if it is true. Yep, it is.
For your $35K you get a complete system to broadcast to NO ONE. Imagine pitching this from a sales perspective. Can you visualize the prospective client questions? And what you'd have to ANSWER? Visualize this...
Client)Good to talk to you again, Mr Accoount Exec.
Q) Is this the HD system I've heard about on some of the other big stations?
A) No, this is a system designed better, which gives you more flexibility, better range and crystal clear digital sound.
Q) Wow, that's a nice ARUBA radio you have there. And the sound sure is nice. Does "it" receive those new HD stations?
A) No
Q) Does it get AM? While I can't afford it, a lot of my customers listen to Rush?
A) No, but it does get conventional FM Stereo and sound great. Listen in these headphones.
Q) That does sound nice in stereo. Does it come with another speaker?
A) No.
Q) Well it does sound good. I don't recall seeing these radios before. Where in town can I buy one?
A) Actually, I brought this one just for you. Take it with our compliments. Radios for the general public will be available for now at the Radio station studios.
Q) Sweet. Thanks. I'm assuming you're not giving them away to everyone.
A) Nope, but we are doing a lot of contesting and will be giving away 100 of them over the next couple of months.
Q) What will they cost if you want to buy one?
A) The Radio station will sell them for $200
Q) Wow, that's a lot. Any chance they'll be avialable in local stores.
A) We hope so. There they'll go for $300.
Q) I have a friend who has one of those "HD" radios who moved here from San Antonio. Can he hear your digital station?
A) Not the digital part, just the Analog.
Q) Well that's sorta sux. I guess it's like the Sirius and XM thing, right? 2 Different systems. Think they'll ever merge?
A) I haven't heard anything about that, but I guess it could happen.
Q) So I assume there are other stations using this in other areas. Where's the nearest station.
A) Well we know of a couple. One in Wisconsin and one in Michigan.
Q) Are they selling a lot of radios up there?
A) Actually they use the system for a studio to transmitter link. They only own 1 radio and another they use for a backup.
Q) Well how many of these radios are there in our town right now.
A) Well I've given away 4 to other perspective advertisers in my travels this week.
I think you get the picture. Meanwhile, on a small facility like I own, which uses a broadband antenna, I could spend $49,000 and have a much better answer to a lot of these questions. All without going into the radio "Selling" business.
http://www.ibiquity.com/i/pdfs/Licensing_%20Fact_%20Sheet_2008A.pdfLicense for primary HD - $25000
http://www.fmamtv.com/products/Radio/Harris-Crown%20HD%20transmitter.html $24000 out the door.
Using my existing broadband antenna - N/C.
$2K annual license for the pair of subchannels. (More if they make money)
The FMeXtra folks appear to have totally lost it. Any chance they seem to have had will need a serious marketing overhaul before anyone will look at it from a broadcaster standpoint, IMHO.
So sad. It's really DOES appear to be a good system. But not at Ibiquity prices.
Give the Fonz a "Haaaayyyyy!". They've jumped the shark.
Clouseau
