The true motivation behind HD.

[radiopilot]

But, everyone has their preferences. Lots of people listen to satellite radio and think I'm nuts when I say I can't stand the poor audio quality. I'll take analog and/or HD Radio over XM or Sirius any day.

Unfortunately millions don't share your views, they'd rather listen to satelite and it's programming with no commercials even though the sound quality might not be up to par compared with commercials and diatribes of dj's on terrestrial radio analog or digital, and I'm one that will listen to satelite any chance I get.

Fix the lousy programming on terrestrial radio and maybe more people will tune their radios to it.. so far the corporate broadcasters haven't learned that lesson yet, now it's a 'Less is More' concept and they believe this is the holy grail to geting more listeners but it's too late, HD and 'stations within stations' isn't going to do it.


Radiopilot

If XM & Sirius had enough subscribers interested in what they are selling, they wouldn't be seeking a merger. Broadcasting is a business and as of this time, terrestrial radio is a success and very profitable. So far satellite radio is a failure. Think about it, both XM & Sirius give their product away (Mercury announced free 3 years of satellite service when you buy a car) and they still can't attract enough listeners to make a profit. People will listen to the sats for free, but when it comes to that monthly charge so far, most people aren't interested.

Mergers are sometimes good for companies sometimes bad, we won't ever know that since we don't sit on either board rooms.

You mention the 3 year deal with Sirius and car companies, but remember this: that's 3 years HD radios won't be in those cars, by that time most of these folks are 'hooked' on satelite or they are already Ipod users and are using both satelite and the mp3 players through the cars system.

$13.00 is nothing compared to the $40-80 of Comcast, $10-50 of DSL, or $35-100 or more for cellular phone service, or $10-50 month of online gaming.. so you see these technophobes have no problem spending so little to get alot 150-300 channels of music/sports/talk if you consider the XM/Sirius merge compared to 3-5 HD stations with possibly 1-5 extra HD-2 or HD-3 lousy programs they wouldn't listen to on regular radio.

Radiopilot

 

[Mike Walker]

XM and Sirius have a COMBINED subscriber base of 15 million, vs. 270 million terrestrial (am and fm) listeners. XM (which I subscribe to) has been "just six months away from profit" for the last five years!

Far from failing, terrestrial radio does something satellite and internet radio can only dream about at this point. IT MAKES MONEY!

 

[Mike Walker]

It's silly to think that because satellite radio is in cars, HD won't be. Been to an electronics store lately? Tuners, receivers, and radios are becoming more integrated all the time...including more formats, more platforms. There are receivers with XM, Sirius, AND HD (they should include internet radio too!) Car stereos have traditionally been ahead of this curve.

HD is VERY young. The rules were only finalized this spring. The major manufacturers are just getting into the game (as are the major retailers).

 

[Mike Walker]

To the person who wrote "everything is about money these days, and it makes me sixk"...what is this, 1967? Are we all gonna' live in a commune, and just "love one another" and smoke dope?

Radio stations (networks, and satellite services) are BUSINESSES. They MUST generate revenue. It's not "evil". It's necessary for SURVIVAL. There are two ways for radio to exist. Listeners pay (as with XM and Sirius), or advertisers pay. Trust me...the ADVERTISING model is the best one! And it's the one that will continue to dominate terrestrial radio FOREVER. But if your station is offering two, or three HD streams you can get for free, what the hell do you care if there's one NARROWLY targeted niche service that they charge for? Is CSI, available on free network tv, harmed by The Sopranos, available only by subscription? Put another way, the existance of The Sopranos, hugely popular as it is/was, didn't keep CSI from DOMINATING the ratings for years!

 

[clouseau]

$13.00 is nothing compared to the $40-80 of Comcast, $10-50 of DSL, or $35-100 or more for cellular phone service, or $10-50 month of online gaming..

Well said. And considering the cost is "Nothing compared to..." Satradio still is having trouble getting by. What's that tell us ablut Sat Radio.

Clouseau