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Hello Again From Australia

D

David Sharp

Hi Everyone,

I am humbled by everyone's remarks. I'm not sure, as one person said, that I was "one of the best" in the market, but I certainly have a passion for the business. Unfortunately, my website (Tampa Bay Radio Broadcasting) was dismantled sometime ago, because I felt it wasn't appropriate to continue a page, disassociated from the market.

Broadcasting here is much different than in the U.S, namely because you're treated much better than "back home." 4 weeks vacation to start and other perks. That said, there is a certain mediocrity with presentation here and an "American" delivery sounds very exciting and enthused by Australian ears.

So far as Tampa radio, specifically the new HD channels. How many stations are licensed with the technology? I remember reading somewhere, WMNF and WBVM are (were) supposed to come online? Also, I've heard that even in a metro area the size of Tampa Bay, there may be just a dozen or two HD receivers in use.

Also, I have heard (perhaps incorrectly) that AM stations cannot transmit a digital signal after dark? If that's the case, wouldn't it make more since for the likes of 970 WFLA to rebroadcast on one of Clear Channel's HD2 FM streams?

One other question: wouldn't the smaller stations benefit most with the clarity of an HD signal? Yet, it seems most HD broadcasters are the "big boys." What about the mom-and-pop's?

I'm curious about all these developments, in that there's substantial interest in HD radio in Oz, even though it's years away.
 
Regarding AM stations and digital radio. Ibiquity's IBOC system generates digital hash on the two adjacent channels below and above the stations actual frequency. At nite during skywave, that interference really trashes stations far away with a hissing sound on the audio. Very annoying. WFLA's hiss runs from 950-990. KMOX in St. Louis is interfering with WTAM in Cleveland before 7 PM daily this time of year. And for what? you get audio that sounds like streaming audio. Also the digital signal on both AM and FM only goes out about half the distance of an analog signal. And then of course we get to content. What is there to listen to? The secondaries on FM are just automated jukeboxes. Most people would rather spend their time listening to an IPOD with a playlist of their chosing if only a jukebox is provided. Radio must provide compelling local content if it is to succeed. NPR is ahead on this matter as they are putting diffent NPR channels on the HD2's and 3's. Problem again is distance and trouble receiving. Here in Sarasota, we cannot get any of the Tampa HD's period. 102.5 which has it's transmitter in Manatee County is the only HD station that can be received in this area. My guess is that the extra HD channels will eventually be leased out to people who want to play radio with non competing formats. Probably a lot of religion, and ethnic niche programming will appear on the HD channels. You made a smart move to move to Australia.
 
As for HD. I live in Sarasota and have no problem receiving the HD signals for 820, 970, 89.7, 94.1, 94.9, 101.5 & 102.5. As for your comment that it sounds like streaming audio. Who are you listening to and with what? The HD signals sound great on my Boston Accoustics radio. I find myself listening to HD2 just about all of the time. As for programming. HD2 channels require Experimental Authority from the commission, at least for now, so they have to be non-commercial.
 
Just curious, do you have to use the external antenna to get those signals. I've tried it with 2 HD radios. The latest one from Rat Shack @ 99.00 and I returned it. I would be happy to be wrong about HD. But if you have to use an external antenna to get the signal that's not very good. Or are you using a car HD radio?
 
I'm using the Boston Accoustics table top radio with the supplied dipole antenna on the wall behind the radio.
 
David Sharp said:
Hi Everyone,

I am humbled by everyone's remarks. I'm not sure, as one person said, that I was "one of the best" in the market, but I certainly have a passion for the business. Unfortunately, my website (Tampa Bay Radio Broadcasting) was dismantled sometime ago, because I felt it wasn't appropriate to continue a page, disassociated from the market.

Broadcasting here is much different than in the U.S, namely because you're treated much better than "back home." 4 weeks vacation to start and other perks. That said, there is a certain mediocrity with presentation here and an "American" delivery sounds very exciting and enthused by Australian ears.

So far as Tampa radio, specifically the new HD channels. How many stations are licensed with the technology? I remember reading somewhere, WMNF and WBVM are (were) supposed to come online? Also, I've heard that even in a metro area the size of Tampa Bay, there may be just a dozen or two HD receivers in use.

Also, I have heard (perhaps incorrectly) that AM stations cannot transmit a digital signal after dark? If that's the case, wouldn't it make more since for the likes of 970 WFLA to rebroadcast on one of Clear Channel's HD2 FM streams?

One other question: wouldn't the smaller stations benefit most with the clarity of an HD signal? Yet, it seems most HD broadcasters are the "big boys." What about the mom-and-pop's?

I'm curious about all these developments, in that there's substantial interest in HD radio in Oz, even though it's years away.
Click to expand...

I think any of the few mom & pop's would wait on the technology to be proven rather than invest the capital for the equipment on a non-money or ratings maker. I'm still not sold that HD radio will ever become something more than a few radio geeks and audiophiles will have until every radio sold is HD capable. If I owned a station I'd focus more on internet streaming rather than HD, especially if WIMAX & BPL ever become a viable solution for wireless and rual broadband.
 
Sbe..I can't get normal radio without a dipole on my Sony tuner. That won't be the downfall of HD. And again I'm not sure what is going on with your ears, but streaming audio quality?? My ears are extra picky and I'm just not hearing it on ANY of the HD's period. I know the ones I'm setting in the clear channel chain are super clean becuase I'm not squashing them into the ground.

riggie
 
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