HD Radio on myspace

[Radioman100]

So I'm wasting time on myspace tonight. I decided to search for HD Radio.

KYLD HD2 San Francisco http://www.myspace.com/housenationradio

WRIF HD2 Detroit http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendID=23279898

WBOS HD2 Boston http://www.myspace.com/radioyouboston

KESS HD2 Dallas http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendID=146175593

WSTW HD2 Wilmington http://www.myspace.com/mygraffiti

WIYY HD2 Baltimore http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendID=108315840

This is interesting. KYLD's HD2 has 8,025 friends. WRIF's HD2 has 10,376 friends. By contrast, Z100 New York has 17,793 and KIIS Los Angeles has 4,071.

 

[SUPERCASTER]

More of a response on Myspace then they have over the air HD Radio listeners. Imagine that!

 

[Mike Walker]

And your proof of this Supercaster is????? (You may be right. I'd be quite surprised if even a large market station has 17,000 listeners to their HD2. But I have no proof. Neither do you!)

 

[Radioman100]

And your proof of this Supercaster is????? (You may be right. I'd be quite surprised if even a large market station has 17,000 listeners to their HD2. But I have no proof. Neither do you!)

Actually, I was comparing the myspace pages for Z100 and KIIS's analog signals with the myspace pages for KYLD and WRIF's HD2s.

Z100, the #1 station in market #1 has 17,000 myspace friends. WRIF HD2's myspace page has a little over 10,000. Not bad at all.

 

[RadioFixerCLE]

And here I thought that Myspace was a networking website for individuals. ???

 

[rbrucecarter5]

And your proof of this Supercaster is????? (You may be right. I'd be quite surprised if even a large market station has 17,000 listeners to their HD2. But I have no proof. Neither do you!)

The proof may be there - if there is a link to the HD-2 stream. Another thing that can't be proven, but there may be more people listening to HD-2 on streaming internet than over the air on HD radios.

 

[Mike Walker]

As long as they're listening, it doesn't matter whether it's over-the-air, or on the 'net. That is, it doesn't matter UNLESS you have to pay for the cost of streaming!

 

[rbrucecarter5]

As long as they're listening, it doesn't matter whether it's over-the-air, or on the 'net. That is, it doesn't matter UNLESS you have to pay for the cost of streaming!

I'd say it would matter hugely to IBOC advocates - they have a lot to lose if people utilize streaming instead of overpriced HD radios.

 

[clouseau]

As long as they're listening, it doesn't matter whether it's over-the-air, or on the 'net. That is, it doesn't matter UNLESS you have to pay for the cost of streaming!

I'd say it would matter hugely to IBOC advocates - they have a lot to lose if people utilize streaming instead of overpriced HD radios.

I don't know why. I don't know of anyone who actually is "ANTI" streaming. I've said on numerous occasions it's not economically viable as a local alternative to radio. I still believe this.

Take Air America. Great example. Can't get on the air on decent stations. Can't generate a profit on the radio. Result. Retreat to streaming where their non-mainstream listeners can congregate and blog till their heart's content.

That's not an "ANTI" streaming take. That's reality. And a good idea. "IF" (And it's a big if) they can become financially viable.

I guess I'm an "IBOC" advocate. I don't give a rat's anatomy if people listen to streaming. ASctually, I would suggest it might improve music mixes and such on the radio. I believe the "Jack" format came from the net, but I do not know that for a fact.

Clouseau

 

[Mike Walker]

It's amusing that ant-HD/pro streaming advocates talk about the "expensive HD Radios", but when talking about streaming audio, never mention the absolutely mandatory (if you're taking it with you, and if you're not, it's NOT a competitor to radio!) expensive data plans. Over a year's time, you could buy HD radios for your family, and your neighbors for what you'd pay in monthly fees for the data plan needed for PORTABLE internet radio. Hell, wherever you are, you need a broadband connection. My 5mbps connection costs approximately one HD radio every two months!

My HD radio, on the other hand, was paid for once, and continues at no additional cost (save the small amount of power it pulls from the wall outlet).

 

[upstate29651]

And here I thought that Myspace was a networking website for individuals. ???

Yes, a way for pedophiles & kids to "network".

G

 

[Chuck]

It's amusing that ant-HD/pro streaming advocates talk about the "expensive HD Radios", but when talking about streaming audio, never mention the absolutely mandatory (if you're taking it with you, and if you're not, it's NOT a competitor to radio!) expensive data plans. Over a year's time, you could buy HD radios for your family, and your neighbors for what you'd pay in monthly fees for the data plan needed for PORTABLE internet radio. Hell, wherever you are, you need a broadband connection. My 5mbps connection costs approximately one HD radio every two months!

My HD radio, on the other hand, was paid for once, and continues at no additional cost (save the small amount of power it pulls from the wall outlet).

The problem with that argument is there are other compelling reasons why you are willing to shell out cold hard cash to have that Internet access. You are not alone.

The fact that you can also listen to Roger Miller singing "Kansas City Star" (that's what I'm hearing as I type this) is icing on the cake. It's a pretty big cake and getting bigger every day.

 

[Radioman100]

The problem with that argument is there are other compelling reasons why you are willing to shell out cold hard cash to have that Internet access. You are not alone.

The fact that you can also listen to Roger Miller singing "Kansas City Star" (that's what I'm hearing as I type this) is icing on the cake. It's a pretty big cake and getting bigger every day.

I don't know too many people that have wireless access for their laptops. All the ones I do know have it because they got tired of paying wireless access fees at airports.

A lot of people I work with bring their personal laptops to work. When our ISP drops the ball and the internet goes down, I haven't seen any of them whipping out wireless data cards. Most of the people I work with certainly could afford it.

Smartphones are more common, but I've never seen anyone listen to internet radio on one. The only thing I see most people use their smartphones for besides calls is e-mail. Most of them seem to view their smartphones as a necessary evil for work, not a toy.

People have been able to browse the web on these things for quite a while now. How often do you see anyone doing that? It's rare. I have to think web browsing would be a much more necessary and vital function than web radio, and people don't seem to be using it much.

The point is, with web radio the functionality may be there, but that doesn't necessarily mean anyone will use it. Traditional radio is a lot more convenient.

 

[Mike Walker]

I listen to lots of web radio on my PDA. But I can only do it when an open wi-fi access point is availalble. Around here that's my home network, the public library, the campus of the local community college, and a restaurant or two. That's it (unless I get lucky in town, and find an open network that I can, er...could tap into. But that would be illegal, not to mention immoral). So to take web radio with me wherever I go, as I can easily do with traditional radio, requires that expensive data plan. And I'm not paying for it. Besides, my PDA is just that...a PDA. I have no desire for a Smartphone.

 

[Chuck]

I don't know too many people that have wireless access for their laptops. All the ones I do know have it because they got tired of paying wireless access fees at airports.

Try this for size: Maybe New York is actually the technology "back water" and where I live, East Texas, is a bit more technology advanced. It's possible. Around here wireless access cards are fairly common. Even people who consider themselves to be "retired" have them. Why? It’s mostly because in many locations it's a choice of that or a 24 K dial up.

Around here lots of people use their vehicle as an office. Oil and gas production is a big deal, as is timber farming. To work in those businesses, you need to go to the location of the resource, which is frequently in a location without wires.

It's not just those folks though. Even our local airport has free wireless Internet access. The other day, I was waiting for a parking place at a shopping mall. The lady I was waiting on was in the car with the engine running and lights on. I was patiently sitting nearby with my turn signal on. Finally she rolled down her window and said "I'm not ready to go yet. I'm checking my email."

By the way, we have Wi-Max too. It works.

 

[Radioman100]

Try this for size: Maybe New York is actually the technology "back water" and where I live, East Texas, is a bit more technology advanced. It's possible. Around here wireless access cards are fairly common. Even people who consider themselves to be "retired" have them. Why? It’s mostly because in many locations it's a choice of that or a 24 K dial up.

Around here lots of people use their vehicle as an office. Oil and gas production is a big deal, as is timber farming. To work in those businesses, you need to go to the location of the resource, which is frequently in a location without wires.

It's not just those folks though. Even our local airport has free wireless Internet access. The other day, I was waiting for a parking place at a shopping mall. The lady I was waiting on was in the car with the engine running and lights on. I was patiently sitting nearby with my turn signal on. Finally she rolled down her window and said "I'm not ready to go yet. I'm checking my email."

By the way, we have Wi-Max too. It works.

Well, such technological innovation hasn't yet hit the rest of the state. Your wireless options are pretty limited and pretty awful throughout West Texas. I have to do some traveling out there occasionally, and it's always an unpleasant experience trying to get online with my broadband cards. If I do manage to connect, it's at much lower speeds than I get in the big cities. When I say "big" I mean Houston, Dallas, San Antonio, Austin. The service crawls in Midland, Abilene, Lubbock and Amarillo. You only get "National Access" speed there, not "Broadband Access" on Verizon.

That's if you get service at all. My iPhone doesn't see AT&T's Edge network much of the time when I'm out there.

Regardless, having it available and using it to listen to web radio are two entirely different things. As I said earlier, e-mail checking is the primary reason everyone I know with a smartphone has one. A lot of people I know at work don't even know how to set up their e-mail to work with theirs and have to ask IT for help. Think these same people that can't set up their e-mail after being provided pretty detailed instructions are connecting it to their car stereo for web radio? Not likely!

 

[Chuck]

You only get "National Access" speed there, not "Broadband Access" on Verizon.

That's if you get service at all. My iPhone doesn't see AT&T's Edge network much of the time when I'm out there.

Regardless, having it available and using it to listen to web radio are two entirely different things. As I said earlier, e-mail checking is the primary reason everyone I know with a smartphone has one. A lot of people I know at work don't even know how to set up their e-mail to work with theirs and have to ask IT for help. Think these same people that can't set up their e-mail after being provided pretty detailed instructions are connecting it to their car stereo for web radio? Not likely!

Maybe you have the wrong carrier? AT&T is pretty lame around here, and Verizon isn't much better. In areas where those companies are strong, they are quite good, but that isn't everywhere. Without notice, AT&T actually shut off 14 towers in my neighborhood, forcing most of us to find another carrier. They are no longer on my “preferred provider” list.

Alltel seems to have the best service in my area with Sprint doing fairly well too. The WiMax service is from Clear-Wire. Where they have coverage, it works very well. It is rumored that Sprint may buy them out.

As you say, the reason most people have wireless Internet access is to do email. The fact that Internet radio is also available is a "no cost option." That shoots a hole in the theory that people have to pay for Internet radio. They don’t. In fact, I can't think of many people who would buy wireless Internet just for the "radio" part, but there doesn't seem to be a shortage of folks who want the technology for other reasons.

I'd be the first admit that getting music on your cell phone is not a mature technology. Far from it, but the cell phone companies are working on making it a reality. It is also fair to say that HD is not a mature technology either. Even the cheerleaders acknowledge that it is a long term commitment, probably taking five to ten years for it to become significant. It will be interesting to see how each one is doing in another ten years. I believe it is the Nov 7 issue of Radio World that has some good thoughts on the subject. You might wan to take a look.

For now, I'd put my money on the cell phone companies. You are welcome to do otherwise as long as it doesn't hurt anyone.

 

[Chuck]

So much for the theory that radio won't be on cell phones:

"WFMU Streaming Live Radio to iPhone, iPod
A noncommercial, eclectic, former college radio station in New Jersey claims to be the first station to stream live radio to the iPhone and iPod Touch."

From today's "Radio World News Bytes."

 

[Tom Wells]

WFMU is one of the truly bright spots in radio. Unwilling to bend to convention and passing fad, they continue to bring
interesting and challenging programming. I first heard them in 1983 when they were a college station, and they have always been the first thing I set a car radio when I am in the area.
Naturally they would be first to stream to new devices. Good for them.
Just wish they could put it a 50kw clear AM and share such good radio with 30-odd states.

 

[rbrucecarter5]

never mention the absolutely mandatory (if you're taking it with you, and if you're not, it's NOT a competitor to radio!) expensive data plans. Over a year's time, you could buy HD radios for your family, and your neighbors for what you'd pay in monthly fees for the data plan needed for PORTABLE internet radio. Hell, wherever you are, you need a broadband connection. My 5mbps connection costs approximately one HD radio every two months!

My HD radio, on the other hand, was paid for once, and continues at no additional cost (save the small amount of power it pulls from the wall outlet).

The fallacy of your argument is that most people that have broadband internet get it for other reasons than streaming, therefore the streaming aspect is just one more benefit of a connection they already have.

As for overpriced HD radios, I was speaking of the price differential between HD and non-HD radios. When they cost the same - I might get HD, I might not. It depends on the analog performance, because I am more than 15 or 20 miles from the station, so the inadequate internal antennas in HD radios won't receive the station in HD out in the suburbs.