Every time I look at the HDradio.com web site All I see is all the PRM stations and a few college stations. I am wondering whether any one else was going to try HD radio in the near future?
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Is anyone thinking about doing HD Radio in the near future
- Thread starter richllewis
- Start date
It'd be nice to see a commercial station or two pick up the cause, but don't hold your breath.
It seems like the companies most gung-ho about HD, like Clear Channel and Entercom, don't have a major presence in the state. The rate of return is just that much smaller here than in big markets. And the smaller broadcasters aren't going to pay the extortion rates iBiquity wants to license out the tech.
I think any of the big signals in Jackson and few along the coast would be good candidates for conversion, though. About the only other signals available are the ones from Memphis. Most of them seem to be reliable down to about Hernando along I-55. And I once got KEDM-HD Monroe while crossing the old Miss. River Bridge all the way into Greenville, but that was probably a fluke.
It seems like the companies most gung-ho about HD, like Clear Channel and Entercom, don't have a major presence in the state. The rate of return is just that much smaller here than in big markets. And the smaller broadcasters aren't going to pay the extortion rates iBiquity wants to license out the tech.
I think any of the big signals in Jackson and few along the coast would be good candidates for conversion, though. About the only other signals available are the ones from Memphis. Most of them seem to be reliable down to about Hernando along I-55. And I once got KEDM-HD Monroe while crossing the old Miss. River Bridge all the way into Greenville, but that was probably a fluke.
I get the Memphis stations in HD to Senatobia going south.
Thats with a deck I consider to be pretty darn deaf.
While in Dallas last week I found myself spending more time on HD2 and HD3 stations than anything else. I didn't even use XM once while I was there.
There are stations actually formatted in a why that makes them not a wasteland. The even have ads on them in some cases.
In Memphis the only offering in HD that matters to me is BBC World and the HD2 for WKNO.
It would be nice to get some Alt Rock, Dance, Maybe some News/Talk and even adult standards on the HD Subs. All of which I found and enjoyed in Dallas.
Thats with a deck I consider to be pretty darn deaf.
While in Dallas last week I found myself spending more time on HD2 and HD3 stations than anything else. I didn't even use XM once while I was there.
There are stations actually formatted in a why that makes them not a wasteland. The even have ads on them in some cases.
In Memphis the only offering in HD that matters to me is BBC World and the HD2 for WKNO.
It would be nice to get some Alt Rock, Dance, Maybe some News/Talk and even adult standards on the HD Subs. All of which I found and enjoyed in Dallas.
Michael I'm just using a portable Insignia in the car which may explain why I don't get great reception. I seem to recall WRVR being the best HD signal in Memphis, it got down to about Coldwater for me.
Last time I went through Memphis the HD stations all seemed to have trouble. 101.1 wouldn't lock or get a text ID, 102.7 wouldn't lock on 385 at 240 or practically anywhere else in the area, and WKNO went completely off the air in the middle of Marketplace, leaving just the translator on 90.5. I got no hint of HD on 95.7 or 92.9. Only WRVR and WKQK seemed "normal".
But I do agree the market could use more variety on its HD-2 stations. I'll throw my vote in for each format you mentioned. The modern rock on WEGR's HD-2 is pretty lame IMHO.
Last time I went through Memphis the HD stations all seemed to have trouble. 101.1 wouldn't lock or get a text ID, 102.7 wouldn't lock on 385 at 240 or practically anywhere else in the area, and WKNO went completely off the air in the middle of Marketplace, leaving just the translator on 90.5. I got no hint of HD on 95.7 or 92.9. Only WRVR and WKQK seemed "normal".
But I do agree the market could use more variety on its HD-2 stations. I'll throw my vote in for each format you mentioned. The modern rock on WEGR's HD-2 is pretty lame IMHO.
I honestly don't forsee but a very few broadcasters across Mississippi spending the $$$ necessary to get into HD broadcasting until they have see how best other companies can make a profit from the techology...and until they can improve the engineering side of it per Zach's post. Also, many people still are not aware about HD broadcasting, and there has not been enough of a push to help them learn about it.
Is anyone on the coast Getting Mobile or New Orleans and what you think about them?
richllewis said:
You have to make a rather large financial commitment to go HD. There are changes required to STL systems, transmitters, combiners, antennas, reject loads and numerous other things in the chain that cost mucho dinero. A station is easily looking at one or two hundred large to pull it off. The question is (or should be) what is the return on this investment. A station that is barely getting by and already cut to the bone has no incentive for this kind of capex. I know the public stations all are running it in MS, but they actually had a use for the additional channels and didn't have to sweat the funding so much. You don't "try" HD at the levels of funding and manpower it requires; you commit to it and hopefully have reason to believe you get something for it.
something some stations might consider trying...
KDXY in Jonesboro, AR lit up HD and broadcasts 2 sub channels True Oldies 92.7 & Hot 107.5
The rebroadcast the HD2/3 stations on translators at 92.7 & 107.5 respectively.
They are strong enough to cover Jonesboro and even have a couple jocks on Hot 107.5.
In Montgomery recently an AM station flipped from Talk to Alternative Rock recently relying on an FM Translator rebroadcasting it.
No matter what it does take money. In many MS markets there just isn't enough of that to go around.
KDXY in Jonesboro, AR lit up HD and broadcasts 2 sub channels True Oldies 92.7 & Hot 107.5
The rebroadcast the HD2/3 stations on translators at 92.7 & 107.5 respectively.
They are strong enough to cover Jonesboro and even have a couple jocks on Hot 107.5.
In Montgomery recently an AM station flipped from Talk to Alternative Rock recently relying on an FM Translator rebroadcasting it.
No matter what it does take money. In many MS markets there just isn't enough of that to go around.
Michael...you have it! In a smalller market like ours, your market is limited. SO...a prudent manager/owner (if they are so lucky)...looks at the total potential market, the competition, the costs(especially the on-going costs)...and the possibility of revenues in this "Obama" era of uncertainty...and, in our case, the answer is NO! Why make a capital investment of 500K
(for a three station group) like ours....for no forseeable payback? In Mississippi lingo "Ain't Gonna Do It! "Thanks and come see us when in the area....regards....J Boyd
(for a three station group) like ours....for no forseeable payback? In Mississippi lingo "Ain't Gonna Do It! "Thanks and come see us when in the area....regards....J Boyd
Probably a better investment for stations in this climate would be securing a translator for an AM outlet, like 1450 did in Clarksdale.
Unfortunately, like money, translators seem to be in short supply around here. Locally, there are four off that I know of, in Charleston, Grenada and Winona (2). But none of these towns have any AM presence anymore. Someone would have to buy them and try to move them a great distance, which the FCC seems to have put a stop to.
I dunno how much it costs to buy and move a translator, but surely it's cheaper (and offers a better return) than HD.
Unfortunately, like money, translators seem to be in short supply around here. Locally, there are four off that I know of, in Charleston, Grenada and Winona (2). But none of these towns have any AM presence anymore. Someone would have to buy them and try to move them a great distance, which the FCC seems to have put a stop to.
I dunno how much it costs to buy and move a translator, but surely it's cheaper (and offers a better return) than HD.
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