US car makers have no plans to install HD.

[pocket-radio]

As reported in Reuters, the big 3 auto manufactures are taking a wait and see attitude when it comes to HD radio. Their cost to install radio's is $45.00, or $150 million to $200 million annually. From the article, it's a big commitment for a new technology with an uncertain future and ROI.

$250 million on marketing HD Radio through the Alliance so far hasn't attracted listeners or
captured the hearts of domestic auto manufactures either. You can wrap lame simulcast/ jukebox radio in newspaper and call it HD, but it's still going to stink.

For those who still hopelessly want to compare HD to FM, remember this. Nothing will stop the American consumer, and if we want something bad enough, we'll whip out our MC/Visa and charge it! Just ask Steve Jobs about his Ipod sales.

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSN2632750220070427

 

[KG6VSW]

I agree with your assertion that consumers aren't terribly interested in HD Radio. Looking up "HD Radio" on the Google trends website is a great illustration.

However, the article you are citing is from April of 2007. A lot has changed in almost 3 years, and a few Ford vehicles do have an HD option. I'm not sure it's very popular, and perhaps it won't last long, but this article is irrelevant.

 

[hubcity]

Okay, listen: I understand the technical issues. I understand that AM HD, very frankly, should never have been let out the barn door. But if you're gonna trot out three year old press accounts to bolster an argument and present it as new info, you're being just as disingenuous as iBiquity's rosier assertions.

Full disclosure: I'm running an HD2 (in a way that's hopefully regarded as pretty passionate; apparently an exception, which has a lot to do with the public's very honest reaction to HD.) What's your excuse?

 

[hubcity]

Yeah, here's a somewhat fresher article. Ford were crowing at CES about an HD Model that includes iTunes tagging...

http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/29/ford-becomes-first-automaker-to-offer-hd-radio-with-itunes-taggi/

But, again, nobody will ever buy an HD Radio solely because it's an HD Radio, but they'll buy it if it does something for them. That's kind of been the problem, I think.

 

[pocket-radio]

I agree with your assertion that consumers aren't terribly interested in HD Radio. Looking up "HD Radio" on the Google trends website is a great illustration.

However, the article you are citing is from April of 2007. A lot has changed in almost 3 years, and a few Ford vehicles do have an HD option. I'm not sure it's very popular, and perhaps it won't last long, but this article is irrelevant.

Big deal it's an option. AM stereo was an option too. Betamax was an option.
And yet car makers see satellite radio as an option thats profitable. In 3 years a lot has changed. New media is rapidly being excepted by consumers and advertisers. In three years, new HD starts ups have stopped growing and some startups have turned the power off.

 

[dumber than a box of hair]

And yet car makers see satellite radio as an option thats profitable.

That's not the whole picture. Satellite radio has finally turned the corner financially (according to yesterday's financial news, Sirius-XM is finally in the black), but let's not forget the reason they're in so many dashboards: They forged partnerships with virtually every auto manufacturer that sells cars in the US. Or, to put it another way, they bought their way in.

 

[KB1OKL]

And yet car makers see satellite radio as an option thats profitable.

That's not the whole picture. Satellite radio has finally turned the corner financially (according to yesterday's financial news, Sirius-XM is finally in the black), but let's not forget the reason they're in so many dashboards: They forged partnerships with virtually every auto manufacturer that sells cars in the US. Or, to put it another way, they bought their way in.

They may have bought their way in but the reason they stay in is because it works like it's supposed to, few to no dropouts and the programming selection is excellent. Contrast that to HD.