One of my local FM's shutdown their HD2. Is anyone else noticing a reduction in thier multicasts? Do stations have to pay iBiquity fees for their HD2 and HD3 as well as the big one?
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HD Multicasts Shutdown?
- Thread starter JohnnyElectron
- Start date
Maybe they're just trying to recover some kb so the 1 doesn't sound so squirrely to the seven engineers, four programmers and one GM that are listening.
JohnnyElectron said:
Here is the license agreement in a nut..shell according to Ibiquity:
"A one time fee of $25,000 is paid for the rights to broadcast the Main Channel Audio..."
"Supplemental Channel Audio Fees for HD-2 and Other Multicast Channels. The fee for transmitting digital audio channels... in addition to the main channel is based on a revenue sharing model. Stations pay 3% of incremental net revenue derived from any supplemental audio services made possible with HD Radio technology with a minimum annual fee of $1,000 per audio channel."
And when a station signs on to HD Radio and decides to do side and data channels, IBiquity gets to snoop at their balance sheet to make sure the 3% net revenue is being accurately paid.
Read the whole ugly agreement here:
http://www.ibiquity.com/broadcasters/licensing
C5
I have a theory about the eventual fate of HD transmitting equipment. It's a safe bet that the vast majority of FM broadcasters currenting using HD will not increase to -10dBc, even if it's approved, which I regard as doubtful. There are precious few operators (non-Alliance) who would be willing to completely rebuild TX sites given the current fiscal climate, to double-down on HD which is stiffing massively in the real-world marketplace.
I think iBiquity contracts and depreciation schedules are the only things keeping HD on the air in many cases. Once this junk is fully depreciated for tax purposes - I'm not an accountant but I'd assume that would be three years - I'll bet you'll see more and more GMs saying, "yank it and sell it to BESCO." Maybe Dick Witkowski can sell the Decepticons in Panama now that the Zone has adopted HD as some kind of "official" standard. (See separate post on this board)
I think iBiquity contracts and depreciation schedules are the only things keeping HD on the air in many cases. Once this junk is fully depreciated for tax purposes - I'm not an accountant but I'd assume that would be three years - I'll bet you'll see more and more GMs saying, "yank it and sell it to BESCO." Maybe Dick Witkowski can sell the Decepticons in Panama now that the Zone has adopted HD as some kind of "official" standard. (See separate post on this board)
http://www.hdradiofieldguide.com/new_developments.htm
Read some of the latest developments in HD radio.
NAB SHOW 2008: All manufacturers have debuted the Embedded Exporter which is less expensive than the current Exporter, and has no hard drive to wear out.
NAUTEL - Nautel has shown an AM Exporter at the NAB Show 2008.
NAUTEL - Nautel has introduced a solid-state FM transmitter that is capable of 44 kW. This transmitter will allow stations previously limited to installation of a tube type FM HD Radio transmitter to go solid-state.
NAUTEL - Nautel was showing a method they have developed that reduces the peak-to-average ratio of the hybrid FM HD Radio signal, thereby allowing the possibility of keeping your present FM HD Radio transmitter if the FCC allows the FM HD Radio signal to be increased to -10 dB.
Yea, it's 2009 and HD is still on the way to certain doom. Talk about self denial.
Read some of the latest developments in HD radio.
NAB SHOW 2008: All manufacturers have debuted the Embedded Exporter which is less expensive than the current Exporter, and has no hard drive to wear out.
NAUTEL - Nautel has shown an AM Exporter at the NAB Show 2008.
NAUTEL - Nautel has introduced a solid-state FM transmitter that is capable of 44 kW. This transmitter will allow stations previously limited to installation of a tube type FM HD Radio transmitter to go solid-state.
NAUTEL - Nautel was showing a method they have developed that reduces the peak-to-average ratio of the hybrid FM HD Radio signal, thereby allowing the possibility of keeping your present FM HD Radio transmitter if the FCC allows the FM HD Radio signal to be increased to -10 dB.
Yea, it's 2009 and HD is still on the way to certain doom. Talk about self denial.
KB1OKL said:
Please go away and show your ignorance elsewhere. Do you work for a living? I mean, what do you do? You sure have a lot to say about a subject you obviously know nothing about. The predictions of IBOC's demise wure have been accurate so far. Heyt Microsoft has decided to include HD radio in its latest product and we all know what a failure Microsoft is. Perhaps they didn't check with you before making that business decision. If they only knew that HD was already dead perhaps they would have included that up and coming technology, analog short wave into the new Zoom instead of the failed digital technology.
R.F. Burns said:
Dear R.F. Burns,
This forum is a place for people to express their opinions on various topics. That means that you are welcome to express your opinion, but so are those of us who disagree with you. Because we do, that does not make us ignorant, nor does it give you the authority to order us to "go away". Please read the disclaimer at the bottom of the page.
Personally, I find your comment to be quite arrogant.
Hey, RF - all that new Nautel HD gear is indeed impressive.
But how many of them are they SELLING?
Just had a power module for my AMPFET-25 25kw rig repaired at the factory - an FET popped and took out some driver transistors. I don't have all the little Teflon washers and assorted hardware so it's easier to just plug in the standby extra PWM and ship the failed piece back to Maine.
I talked to my Nautel rep, a pretty straight guy, and asked about HD sales. He LAUGHED.
But how many of them are they SELLING?
Just had a power module for my AMPFET-25 25kw rig repaired at the factory - an FET popped and took out some driver transistors. I don't have all the little Teflon washers and assorted hardware so it's easier to just plug in the standby extra PWM and ship the failed piece back to Maine.
I talked to my Nautel rep, a pretty straight guy, and asked about HD sales. He LAUGHED.
audioguy said:
Please forgive me sir. Some history is in order here, I have been going back and forth with a few of the people on this board for over a year. I can understand if you first came here in the middle of our debate, not understanding the position I come from, you might misunderstand my intent. Most of the people who aren't anti IBOC have already given up and moved on months ago due to bullying by some of the IBOC antagonists. I took a break because I do have a life and arguing about a subject which none of us have any control over ad infinitum proves pointless.
As long as the HD forum has existed, some of our fellow posters using other screen names have been predicting the demise of this technology, while accusing those of us willing to give the technology a chance of somehow being in bed with the devil and this goes back more than a few years. These anti IBOC folk bring nothing new to the table yet use name calling of their own to support their arguments.
AM IBOC is a last attempt by some in the broadcast industry to make the AM BCB a viable commodity into the 21st century and on FM compete with the new digital technologies. If you had read some of the other threads in this forum you'd be aware that technological advances are underway, not the least of which is the move away from the rotating hard disc to a static ram system lowering the failure rate due to the mechanical nature of the use of standard computer hard drives. Nautel has also developed a technique which allows stations to take part in the new 10% digital injection using their current transmitter as opposed to having to replace their entire broadcast chain to make this thing work.
I believe the writing is on the wall for AM radio. Most of the major broadcasters who own both AM & FM facilities in a market have started broadcasting their AM programming on the FM’s HD 3 channel of one of their co-licensed facilities. That way they can cover the market which in 2009 is all that matters.
I hope this clears up any misunderstanding you might have had concerning my earlier comments to a fellow board member.
Oops...forgot this in the previous post.
RF, if you check it, I believe you will find that Nautel's digital transmitters, like those offered by Harris, in many cases are multi-modal in design...meaning they support DAB as well as HD Radio.
These are products the manufacturers are marketing to the world. They aren't necessarily an endorsement of the companies' confidence in the eventual success of HD. The designers are trying to make a digital platform which can be sold anywhere.
RF, if you check it, I believe you will find that Nautel's digital transmitters, like those offered by Harris, in many cases are multi-modal in design...meaning they support DAB as well as HD Radio.
These are products the manufacturers are marketing to the world. They aren't necessarily an endorsement of the companies' confidence in the eventual success of HD. The designers are trying to make a digital platform which can be sold anywhere.
Savage said:
You should have asked him one further question. In this economy how much of anything is he selling? The point behind my comment was that there are developments/refinements being made to the technology. Lets be honest, If Nautel felt HD was a total failure they'd have no reason to continue development of the technology. I mean, why work on something that has no chance of succeeding in the future. The folks at Nautel aren't stupid, are they?
Certainly not. And Nautel makes superior products. All I'm saying is, they're making their product line universally appealing. Analog or digital, HD or DAB....whatever the customer wants, the products have the capability.
But that's not necessarily an endorsement of HD. Nautel makes digital-capable transmitters in case that's what the client wants.
I bought a 2.5kw BE transmitter in 1997 when my station went fulltime and DA-2. It included C-QUAM AM stereo and if I'm not mistaken, the AM line from Broadcast Electronics still includes this feature at no cost. But talk to a BE rep and ask how many stations are broadcasting in C-QUAM these days.
But that's not necessarily an endorsement of HD. Nautel makes digital-capable transmitters in case that's what the client wants.
I bought a 2.5kw BE transmitter in 1997 when my station went fulltime and DA-2. It included C-QUAM AM stereo and if I'm not mistaken, the AM line from Broadcast Electronics still includes this feature at no cost. But talk to a BE rep and ask how many stations are broadcasting in C-QUAM these days.
Savage said:Certainly not. And Nautel makes superior products. All I'm saying is, they're making their product line universally appealing. Analog or digital, HD or DAB....whatever the customer wants, the products have the capability.
But that's not necessarily an endorsement of HD. Nautel makes digital-capable transmitters in case that's what the client wants.
I bought a 2.5kw BE transmitter in 1997 when my station went fulltime and DA-2. It included C-QUAM AM stereo and if I'm not mistaken, the AM line from Broadcast Electronics still includes this feature at no cost. But talk to a BE rep and ask how many stations are broadcasting in C-QUAM these days.
What is the current law concerning X-Band stations? Weren't they required to operated using C-Quam? Maybe that ruling has changed.
Last I checked, the X-banders are supposed to be C-QUAM. But a couple of things about that:
The X-band has been frozen for several years with no prospect that the Commission is going to re-open it for new apps any time soon. Of course, BE could be marketing AM transmitters to existing stations, but that isn't a very viable customer base since most of the X-band authorizations are recent and presumably their transmitting plants won't need new gear for years.
Besides, BE includes C-QUAM standard in all power levels. The only transmitters which would be bought for X-band would be the AM-10 and AM-12, since all X-band authorizations are for 10kw NDA unlimited time.
When we bought our AM-2.5, BE's sales materials bragged about included C-QUAM for stations which employ it. Again, the marketing strategy across all lines from most manufacturers seems to be, "transmission capability for every potential user," so they include C-QUAM, DAB, or HD as the purchase prospect might need or desire.
This week's RW just came in the mail. On the front page bottom there's a display ad for Continental Electronics which touts FM transmitter ranges "up to 60kw analog/digital" and "up to 80kw analog." How would you interpret the availability of analog-only transmitters? I doubt you would argue that's an indication Continental doesn't think HD is going to make it. Neither can you read too much into the fact that manufacturers like Nautel continue to offer new HD-capable designs. All the companies just want to have available transmitters for any potential user.
The X-band has been frozen for several years with no prospect that the Commission is going to re-open it for new apps any time soon. Of course, BE could be marketing AM transmitters to existing stations, but that isn't a very viable customer base since most of the X-band authorizations are recent and presumably their transmitting plants won't need new gear for years.
Besides, BE includes C-QUAM standard in all power levels. The only transmitters which would be bought for X-band would be the AM-10 and AM-12, since all X-band authorizations are for 10kw NDA unlimited time.
When we bought our AM-2.5, BE's sales materials bragged about included C-QUAM for stations which employ it. Again, the marketing strategy across all lines from most manufacturers seems to be, "transmission capability for every potential user," so they include C-QUAM, DAB, or HD as the purchase prospect might need or desire.
This week's RW just came in the mail. On the front page bottom there's a display ad for Continental Electronics which touts FM transmitter ranges "up to 60kw analog/digital" and "up to 80kw analog." How would you interpret the availability of analog-only transmitters? I doubt you would argue that's an indication Continental doesn't think HD is going to make it. Neither can you read too much into the fact that manufacturers like Nautel continue to offer new HD-capable designs. All the companies just want to have available transmitters for any potential user.
Currently on file with the FCC;
http://www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/amq?stat...&slat2=&NS=N&dlon2=&mlon2=&slon2=&EW=W&size=9
This app hasn't been ruled on yet. It's taking a long time to make it through the commission.
http://www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/amq?stat...&slat2=&NS=N&dlon2=&mlon2=&slon2=&EW=W&size=9
This app hasn't been ruled on yet. It's taking a long time to make it through the commission.
RF, that's an "MX" filing which was filed pursuant to a Petition For Rulemaking. IIRC it has to do with migration of a former daytimer to the X-band (I think it was the Spring Valley 1300 DA-D.) The file dates are 2007, so even this proceeding is at least two years old.
I believe that the X-band is still frozen.
I believe that the X-band is still frozen.
The problem I see if that many of the stations that got the choice X-Band allocations didn't take their original AM station out of commission within the time limit, nor forever, to 'clean-up' the rest of the AM band congestion, but merely sold the old transmitter site/frequency to some other poor sucker and kept just the X-band station - 1680 NJ did that right out of the gate, didn't they?
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