HD Radio

[BJSteigner]

I wanted to ask how much the cost/capital investment to launch an HD subchannel?? Is it cheap or expensive??

 

[TheBigA]

Capital investment means new equipment. In this case, convert you transmitter to handle HD. According to this article, the cost is about $8K.

http://www.radiosurvivor.com/2017/06/08/whats-deal-lpfm-hd-radio/

Once you have technical capability, then there's the cost of delivering the content and paying the royalty on the HD technology.

 

[davideduardo]

I wanted to ask how much the cost/capital investment to launch an HD subchannel?? Is it cheap or expensive??

HD in general: If you don't have HD at all and if you don't plan to add HD2, HD3 and beyond, it's generally less than the cost of a Honda Civic.

If your transmitter is recent, it may be pre-wired for the HD module. Otherwise, most can be adapted.

You need audio processing for HD, ideally set for the different characteristics of Analog and Digital.

You pay the HD patent holder a fee, but that is relatively affordable.

If you already have main channel HD and just want to add a subchannel, you configure the HD module in your transmitter for split bandwidth. The HD unit already produces the full HD signal, and adding a subchannel means allocating portions of the bandwidth to the second or third channel.

Then you need a studio or computer to run programming, usually a link from the offices to the transmitter, audio processing. If you already have HD, and go with one of the better processors available, and a modest studio or digital workstation, it's under $20 k.

 

[max88]

HD

can Translators use HD? and does usage reduce power & or coverage?

 

[Barry]

HD in general: If you don't have HD at all and if you don't plan to add HD2, HD3 and beyond, it's generally less than the cost of a Honda Civic.

If your transmitter is recent, it may be pre-wired for the HD module. Otherwise, most can be adapted.

You need audio processing for HD, ideally set for the different characteristics of Analog and Digital.

You pay the HD patent holder a fee, but that is relatively affordable.

If you already have main channel HD and just want to add a subchannel, you configure the HD module in your transmitter for split bandwidth. The HD unit already produces the full HD signal, and adding a subchannel means allocating portions of the bandwidth to the second or third channel.

Then you need a studio or computer to run programming, usually a link from the offices to the transmitter, audio processing. If you already have HD, and go with one of the better processors available, and a modest studio or digital workstation, it's under $20 k.

That would seem to be a worthwhile investment in a major market, if the station can lease out a subchannel or two.

 

[BJSteigner]

I see many stations have cut back on HD subchannels....Are they cutting back because of their budget or are they having a difficulty trying to find people to lease them.

 

[SomeRadioGuy]

can Translators use HD? and does usage reduce power & or coverage?

Yes, for awhile, Costa Eagle's W276BH 102.9 Lawrence, MA which relays WNNW 800 had HD and was relaying other stations on W275BH HD2, 3 and 4.

 

[CTListener]

I see many stations have cut back on HD subchannels....Are they cutting back because of their budget or are they having a difficulty trying to find people to lease them.

I've read speculation here that iHeart is cutting back because after all these years it still hadn't found a way to make money off them, whether with niche formats or mainstream. HD was always intended to be free at first, then made profitable through advertising as listenership increased. The death of radios as stand-alone consumer purchases and the rise of alternative sources for music ensured that HD would never reach that necessary critical mass. It came along at least a decade too late.

 

[Y2kTheNewOldies]

I've read speculation here that iHeart is cutting back because after all these years it still hadn't found a way to make money off them, whether with niche formats or mainstream. HD was always intended to be free at first, then made profitable through advertising as listenership increased. The death of radios as stand-alone consumer purchases and the rise of alternative sources for music ensured that HD would never reach that necessary critical mass. It came along at least a decade too late.

I listened to the Iheart Owned stations and they are not putting promotions for HD Radio as of 2019. Most of their promotions are focused on the Iheart app and they are advertising podcasts that could only be heard on their app. Most of Ihearts attention has to be on their website and app due to where the median demos are located though.

 

[umfan]

can Translators use HD? and does usage reduce power & or coverage?

I don't believe translators can be split as they are licensed only to duplicate a single frequency. Even if they could, they are already generally of too low power to give decent coverage as it is, and some power would have to be allocated to the additional signal. IMO translators only make sense if a very specific area is being targeted, say like the central area of a downtown (still has challenges if there are tall buildings) or a university campus. Generally however, all they do is crowd an already overcrowded FM band with substandard signals. Far more hype than substance.