Howie says there were more layoffs at Entercom today

[Bakers_Bookstore]

Who is there left to layoff? maybe a producer or something; on air weekdays there's just Finneran and Feinberg
and Howie and their producers--no local news staff for a couple yrs...other people in non-on-air departments though?

Poor Howie...gee he should contact his union rep...oh wait...Howie, Dennis & Callahan got the union booted at Entercom...oh well, sorry boys.

 

[Don Juan]

I am 30 miles south of Boston and can get half of the Boston FM with HD and 4 Providence FM in HD with the Sony XDR-!0 iP Table radio. Do not get any HD from WERS, WBOS, Mike-FM, WCRB, while getting good analog with those 4 except CRB. AM -HD does not work. Can only get WBZ 1030 AM , and then it will not hold HD lock.

30 miles to the North I get almost all of them.

Maybe you should turn your radio or adjust the little wire in the back. ;-)

 

[BRNout]

I am 30 miles south of Boston and can get half of the Boston FM with HD and 4 Providence FM in HD with the Sony XDR-!0 iP Table radio. Do not get any HD from WERS, WBOS, Mike-FM, WCRB, while getting good analog with those 4 except CRB. AM -HD does not work. Can only get WBZ 1030 AM , and then it will not hold HD lock.

30 miles to the North I get almost all of them.

Maybe you should turn your radio or adjust the little wire in the back. ;-)

Don, try walking around with an HD radio and see how "well" it does. I have 2 units and neither do particularly well more than 15 or 20 miles from the tx site. It would be bearable if you didn't lose all sound to the HD2s and 3s every time the signal is less than perfect.

No, it's still pretty sketchy technology. Digital should have been placed on a different piece of spectrum real estate.

 

[TheBigA]

Can anyone corroborate this? Can Gr. Media buy more AM's if they wanted to...?

My interpretation of the rules say they can buy an AM.

FCC.gov says the following:

Local Radio Ownership Limit - The Commission retained the local radio ownership rule. That rule embodies the numerical caps set by Congress in 1996. The caps are based on a sliding scale that increases with the size of the local market. As a general rule, one entity may own (a) up to five commercial radio stations, not more than three of which are in the same service (i.e., AM or FM), in a market with 14 or fewer radio stations; (b) up to six commercial radio stations, not more than four of which are in the same service, in a market with between 15 and 29 radio stations; (c) up to seven commercial radio stations, not more than four of which are in the same service, in a radio market with between 30 and 44 radio stations; and (d) up to eight commercial radio stations, not more than five of which are in the same service, in a radio market with 45 or more radio stations.

 

[Don Juan]

Don, try walking around with an HD radio and see how "well" it does. I have 2 units and neither do particularly well more than 15 or 20 miles from the tx site.

I have it in the car...am more than 20 miles out and it works well enough for me.

No, it's still pretty sketchy technology. Digital should have been placed on a different piece of spectrum real estate.

Digital broadcasting is the future.....and it will only get better.

If it was on a different piece of spectrum....no one would ever find it.

 

[bigtom101]

Don, try walking around with an HD radio and see how "well" it does. I have 2 units and neither do particularly well more than 15 or 20 miles from the tx site. It would be bearable if you didn't lose all sound to the HD2s and 3s every time the signal is less than perfect.

No, it's still pretty sketchy technology. Digital should have been placed on a different piece of spectrum real estate.

Portables don't have the antenna that tabletop & automotive radios do, and thats a big part of the problem. I have the Insignia portable, and can get most Class B signals fine 25 miles out from the TX site (the NYC & Philly FM's). If the power increase gets approved, expect your reception to get allot more solid on portables and in automobiles.

I agree that the best case for implementing digital broadcasting would have been to use different spectrum - it would have cleaned up allot of the issues here in the Northeast with an overcrowded FM band. But this is the system we have, for better or worse. Hopefully WBCN-HD3 has helped sell a few radios. I bought mine for a HD-2 3 years ago called the "Sunlight Lounge".

 

[BRNout]

Portables don't have the antenna that tabletop & automotive radios do, and thats a big part of the problem. I have the Insignia portable, and can get most Class B signals fine 25 miles out from the TX site (the NYC & Philly FM's). If the power increase gets approved, expect your reception to get allot more solid on portables and in automobiles.

Well, if you and DJ are right about that then perhaps digital doesn't need that interference-causing power increase after all. You brought up Philly and NY FM's; after the power increase, just imagine how great analog radio will sound in central NJ for the 99.6% of the public who don't have HD radio!! Hash-a-rama!

I agree that the best case for implementing digital broadcasting would have been to use different spectrum - it would have cleaned up allot of the issues here in the Northeast with an overcrowded FM band. But this is the system we have, for better or worse. Hopefully WBCN-HD3 has helped sell a few radios. I bought mine for a HD-2 3 years ago called the "Sunlight Lounge".

Honestly, how good is the audio fidelity on the former WBCN's HD3? Because it's been my experience that the bandwidth is limited and starts to sound like a low bitrate webstream by the time you chop it up 3 ways. I know a lot of broadcasters like having AM simulcasts on HD2; because they can advertise it as being on 'FM' and because they feel that they can skimp on the bitrate and most people won't notice.

 

[Don Juan]

Honestly, how good is the audio fidelity on the former WBCN's HD3?

Good enough that the average person will never complain.

It's better than most online streaming audio....and to me it sounds better than the quality that Sirius/XM is offerring.

 

[mgpt6]

On a Sony XDR-10iP Table Radio the audio quality is okay, but it is in Mono not Stereo because it is on a HD3 stream not HD2. If it was in Stereo it would sound poor because of the low bit rate. Freeform BCN needs to move to one of the HD2 channels of the Boston CBS FM stations.
Have to agree with Savage,AM HD does NOT work

 

[Don Juan]

On a Sony XDR-10iP Table Radio the audio quality is okay, but it is in Mono not Stereo because it is on a HD3 stream not HD2. If it was in Stereo it would sound poor because of the low bit rate. Freeform BCN needs to move to one of the HD2 channels of the Boston CBS FM stations.

HD-3 audio doesn't have to sound any worse than HD-2.....so I'm not sure why it's in mono because it's on an HD-3 stream.

If I am correct (and someone will no doubt correct me if I am wrong), engineers can make an adjustment in the amount of bandwidth allocated to each channel. SInce HD-2 is WBZ-AM....which requires very little bandwidth, they can allocate extra to HD-3.

WTKK used this idea when they allocated Classical to their HD-2 channel. Since HD-1 was talk....they could give the remaining bandwidth to HD-2 for classical, which could use the extra range.

Have to agree with Savage,AM HD does NOT work

Works FINE for me.

WBZ-HD sounds great in my office on my tabletop unit.... Savage's issues are with his one situation on his one property.

 

[bigtom101]

Well, if you and DJ are right about that then perhaps digital doesn't need that interference-causing power increase after all. You brought up Philly and NY FM's; after the power increase, just imagine how great analog radio will sound in central NJ for the 99.6% of the public who don't have HD radio!! Hash-a-rama!

The power increase does need to happen - building penetration is a big problem, and despite my good experience with the Insignia in my area when I walk around, it still could be better. I can't get any HD inside my house with it (Sony tuner & Accurian had HD reception), and in my car there are spots where the signal drops and it annoys the hell out of me (WCBS-FM HD is the only way I can listen to the station, with WBEB's analog slamming the hell out of it till I'm north of Edison).

As far as the "interference" problem goes; when WJRZ and WRAT were testing out -10 power levles, I had no problems receiving analog on WCTO from Allentown or WBEN in HD from Philly. WODE came in fine in analog, and WHTZ locked in HD fine. So the interference issues seem overblown, at least with my experence. Central NJ is already radio hell for those without a decent tuner, and the HD power increase isn't going to do anything to make it better or worse.

To Don Juan: the IBOC specs say that under Hybrid Digital mode that the HD-3 must be a mono stream. The HD-1 cannot have a bitrate lower than 48 kbps per FCC regs that the HD-1 have the same audio quality as the analog channel. Individual stations can add subcarriers so that the HD3 stream doesn't take bandwidth from the HD1/HD2 channels - its limited to 24kbps/mono. FWIW, the CBS Radio HD3 streams in NY & Philly sound decent. And since they relay AM stations, they don't necessarily need to be in stereo. But any music channel really should be in stereo, unless all the source material is in mono.

 

[Don Juan]

To Don Juan: the IBOC specs say that under Hybrid Digital mode that the HD-3 must be a mono stream.

I'll take your word for it.

Maybe they should move "Freeform" to HD-2....and WBZ-AM's audio to HD-3.

 

[jlehmann]

To Don Juan: the IBOC specs say that under Hybrid Digital mode that the HD-3 must be a mono stream.

I'll take your word for it.

Maybe they should move "Freeform" to HD-2....and WBZ-AM's audio to HD-3.

WBZ AM's audio is already on 98.5 HD3. Freeform BCN is on 100.7 HD3. 98.5 HD2 is "WBCN" and 100.7 HD2 is "Radio Mojo," which is blues.

 

[BRNout]

Hey BigTom, as someone who lives in the Boston area, you should be more opposed to a digital power increase than most. Why? Because it will have the effect of wiping out adjacent signals. Once everyone does it, it will be a mess in the relatively short spaced environment in which you live.

Examples? OK, WWBB Providence at 101.5 and WFNX 101.7 - what do you think will happen to WFNX's signal in much of it's current range when WWBB ups their digital power?

Those of you who enjoy The River and live west or south of Boston will probably lose much of your signal when WPRO increases power at 92.3.

How about other adjacents on the fringes? Concord, Portsmouth/Kittery, Springfield, Cape Cod and other surrounding markets have a lot of first adjacents to Boston signals. Many will inevitably interfere with one another in surprising ways - having the net effect of cutting down on the ranges of most signals and limiting choices.

Not to mention the propensity of tropospheric ducting in southern New England which will really screw things up - even within markets.

Don't believe me? Think I'm being alarmist? Well, WRNI in Rhode Island has already had issues with the test of WKLB at increased power and they complained to the FCC about loss of service over as much of their normal range. Reports (not listed in this link) indicated interference as far south as Warwick and Cranston. And, this test was done in January when there's no tropospheric enhancement to FM signals. It will be even worse during the summer months. Here's a link: http://gullfoss2.fcc.gov/prod/ecfs/retrieve.cgi?native_or_pdf=pdf&id_document=7019916708

Another for those of you a little farther out around Derry or Manchester, NH - you'll likely lose the ability to receive WJYY 105.5 once WROR ups their digital power. If WJYY ever does the same, then WROR will likely be lost to most in the Manchvegas area as well. Such interference can easily extend into favored locations in the northern edge of the Boston market (Nashua/Merrimack). How about listening conditions on the South Shore with Cape Cod, Providence and Boston stations ALL blowing hash onto adjacent frequencies?

For people living anywhere in the northeast corridor to wish for a digital power increase is reminiscent of the AARP's former position in favor of Gov't run health care. Foolish, in that you're the ones with the most to lose.

 

[Don Juan]

Hey BigTom, as someone who lives in the Boston area, you should be more opposed to a digital power increase than most. Why? Because it will have the effect of wiping out adjacent signals.

If this were the case stations everywhere would be against this...and the formal complaints would be piling up at the FCC. Instead most stations are pro HD and not worried about "wiping out adjacent signals".

Instead, stations & broadcast companies (with the most to lose, and millions at stake), are not concerned...and are putting money behind it.

Granted, there are a few exceptions, as there are with everything.

 

[BRNout]

Hey BigTom, as someone who lives in the Boston area, you should be more opposed to a digital power increase than most. Why? Because it will have the effect of wiping out adjacent signals.

If this were the case stations everywhere would be against this...and the formal complaints would be piling up at the FCC. Instead most stations are pro HD and not worried about "wiping out adjacent signals".

Instead, stations & broadcast companies (with the most to lose, and millions at stake), are not concerned...and are putting money behind it.

Granted, there are a few exceptions, as there are with everything.

It is the case; however, several key broadcast conglomerates (CBS, Greater, etc.) are in the tank for Ibiquity and - as a result - aren't complaining. Even NPR's complaints were muted because THEY have a lot of money invested in the IBOC system too. But it was so bad that even they had to say something about that particular test.

No, this point that you've made only shows that it's all about the money and not at all about the engineering.

Crank up everyone's digital sidebands to 10% and you'll hear hiss, then howling as FM reception in congested areas goes to pot. This idea works great for a market like Salt Lake City, where there are no first adjacents on the commercial band for hundreds of miles. But anywhere else, you're begging for trouble.

And remember, penetration of HD radios in the marketplace is still at less than 0.5%! So, you're talking about disrupting reception for 99.5% in order to serve the 0.5%. It's not like the public is sitting up just waiting for a power increase to run out and buy an HD radio. To the contrary, they've already yawned at it. People have heard of it - and by and large, they're not interested. Only enthusiasts are. If so, fine. It's not causing any trouble now on FM - so leave it as is.....once you pull the plug from IBOC on the AM side.

 

[bigtom101]

Hey BigTom, as someone who lives in the Boston area, you should be more opposed to a digital power increase than most. Why? Because it will have the effect of wiping out adjacent signals. Once everyone does it, it will be a mess in the relatively short spaced environment in which you live.

For people living anywhere in the northeast corridor to wish for a digital power increase is reminiscent of the AARP's former position in favor of Gov't run health care. Foolish, in that you're the ones with the most to lose.

As Shakespeare said, "Aye, there's the rub." You see, I use DSP based tuners that seem to have no problem ignoring the IBOC sidebands and pulling distant/fringe signals out of the morass known as the FM ether here in the northeastern corridor. The more DSP based tuners that get out in the market, the better chances people have of getting a usable signal. Before these nifty radios came out, I had to wire up car stereos pulled from junked cars to listen to cause anything less than a Sangean didn't pull in squat. And I don't live in Boston, but do listen to WODS & WROR everyday (WODS for music, and WROR for Loren & Wally..and Tom Doyle) - and I am a Pats & Red Sox fan...been one since I lived in Texas. Central Jersey is as much of a challenge - the NYC & Philly FM's come in, along with all the local Class A stations shoehorned in and the 2 or 3 Class B's that are still around.

As far as the WRNI interference allegations, Greater Media/iBiquity and the NPR engineers offer differing accounts on the testing that went on - http://www.rwonline.com/article/85390. I don't know who is right or wrong, except that Greater Media is one of the best groups out there as far as engineering practices go (Full disclosure -I work for three of their stations down in New Jersey part time - one that is in HD, and one that is a AM music station). The engineers are very mindful of modulation levels to make sure that we aren't clobbering our neighbors on the dial and keeping within FCC regs. iBiquity tested 1st adjacent channel interference with shortspaced B stations - they tested WKCI vs WCBS-FM and WKCI vs WPDH back in 07 and found that the areas of increased interference were only a small percentage of the overall coverage area. I have the pdf's they submitted to the FCC saved if you want to see them for yourself...just PM me or shoot me an email.

The problem with being concerned about fringe is that fringe listeners don't make stations money. I have listeners in Brooklyn & Staten Island on the AM station (one Brooklyn listener I sent a GE Superadio 3 so he could get us again), but we don't run ads for business in those areas. When I was up at UConn for a week, I could get WODS & WROR while driving around, but I dont think that CBS or GM would be interested in running ads for Good Old Tom's.

AM HD is a whole 'nother can of worms, and I can't say I like it too much. Although getting WBZ in HD on DX skip down here is pretty cool...

 

[Don Juan]

It is the case; however, several key broadcast conglomerates (CBS, Greater, etc.) are in the tank for Ibiquity and - as a result - aren't complaining.

Sounds a bit like a conspiracy theory. Psychologists will tell you people go for conspiracy theories when they feel out of control, out of touch....

But anyway...

Why would they be "in the tank" for something that hurts them and "wipes out adjacent signals", and therefore make their stations harder to get all the listeners they can?

Even NPR's complaints were muted because THEY have a lot of money invested in the IBOC system too. But it was so bad that even they had to say something about that particular test.

Again, why would NPR stations be investing a LOT of money into a system that they believe is detrimental to them?

No, this point that you've made only shows that it's all about the money and not at all about the engineering.

The only point you've made is that people who have multi-million dollar investments in radio stations, and the engineering staff to examine it, don't buy your arguments that it is "destroying the band".

Crank up everyone's digital sidebands to 10% and you'll hear hiss, then howling as FM reception in congested areas goes to pot.

So far there has been virtually NO public complaints about HD on AM or FM.

And remember, penetration of HD radios in the marketplace is still at less than 0.5%! So, you're talking about disrupting reception for 99.5% in order to serve the 0.5%.

How was the penetration of stereo in 1965? HD is still in it's infancy...it's only a few years old.

And, there has been virtually no disruption reported. If this was disrupting reception....why would stations, who's primary raison d'etre, is to accumulate listeners spend money and effort for this?

To the contrary, they've already yawned at it. People have heard of it - and by and large, they're not interested. Only enthusiasts are. If so, fine. It's not causing any trouble now on FM - so leave it as is.....once you pull the plug from IBOC on the AM side.

The public has heard about it because of the efforts by stations to tell them about it. Stations have NOT told listeners a reason to go out and get a radio...so they haven't.

Programming is key...and there has been no effort to tell people the formats/stations they could receive on HD....so no one has bought one.

If they do chose to market the additional music formats...like WBCN is...then they will sell more radios.