"Is Pay-for-Play HD Content on Horizon?"

[PocketRadio]

"Is Pay-for-Play HD Content on Horizon?"

http://www.rwonline.com/pages/s.0049/t.4028.html

Notable quote:

"With conditional access, the ability to hear or see certain content on a digital signal is limited to consumers who have the appropriately “unlocked” receivers. The technology is envisioned as a new use for stations’ multicast channels, not their main digital channels, supporters say. Several companies involved in testing the concept were part of the project that helped push multicasting to market."

Yup, this will forever put HD Radio in Satellite Radio's shadow. So, non-subscribers will just get the regular garbage, while paid access will give the equivalent of a Satellite Radio channel. How did we guess this of the scheming HD Radio Alliance - wait for a few more tens-of-thousands HD radios in the hands of consumers, then spring the trap ! This whole HD Radio thing stinks of rotten scoundrels !

 

[Mike Walker]

Again, anyone who understands, or has worked in radio knows there have always been "back channel" revenue streams...such as the background music WKBC-FM here in town offered on their SCA channel for many years. Radio stations are businesses. Finding new revenue streams is GREAT for business. How many people here have screamed "what's the business model?" Well here's part of that answer (the primary "business model" of course is advertising!) Pay services aren't for the general public. They're for specialized niche clients. Remember a digital data stream is just that...it doesn't care whether it's text, music, graphics, paging information, a weather forecast, low bitrate video, or whatever. Bits is bits...and part of radio's future is SELLING BITS. This will have NO impact on the analog and digital audio services being offered.

Admit it...you're pissed because HD radio is going to generate new revenue streams...proving wrong another of the assertions of HD-Bashers...that HD isn't a money-maker. We're just scratching the surface of what HD, and HD stations can do...and music services are just the beginning.

 

[R.F. Burns]

"Is Pay-for-Play HD Content on Horizon?"

http://www.rwonline.com/pages/s.0049/t.4028.html

Notable quote:

"With conditional access, the ability to hear or see certain content on a digital signal is limited to consumers who have the appropriately “unlocked” receivers. The technology is envisioned as a new use for stations’ multicast channels, not their main digital channels, supporters say. Several companies involved in testing the concept were part of the project that helped push multicasting to market."

Yup, this will forever put HD Radio in Satellite Radio's shadow. So, non-subscribers will just get the regular garbage, while paid access will give the equivalent of a Satellite Radio channel. How did we guess this of the scheming HD Radio Alliance - wait for a few more tens-of-thousands HD radios in the hands of consumers, then spring the trap ! This whole HD Radio thing stinks of rotten scoundrels !

Satellite radio? Oh the companies which can't make a go of it alone and need to merge. Is that what you mean? Do you mean XM & Sirius? Thise two operations which are hundreds of millions of dollars in debt? Is that what you mean. You're talking about XM who's stock went down again and is now 12.96$ on the nasdaq or Sirius who's stock is a killer at 3.26$ a share. Oh look CBS is really in trouble at 30.55$ and Clear Channel at 34.81$. Yep, I se that the rest of the financial world agrees with your financial insite about what constitutes success.

 

[clouseau]

Conditional access puts HD in Satellite's shadow. Got it. Fortunately for Satellite it is all free with no conditional access.

Oh wait... Never mind.

Do you even think about what you alledge?

Great take.

Clouseau

 

[Mike Walker]

Satellite channels are aimed at the general public (as are terrestrial signals). The extreme niche content, data, and text services that will be sold are not of interest to the general public.

I have DirecTV. Am I REALLY missing a lot when I watch my local news rather than a pay per view of wrestling? If I really think so, I can just buy the pay per view.

This doesn't put HD "in the shadow of satellite" (weak shadow that it may be) because ALL primary channels on HD are FREE OF CHARGE. Satellite offers NOTHING for free. Not a damn thing. THEY SELL EVERYTHING, and still can't make money (which terrestrial radio DOES) Apples and oranges.

 

[PocketRadio]

Conditional access puts HD in Satellite's shadow. Got it. Fortunately for Satellite it is all free with no conditional access.

Oh wait... Never mind.

Do you even think about what you alledge?

Great take.

Clouseau

"If HD Radio Charges Consumers, Will It Be Considered Competition For Satellite Radio?"

http://satellitestandard.blogspot.com/2007/03/if-hd-radio-charges-consumers-will-it.html

Notable quote:

"It is pretty much confirmed that HD Radio is going to charge consumers for content. At what point is the FCC going to consider this service competition for satellite radio? Ironically, free HD is not considered competition, but paid service would be!"

Yup, it's a given - looks like the HD Radio Alliance has finally realized that HD Radio is not going to be terrestrial radio's great savior, so they have now taken a backseat to Satellite Radio, forever. Great news !

 

[davideduardo]

"It is pretty much confirmed that HD Radio is going to charge consumers for content. At what point is the FCC going to consider this service competition for satellite radio? Ironically, free HD is not considered competition, but paid service would be!"

Yup, it's a given - looks like the HD Radio Alliance has finally realized that HD Radio is not going to be terrestrial radio's great savior, so they have now taken a backseat to Satellite Radio, forever. Great news !

That is a quote from a blog, not a reflection of reality.

1. There has been essentially no talk of a pay based HD system.
2. There is no technology for such a system
3. At most, a broadcaster can own 5 FMs in a market. That means 5 HD-2 offerings.
4. Sirius and XM have nearly 150 channels each. IF 150 channels are $12.95, 5 would be worth about $0.35 on the same "per channel cost" That is less than the value of a stamp to mail the statement.
5. Broadcasters want to offer ad supported competitive channels, not to go into a business they are not familiar with with little revenue potential.
6. Individual market clusters offer very low potential subscriber bases.

While a blog may speculate and opine (that is what they are for), the reality is that paid HD is not likely to be a viable usage of HD.

 

[PocketRadio]

"It is pretty much confirmed that HD Radio is going to charge consumers for content. At what point is the FCC going to consider this service competition for satellite radio? Ironically, free HD is not considered competition, but paid service would be!"

Yup, it's a given - looks like the HD Radio Alliance has finally realized that HD Radio is not going to be terrestrial radio's great savior, so they have now taken a backseat to Satellite Radio, forever. Great news !

That is a quote from a blog, not a reflection of reality.

1. There has been essentially no talk of a pay based HD system.
2. There is no technology for such a system
3. At most, a broadcaster can own 5 FMs in a market. That means 5 HD-2 offerings.
4. Sirius and XM have nearly 150 channels each. IF 150 channels are $12.95, 5 would be worth about $0.35 on the same "per channel cost" That is less than the value of a stamp to mail the statement.
5. Broadcasters want to offer ad supported competitive channels, not to go into a business they are not familiar with with little revenue potential.
6. Individual market clusters offer very low potential subscriber bases.

While a blog may speculate and opine (that is what they are for), the reality is that paid HD is not likely to be a viable usage of HD.

"Is Pay-for-Play HD Content on Horizon?"

http://www.rwonline.com/pages/s.0049/t.4028.html

Notable quote:

"For more than a year, Ibiquity officials have been working with NDS, a technology contractor, to develop a conditional access feature for HD Radio. With field testing underway at a Florida public station, some proponents hope conditional access is the next big feature for HD Radio and think receivers that can handle the capability may be available by the end of the year. Much must happen to make that a reality."

Since when, is Radio World Online considered a blog ?

 

[PocketRadio]

"It is pretty much confirmed that HD Radio is going to charge consumers for content. At what point is the FCC going to consider this service competition for satellite radio? Ironically, free HD is not considered competition, but paid service would be!"

Yup, it's a given - looks like the HD Radio Alliance has finally realized that HD Radio is not going to be terrestrial radio's great savior, so they have now taken a backseat to Satellite Radio, forever. Great news !

That is a quote from a blog, not a reflection of reality.

1. There has been essentially no talk of a pay based HD system.
2. There is no technology for such a system
3. At most, a broadcaster can own 5 FMs in a market. That means 5 HD-2 offerings.
4. Sirius and XM have nearly 150 channels each. IF 150 channels are $12.95, 5 would be worth about $0.35 on the same "per channel cost" That is less than the value of a stamp to mail the statement.
5. Broadcasters want to offer ad supported competitive channels, not to go into a business they are not familiar with with little revenue potential.
6. Individual market clusters offer very low potential subscriber bases.

While a blog may speculate and opine (that is what they are for), the reality is that paid HD is not likely to be a viable usage of HD.

"WUSF Testing Conditional Access"

http://rwonline.com/pages/s.0049/t.4029.html

Notable quote:

"WUSF(FM) in Tampa, a long-time IBOC test bed and the first public station to go IBOC, is the site of conditional access field testing for HD Radio this spring. Tests were to begin March 19 and continue through early May, according to Tom Dollenmayer, station manager for radio and TV, WUSF Public Broadcasting."

Oh sorry, I seemed to have missed this article from Radio World Online.

 

[davideduardo]

"WUSF(FM) in Tampa, a long-time IBOC test bed and the first public station to go IBOC, is the site of conditional access field testing for HD Radio this spring. Tests were to begin March 19 and continue through early May, according to Tom Dollenmayer, station manager for radio and TV, WUSF Public Broadcasting."

Oh sorry, I seemed to have missed this article from Radio World Online.

There still is no technolgy for implementation. No "activatable" subscriber radios, no FCC approval of a system, etc. This is just a test, and it is by a public broadcaster, not by commercial radio.

Maybe they want to use HD3 channels like SCA's, for some kind of commercial service. We already have many listener based SCA services with real formats, like the Colombian RCN in New York and Radio Tehran in LA. The market is very niche and tiny.

 

[paul vincent zecchino]

No, this is not a test. This is a trial balloon, one foolishly, hastily, floated, in spirit of lingering giddiness from TeamBLOC's purloined and surely, ephemeral, victory last week.

This - ha, ha - 'new' idea, is precisely, among other ulterior motives, what HD skeptics have long suspected, if not clearly discerned from the outset.

If HD isn't a scheme to jam public airwaves, demolish competitors, confine listeners to BigKorpseorate networks, and charge dearly for the dubious 'service', then by what better business plan would one accomplish it?

Several years ago, it was well understood that BigKorpse KronyKaster revenue was up but listenership was down. Listeners chose small independent stations known for creative compelling programs. Small stations were doing what independent businesses generally do, outperforming bloated avaricious dullards.

Seems now The Stooge-radio cartel has at last tipped its claw. The rat is out of the bag.

Dr. Paul Vincent Zecchino
Manasota Key, Florida
30 March, 2007

 

[clouseau]

No, this is not a test. This is a trial balloon, one foolishly, hastily, floated, in spirit of lingering giddiness from TeamBLOC's purloined and surely, ephemeral, victory last week.

[EDIT]

This - ha, ha - 'new' idea, is precisely, among other ulterior motives, what HD skeptics have long suspected, if not clearly discerned from the outset.

If HD isn't a scheme to jam public airwaves, demolish competitors, confine listeners to BigKorpseorate networks, and charge dearly for the dubious 'service', then by what better business plan would one accomplish it?

Uh.. I'm guessing the answer you're looking for is "Marguaritas"? Not my thing, but I'm suspectiing you are living the Jimmy Buffet Song. (Really... are you "Wasting away"?)

...BigKorpse KronyKaster revenue

bloated avaricious dullards.

The Stooge-radio cartel

Hey, "Doc" we couldn't end this post without proper credit to YOU our subject matter....

Dr. Paul Vincent Zecchino
Manasota Key, Florida
30 March, 2007

Clouseau

[EDIT-inflammatory]

 

[Mike Walker]

The conditional uses they're talking about are things like refreshing map info in GPS units, reading services for the blind with better audio quality (which would be done as a community service...nobody would be charged), digital paging, stock tickers, etc. NOT for radio programming. Equating this to satellite radio is like equating My Space to Morning Edition because they're both at some point digital bits going down a pipeline. There's a reason that distinguishing between things which are similar (both HD data services and satellite radio) but different (radio programming vs..well things that AREN 'T radio programming) is a part of IQ tests. The inability to distinguish between such things doesn't speak well of one's intellectual acuity

 

[IBOCRocks]

No, this is not a test. This is a trial balloon, one foolishly, hastily, floated, in spirit of lingering giddiness from TeamBLOC's purloined and surely, ephemeral, victory last week.

This - ha, ha - 'new' idea, is precisely, among other ulterior motives, what HD skeptics have long suspected, if not clearly discerned from the outset.

If HD isn't a scheme to jam public airwaves, demolish competitors, confine listeners to BigKorpseorate networks, and charge dearly for the dubious 'service', then by what better business plan would one accomplish it?

Several years ago, it was well understood that BigKorpse KronyKaster revenue was up but listenership was down. Listeners chose small independent stations known for creative compelling programs. Small stations were doing what independent businesses generally do, outperforming bloated avaricious dullards.

Seems now The Stooge-radio cartel has at last tipped its claw. The rat is out of the bag.

Dr. Paul Vincent Zecchino
Manasota Key, Florida
30 March, 2007

Wait...what?

[EDIT]

At any rate, the truth is that the programming will ALWAYS be free. ALWAYS. There is some talk about charging for data services like real-time traffic. I got news for you: That was already happening in the analog domain. There has been for-pay data on FM subcarriers for years. Where was the outrage for that?

Oh, right. It wasn't IBOC, so it was OK then.

[EDIT-inflammatory]

 

[PocketRadio]

"HD Radio Pay per Play?"

"I knew it, the agenda all along was "Pay Radio". Now they are getting desperate... Yup, I figgered it was doomed to come to this. So much for the ads so proudly proclaiming that "unlike Satellite radio, [IBAC] radio is 100% free." (Which itself is rather misleading as well because setting the XM and Sirus concepts aside for a moment, there's a LOT of free broadcasting to be heard via Sat). If there's a "death knell" for IBAC, it's got to be the pay-per-play idea. So much for free local radio being free..."

http://feedback.pdxradio.com/messages/5/239145.html?1172876996

 

[IBOCRocks]

"HD Radio Pay per Play?"

"I knew it, the agenda all along was "Pay Radio". Now they are getting desperate... Yup, I figgered it was doomed to come to this. So much for the ads so proudly proclaiming that "unlike Satellite radio, [IBAC] radio is 100% free." (Which itself is rather misleading as well because setting the XM and Sirus concepts aside for a moment, there's a LOT of free broadcasting to be heard via Sat). If there's a "death knell" for IBAC, it's got to be the pay-per-play idea. So much for free local radio being free..."

http://feedback.pdxradio.com/messages/5/239145.html?1172876996

Another day, another uninformed opinion.

There is no pay-for-play. Just like there is no tracking chip.

Pay for data services, just like there is now with subcarriers? Yes. Pay for audio? No.

 

[PocketRadio]

"HD Radio Pay per Play?"

"I knew it, the agenda all along was "Pay Radio". Now they are getting desperate... Yup, I figgered it was doomed to come to this. So much for the ads so proudly proclaiming that "unlike Satellite radio, [IBAC] radio is 100% free." (Which itself is rather misleading as well because setting the XM and Sirus concepts aside for a moment, there's a LOT of free broadcasting to be heard via Sat). If there's a "death knell" for IBAC, it's got to be the pay-per-play idea. So much for free local radio being free..."

http://feedback.pdxradio.com/messages/5/239145.html?1172876996

Another day, another uninformed opinion.

There is no pay-for-play. Just like there is no tracking chip.

Pay for data services, just like there is now with subcarriers? Yes. Pay for audio? No.

"NDS Announces NDS RadioGuard™, the Conditional Access Solution for HD Radio Services"

"NDS announces RadioGuard™, a conditional access solution for digital HD Radio™ broadcasting. RadioGuard is based on NDS’ industry-leading VideoGuard technology already deployed in more than 70 million digital set-top boxes worldwide. iBiquity Digital, the developer of HD Radio technology, has chosen NDS’ conditional access, enabling pay-per-listen, opt-in and public service offerings on the HD Radio platform. NDS is the first provider of conditional access for HD Radio broadcasting."

http://home.businesswire.com/portal...d=news_view&newsId=20070416005254&newsLang=en

"NDS Provides Conditional Access for HD Radio"

"NDS Radioguard in the HD Radio chipsets will allow broadcasters to offer pay-per-listen options for live concerts and events, opt-in events sponsored by advertisers and private channels for specific needs. The conditional access system is used to scramble the signal and then entitle specific receivers to decode that signal. To do this, all HD Radio receivers will need to be addressable, which is a step that it now being implemented for future receivers. The decoding capability is being introduced in two steps. By September 2007, NDS will have a security chip available that will add the access capability to the existing HD Radio chipset. By April 2008, NDS and Ibiquity expect to have the capability imbedded within the HD Radio chipset."

http://radiomagonline.com/currents/radio-currents-040907/#nds

Your identity shall be known !

 

[PocketRadio]

"Now on HD Radio: Subscriptions, Pay Per Hear, and More"

There are three ways in which this can operate:

1) Subscription: possibly sold through cars' GPS features (among other places).
2) Pay per listen: concerts.
3) Opt-in: advertisers sponsor an event in return for demographic information while users register to listen for free.

- Users will be able to subscribe via the web or by calling an automated phone line.
- The system will be able to send specific ads to specific radios.
- The RadioGuard chips are slated to go on sale in the third quarter of the year; devices should be available to consumers by the holidays.
- They're primarily looking at home and car use right now (deals with BMW and Lexus are in the works), because it's hard to design a device like this to consume so little power that it can be carried away from a power source.
- HD radio currently packs 3-4 channels into a single frequency; in the future, that could rise to 8 channels. Overall, this could mean more choice for consumers when it comes to localized content.
- Users who don't pay won't see the channels they can't get. However, their devices will display a message that says, "call this number to activate this channel."

http://blog.wired.com/music/2007/04/now_on_hd_radio.html

"Satellite Radio's biggest problem: Part 2"

"To appreciate satellite radio, you need to hear it. But to hear it, you need to subscribe. But to subscribe you need to hear it, and to hear it you need to subscribe. A vicious circle."

http://www.hear2.com/2007/04/satellite_radio.html#comments

This is great - more-and-more HD Radio is just becoming a second-rate Satellite Radio ! As Ramsey explains, over-complexity is one of Satellite Radio's major problems !

 

[clouseau]

<Snip>

Tons of garbagy blather deleted...

As Ramsey explains, over-complexity is one of Satellite Radio's major problems !

Right...

Satellite radio must "REALLY" be confusing...It's based on a Cable TV model and "NO ONE" knows how their cable TV works, right??? How insightful.

I'll bet thousands of people called in a service call today because that channel labeled HBO on their basic cable is all fuzzy. What a moron. Of all the problems with Satellite radio, "It's Confusing" is the worst excuse ever. How about "It costs too much" or "I just don't care enough about it to pay?" Does he ever talk to PEOPLE?

It doesn't take much extrapolation to see that the logical conclusion to Ramsay's take is that HBO and Showtime are a failing business model because it's "Too Complicated". He's a sensationalizing idiot.

He ought to go work for Bridge Ratings. They're awful, but at least they look for data in shopping malls. Ramsay gets HIS ideas in a place where the sun NEVER shines.

Clouseau

 

[Mike Walker]

The hypocrisy in this thread rises to comic proportions. At the same time you guys say that nobody will buy and HD radio, even if the improved sound quality and variety costs NOTHING, then you lament that there is going to be pay content. If nobody will listen for free, they sure won't pay. And you simply can't have it both ways! That you don't even see the dichotomy in your argument(s) says a lot.