Again anonymous
>I find this bit of news to be very very troubling. It also adds to my
>growing fears that while it "seemed like a good idea at the time" spending
>$250,000 to upgrade our signal to HD was a HUGE waste of time and money.
>Sure, we did some much needed upgrading of our transmitter site, beefed up
>the infrastructure and wiring, but I think we could have done it for less
>than a 1/4 mil.
Yes, this writer could have improved his facilities for much less.
The question is: would he have done so without someone else paying
for it? iBlock has been a tremendous incentive to spend money. That, I
believe, is going to be its legacy.
I doesn't surprise me that the Ford fiction is coming to light. Most
of the press releases on this technology have been heavy on hype and
light on honesty. Any of us who have dealt with manufacturers knows
that the tiniest extra cost can doom a product. With the alleged
royalty claimed to be as high as $40 per radio it makes it a
non-starter. I think the uncertainty of future emissions and mileage
standards makes expenditures on technology not demanded by consumers
a dangerous road. With auto companies shedding loads to stay afloat
this is a very low priority. In my part of the country cars equipped
with this technology will be returned for replacement of a defective
radio that's not defective, just deaf. That's very expensive for a dealer.
>It would be less than kind to suggest that we're being taken for a ride on
>this, but with virtually no interest from consumers and no support from
>industry leaders, it sure feels that way.
There certainly is no interest from consumers - even less than a year
ago. The nearly complete lack of promotion beyond the use of
distressed radio inventory isn't going to inspire interest in many.
Advertising 101 says you use a media mix to roll out a product. The
$630 million claimed for advertising is funny money, not actual cash
spent in TV and print. Or even on in-store displays.
The industry association repeatedly trails Geico as the leading radio
advertiser. The difference is that Geigo is actually paying for the
spots. The strangest part of all this is that the industry
association and the manufacturer are owned, for the most part, by
major broadcasters.
Consumers usually need a Sherpa Guide just to find the radio in a
store. Once found, it usually isn't plugged in. Yes, you've been
taken for a ride, just not in a Ford.
>I find this bit of news to be very very troubling. It also adds to my
>growing fears that while it "seemed like a good idea at the time" spending
>$250,000 to upgrade our signal to HD was a HUGE waste of time and money.
>Sure, we did some much needed upgrading of our transmitter site, beefed up
>the infrastructure and wiring, but I think we could have done it for less
>than a 1/4 mil.
Yes, this writer could have improved his facilities for much less.
The question is: would he have done so without someone else paying
for it? iBlock has been a tremendous incentive to spend money. That, I
believe, is going to be its legacy.
I doesn't surprise me that the Ford fiction is coming to light. Most
of the press releases on this technology have been heavy on hype and
light on honesty. Any of us who have dealt with manufacturers knows
that the tiniest extra cost can doom a product. With the alleged
royalty claimed to be as high as $40 per radio it makes it a
non-starter. I think the uncertainty of future emissions and mileage
standards makes expenditures on technology not demanded by consumers
a dangerous road. With auto companies shedding loads to stay afloat
this is a very low priority. In my part of the country cars equipped
with this technology will be returned for replacement of a defective
radio that's not defective, just deaf. That's very expensive for a dealer.
>It would be less than kind to suggest that we're being taken for a ride on
>this, but with virtually no interest from consumers and no support from
>industry leaders, it sure feels that way.
There certainly is no interest from consumers - even less than a year
ago. The nearly complete lack of promotion beyond the use of
distressed radio inventory isn't going to inspire interest in many.
Advertising 101 says you use a media mix to roll out a product. The
$630 million claimed for advertising is funny money, not actual cash
spent in TV and print. Or even on in-store displays.
The industry association repeatedly trails Geico as the leading radio
advertiser. The difference is that Geigo is actually paying for the
spots. The strangest part of all this is that the industry
association and the manufacturer are owned, for the most part, by
major broadcasters.
Consumers usually need a Sherpa Guide just to find the radio in a
store. Once found, it usually isn't plugged in. Yes, you've been
taken for a ride, just not in a Ford.
