The latest to cut staff: iBiquity

[SUPERCASTER]

Best wishes Tom. May your transition to a new and better position be brief and rewarding.

 

[KB1OKL]

Speaking of Ibiquity, here is Struble's latest column:

http://www.ibiquity.com/about_us/bobs_column_thoughts_on_radios_digital_future

Quoth Struble:

"One thing was clear: AM/FM’s competition is increasing...it will be difficult to fight all that new digital competition with analog technology - probably not a great strategy to be the last remaining analog medium in a world that is fully digital."

Nothing like striking the fear of analog obsolescence into the heart of a broadcaster as a way of getting him/her on board with HD Radio.

C5

Which do you think is wrong...

1)AM/FM’s competition is increasing
2)it will be difficult to fight all that new digital competition with analog technology
and/or
3)probably not a great strategy to be the last remaining analog medium in a world that is fully digital

I've never been his biggest fan, but don't you think it's a fairly accurate assessment. Or at least a valid opinion? Doen't it seem at least plausible we may actually end up with a totally digital world.

Sound, Telephone, TV, Internet, IPOD, Computer, Radios themselves, you car's brain, Satrad, etc..etc..

There's not a lot of analog left. Does that really strike you as Fear Tactics?

Clouseau

Well, Mr. Savage beat me to the punch but the question is a valid one.

And that is, who, besides iBiquity, is demanding that radio go digital? We know why they want it. IBiquity's future existence depends on the entire industry converting to HD Radio. But who among the listening public or, for that matter, advertisers is demanding that radio be digital? I have yet to read of anyone of importance (and by that I mean listeners and advertisers) who has asked for it. Only iBiquity is in a panic over the slow adoption of their technology.

No doubt, someday radio will be digital, probably due to a mandated analog sunset date from the FCC (after all, OfCom has set 2017 as the year analog broadcasting ends. Would the U.S. follow suit?).

But right now, radio has some major issues that require immediate attention. Going digital isn't one of them.

C5

Yup, Strewby Dewby is convinced that HD is part of the cure for what ails radio, he reasons by going digital it will be on equal footing with Wifi, CD's, HD TV etc, nope, sorry to say he's got it backwards, it's part of the problem and is further fracturing radio. I thought his representation of the myriad new forms of electronics out there pulling people from radio was fairly accurate until his reasoning that HD is part of the fix, this is self centered and wishful thinking on his part. It is just another extra thing no one needs least of all radio itself. I do think the reality that HD is on the brink of collapse is finally starting to sober him up a little however. Nothing liker utter fear to steer a man towards honesty.

 

[Savage]

Tom, there's not a doubt in my mind that in the end, your current situation will morph into a great blessing and a wonderful new opportunity for you. With your expertise and talents, I just know that a door is about to open which will be more lucrative, more rewarding and provide fun and intriguing challenges...which you would have possibly missed had you not been shoved into it. However unfortunate that might appear in the short term.

Make sure you keep looking around you, so you recognize this new opportunity as soon as is possible. And we all send our best wishes and encouragement to you.

Just remember: "all the world loves a Mopar lover."

 

[Savage]

Clouseau: give me - and all of us - a freakin' break already.

Who in this thread said, or even suggested, that Bob Struble is "a madman," "the devil" or has been "portrayed as Satan?"

And you accuse the anti-HD contingent of hyperbole, hysteria, and "hate?"

I'm gonna turn this around for you. What comment from any poster here has constituted "hate?"
That's ridiculous. And over the top. All the IBOC critics have said is that Struble lives in a fantasy world - or else he's characteristically being dishonest about HD, possibly some of both. And that neither course of conduct is particularly helpful to radio or even to iBiquity. At the end of the day the system has to succeed or fail on its own merits, or lack thereof. The record so far is not very encouraging despite a lot of dishonest deck-stacking by IBOC's inventors and corrupt regulators and self-interested parties like the NAB.

Those opposed to IBOC express their opinions with passion and conviction. Sometimes there is enough emphasis and colorful metaphor to make very strong statements. This is as it should be. These are legitimate uses of language to achieve the most memorable and resonant arguments.

But that is NOT "hate."

 

[clouseau]

Clouseau: give me - and all of us - a freakin' break already.

Who in this thread said, or even suggested, that Bob Struble is "a madman," "the devil" or has been "portrayed as Satan?"

In this particular thread, no one. However I'm sure you will admit Struble, HD radio, Ibiquity and Supporters have been called at least that bad.

Like the devil here...
http://boards.radio-info.com/smf/index.php/topic,105708.msg835075.html#msg835075
Or Evil here
http://boards.radio-info.com/smf/index.php/topic,112660.msg948196.html#msg948196
People who favor the system are routinely called idiots.. Like Here.
http://boards.radio-info.com/smf/index.php/topic,79043.msg590832.html#msg590832
The FCC is idiots because they allow it here...
http://boards.radio-info.com/smf/index.php/topic,117104.msg946506.html#msg946506
CBS is Idiotic because they have it here.
http://boards.radio-info.com/smf/index.php/topic,114207.msg917617.html#msg917617
idiotic, self-defeating myopia, is Here.
http://boards.radio-info.com/smf/index.php/topic,111358.msg887299.html#msg887299
Politicians who support it are idiots here...
http://boards.radio-info.com/smf/index.php/topic,109618.msg872238.html#msg872238

I think you get the idea. This list could easily have bee 3-4 times as long, BTW.

And you accuse the anti-HD contingent of hyperbole, hysteria, and "hate?"

Yeah, at least a little, Bob.

I'll admit, I was the first to do the Madman reference. But I think YOU'D have to agree he is routinely called MUCH WORSE, right here on good ol' Radio-Info/HD radio.

I'm gonna turn this around for you. What comment from any poster here has constituted "hate?"

Perhaps some will see "Hate" as over the top. I wonder how many here in the negative camp would honestly say "I don't hate HD radio?" I'll bet many would refute this without reservation. Surprising, becuase I would not claim I love it. Never have. Do you think the abuse Struble, iBiquity, the FCC, the NAB and HD suppporters routinly get are indicative of civil discourse?

I'm a pretty cold guy sometimes, I admit. But the treatment given to Struble, Martin, Rehr, etc etc.. is deplorable IMHO. Honestly, for the most part those who speak positively of the system are anonomous. Yet with a few exceptions, they appear to be more civil than the Anti-Gang. There are many in the negative camp that are just... well NEGATIVE.

All the IBOC critics have said is that Struble lives in a fantasy world - or else he's characteristically being dishonest about HD, possibly some of both. And that neither course of conduct is particularly helpful to radio or even to iBiquity.

Or that his name is Boobie Or StrewBull or... Sorry, I'm not buying the "We just disagre with his point of view", stuff. I disagree with some of what YOU say. I don't recall ever calling you a name. (That will come back to bite me in the butt, I'm sure).

At the end of the day the system has to succeed or fail on its own merits, or lack thereof.

I would agree with you. Which calls into question from MY perspective what the "Evil","Devil", "Idiotic","Boobie", "Strew-Bull"purpose is?

Those opposed to IBOC express their opinions with passion and conviction. Sometimes there is enough emphasis and colorful metaphor to make very strong statements. This is as it should be. These are legitimate uses of language to achieve the most memorable and resonant arguments.

I find that a lot on this board. The "Colorful Metaphore" often time outeweighs the substance. And I'll bet we both feel that happens more on one side than the other, we just don't agree on the sides. Either way, for many posters, there's far more emotion than discussion in this particular forum.

But that is NOT "hate."

I suspct different people see that issue in different ways.

Clouseau

 

[KB1OKL]

Man I wish I had the time to write these tome-like posts :. Strewbull is the most visible spokesman for IBOC as such he is of course going to be a target and deservedly so. I think the above poster is exaggerating just a wee bit though as usual.

 

[clouseau]

Man I wish I had the time to write these tome-like posts :. Strewbull is the most visible spokesman for IBOC as such he is of course going to be a target and deservedly so. I think the above poster is exaggerating just a wee bit though as usual.

No need to wish at all. You could always just post a sentence of blatenly false rumor or uninformed dogma.

Some folks rely on information. Some rely on "Yeah, what he said"

Clouseau

 

[KB1OKL]

Man I wish I had the time to write these tome-like posts :. Strewbull is the most visible spokesman for IBOC as such he is of course going to be a target and deservedly so. I think the above poster is exaggerating just a wee bit though as usual.

No need to wish at all. You could always just post a sentence of blatenly false rumor or uninformed dogma.


Clouseau

No, I wouldn't want to steal your shtick.