Tired of HD Ads on the radio

[jras20]

I'm tired of hearing those HD Radio promos just about every ad spot I will hear one. They need to spread it out more. I just turn it off when I hear them. Its mostly the Clear channel stations I am hearing them on. They must be really trying to push it.

 

[BRNout]

They are pushing it - on all of their stations. Basically, any free spots that aren't needed for PSAs seem to be getting filled with HD ads. Now liner cards are showing up with the sales pitch too. Pity the poor jocks....

 

[nd2023]

There are HD ads on a station in my area that does NOT have HD.

 

[KB1OKL]

I heard about a 10 second spot last night, it kind of taunted the listener into going into a place that sold HD radios though of course it didn't name any. An ad like that certianly wouldn't make me want to buy anything, was very bland, kind of like you're not cool if you don't listen to HD radio, was pretty sickening actually.

 

[JohnnyElectron]

Yeah, why run public service announcements anymore, as that would be in the public interest and convenience of the listeners, contrary to the almighty dollar, so who needs PSAs anymore?
Canadian stations still run PSAs, as I heard one yesterday about Cystic Fibrosis on CFCO, but I have not heard a single one on either of my two local (USA) clusters in about 10 years - that's no joke - I don't know what's in their public inspection file that qualifies as 'public service'?

 

[rbrucecarter5]

I think it would be far more effective to give people samples - play a song or two off of the HD-2 format, and tell listeners if they want to hear that type of music full time, they should buy an HD radio.

 

[Savage]

It's first quarter, and most stations are lightly sold. Since they have extra unsold inventory they're burning through their contractual commitment to run the pro-HD promos required by iBiquity.

For a while - bizarrely - we were getting complaints from people about the incessant/repetitive HD promos running on other stations. People were annoyed by the constant barrage of spots which inadequately explained what HD was or precisely what listener benefit, if any, was likely. Now I think people are just ignoring them.

I do miss the classically clueless "radio with a boob job" HD promo though. GREAT WAY to introduce female demos to HD Radio, How-Dumb Alliance!

 

[PTBoardOp94]

I don't know what's in their public inspection file that qualifies as 'public service'?

Why don't you stop in and check?

I don't live in a market where HD has been rolled out yet, but when I visit one I hear the same thing. One ad for the HD alliance at the end of almost every break.

And it isn't just in 1Q. Practically every week, the HD Radio Alliance is the largest advertiser on radio, according to Media Monitors. Of course, it is basically shuffling money from one account to another...

 

[Play Freebird]

Canadian stations still run PSAs, as I heard one yesterday about Cystic Fibrosis on CFCO, but I have not heard a single one on either of my two local (USA) clusters in about 10 years - that's no joke - I don't know what's in their public inspection file that qualifies as 'public service'?

You should take a ride over to the local corporate radio "cluster" and ask to see the PIF, if there's anyone still employed there today. I'll bet their lawyers have advised each station to run a few overnight PSAs and a weekly half-hour show in the "public affairs block" at 5 AM Sunday. Of course, everything will be well-documented in the Quarterly Issues-Programs List, satisfying the Letter Of The Law -- but nothing more than that.

Meanwhile, the volunteer-operated college station across town that still runs local PSAs and a public affairs show on weekday afternoons is holding a fundraiser to pay a $10,000 FCC fine because someone misplaced the issues-program paperwork.

 

[jras20]

I think it would be far more effective to give people samples - play a song or two off of the HD-2 format, and tell listeners if they want to hear that type of music full time, they should buy an HD radio.

That would be a idea, but funny if KHFI would do that, they would play the same song on the main format. They have 2 of the same formats on one channel.

 

[radiopilot]

Here in South Florida and Central Florida and I'm sure other local they are touting HD radio and it's greatness on every break, sometimes every 15 minutes or so, of course they are informing listeners on these stations (Hispanic) to go out and 'buy' a BMW or go listen to HD radio on a BMW or other high end car to 'experience' the new wave in radio, as if most of these Hispanics (no pun intended and no offense) are buying BMW in droves, sure there are professionals out there making very good money but they are not the ones listening to radio but mostly tuning into their mp3 players, CD players, or satelite radio.

Most Hispanics listening to radio tend to be those not technically advanced or of certain economic circumtances which precludes them from the new technology, therefore the reason why corporate radio is pushing more Hispanic stations since that seems to be where the trend in listenership and advertising is towards Urban/Hispanic/Ethnic. Anyone here want to chime in... probably David E.

So my question is WHY are they barraging the air with these HD spots if no one is listening or buying into this HD stuff, I have YET to know anyone I know personally to own an HD radio.

Radiopilot

 

[rbrucecarter5]

That would be a idea, but funny if KHFI would do that, they would play the same song on the main format. They have 2 of the same formats on one channel.

Exactly the problem - HD-2 can be a selling point, but not if it is just more of the same. New and original formats would attract at least some HD receiver sales. If the formats were sufficiently different than anything else on the air.

A good example is NPR stations that program classical on HD-2. Classical fans are fanatically devoted to their music. The will pay to buy an HD radio, and probably even put up with installing an antenna to get it. After years of being subjected to jazz and talk on NPR, they finally have a chance to hear classical and they will jump at it. Another example is Christian rock. CCM is profitable, but kids and young adults want Christian rock. Fanatically devoted to it - they will buy an HD radio and put up antennas to get it. I am one of those fanatics.

How hard would it be to identify half a dozen to a dozen such niches that are not available in each major market, and make sure they are covered? It is a no brainer - 50's and 60's oldies, classical, Christian rock, smooth jazz, various Spanish language formats, pride radio, other nationalities - all of which inspire some real fanaticism but aren't profitable in their own right.

Play a sample, talk up HD-2 on HD radios, a percentage of people are going to respond. But - a generic "stations between the stations"???? Who cares about more of the same?

 

[R.F. Burns]

In NYC WFUV's HD 2 is all Folk music 24/7 locallly programed. WKTU's HD 2 is Country, the only country music station in the market. WQCD HD 2 is "smooth Jazz". If you like any of this music theer's only one way to hear them in NYC on free radio.

 

[radiopilot]

In NYC WFUV's HD 2 is all Folk music 24/7 locallly programed. WKTU's HD 2 is Country, the only country music station in the market. WQCD HD 2 is "smooth Jazz". If you like any of this music theer's only one way to hear them in NYC on free radio.

Someone is not telling the truth here... check out these NON IBOC broadcasting sites playing Jazz in NYC...

http://www.wbgo.org/#top

http://www.columbia.edu/cu/wkcr/

WKCR-FM - 89.9
Jazz Alternatives - jazz


WBGO-FM - 88.3
Saturday Evening Jazz with Rob Crocker

and this was just a cursory look at what NYC was playing...

We ain't believing ya RF, so much for an SBE certified engineer if so...

Radiopilot

 

[tripinva]

I'm not an IBOC fan by any stretch of the imagination, but in all fairness, I'm pretty sure that "smooth jazz" and traditional jazz are two entirely different formats.

- Trip

 

[R.F. Burns]

In NYC WFUV's HD 2 is all Folk music 24/7 locallly programed. WKTU's HD 2 is Country, the only country music station in the market. WQCD HD 2 is "smooth Jazz". If you like any of this music theer's only one way to hear them in NYC on free radio.

Someone is not telling the truth here... check out these NON IBOC broadcasting sites playing Jazz in NYC...

http://www.wbgo.org/#top

http://www.columbia.edu/cu/wkcr/

WKCR-FM - 89.9
Jazz Alternatives - jazz


WBGO-FM - 88.3
Saturday Evening Jazz with Rob Crocker

and this was just a cursory look at what NYC was playing...

We ain't believing ya RF, so much for an SBE certified engineer if so...

Radiopilot

And the above comment just shows your ignorance. How is it you feel comfortable making what amount to ignornant easily discounted comments from the middle of the Florida Swamps about a market you so obviously know nothing about. Me thinks you are ingesting too much untreated Florida water. CD 110 which is now on the HD 2 stream at 101.9 has as much to do with straight ahead jazz ala, WBGO, WKCR & what WBLS plays on Saturday nights as Rush Limbaugh has to do with Air America. In this case yes, CD101 called themselves "Smooth Jazz" But you'd never hear a Charlie Parker or Miles Davis or Dizzy Gillespie or Nat Cole Trio on Smooth Jazz, CD 101.9. By the way, WBGO plays R&B/Soul on Saturday morning/early afternoon ala Felix Hernandez and WKCR isn't 24 hour jazz, they also play classical music much of the time. I can't and won't dispute with you whats going on in Central Florida when it comes to radio although having family in Tampa and St Pete I do spend enough time down there to say that from my opinion radio there is pretty poor with loads of stations that have lousy signals. That said please don't try to discuss what's happening in NYC when you show your obvious ignorance with every sentence you type. In other words, when it comes to discussing the NY radio market, go away kid, ya bother me is an apt response to your ramblings.

 

[jras20]

If they would just play the ad maybe a few times a day that would be fine with me. But I bet I heard those ads about 5 times just my drive back home from South Texas!

 

[R.F. Burns]

Ads, radio... Radio, ads... Gee what a idea. That's how radio works. One or two spots won't work and with people tuning in and out you want to saturate the listener.