WFNX & HD?

[FPB]

I've been wondering why 'FNX never started broadcasting on HD. Any ideas? Tech issues? Plans for the future?

 

[WNTIRadio]

Why bother with all the expense for a service that 3 people, 2 of which are market engineers, will hear.

 

[reelyreal]

Most likely a cost vs. benefit issue. I can't think of many small groups that adopted HD radio (outside of WCCC and WCCC-FM Hartford... They launched in 2005 but the HD is now off on both signals.)

 

[Eli Polonsky]

I have heard that not only the HD equipment is quite expensive, but so is the required license. Many small independent stations do not feel that it's worth the expense.

 

[probboy]

Since WFNX is licensed at 1700 watts analog, their HD signal could be at most 68 watts (4%). That's not going to get them a whole lot of digital coverage, and would degrade their (already weak) signal at the edge.

 

[pqgeorge]

I have heard that not only the HD equipment is quite expensive, but so is the required license. Many small independent stations do not feel that it's worth the expense.

It's about $100,000 to buy the transmitter alone. The license is $25,000 for the first stream, $5,000 for any further stream there after. In this economy, why bother?

 

[JIBGUY]

It's about $100,000 to buy the transmitter alone. The license is $25,000 for the first stream, $5,000 for any further stream there after.

Aside from the transmitter, aren't those figures YEARLY recurring costs? And unless it has changed in the past couple of years, a license to cover a metro-survey area like Boston would cost a lot more than $25k.

 

[mgpt6]

For analog FM the cost is the plant,no recurring fees. If Ibquity was serious in getting smaller Fm stations to adopt HD, they would radically reduce their fees for it. If they did maybe FNX, XRV, HRB, ZBC, MBR might look at HD

 

[Savage]

But there are recurring fees involving monetization of the HD subchannels. The license requires you to fork over some percentage (the precise numbers elude me) of additional revenues generated from sales on the HD-2 and 3s. Of course, we'll have to pause here for a moment for the audience laughter to subside.... ( )....but the structure does exist. And in the meantime you have to give iBiquity access to your books for auditing purposes. Just what I'd like as a commercial operator: having some Bob Struble nitwit minion poring over my business records to see if I'm hiding "millions in HD subchannel revenue...." :

 

[reelyreal]

Actually, the fee structure was changed last year.

The previous "sign-on" fee for the main channel was $25,000. It's now $10,500 if you pay at the signing, $11,000 if you want to take net 30 billing, and $12,500 if you want to break it up over a year ($1,042 per month.) That's a one-time fee.

For sub-channels, it's a recurring annual fee. It's EITHER 3% of incremental net revenue for each sub-channel per year, OR $1,000.00 per year, whichever is greater.

That's for the licensing, in addition to the digital transmitter and either diplexing it into your antenna or running a new feedline to a new digital antenna.

Still pretty pricey for not much benefit.

 

[JIBGUY]

Considering what the price was almost 10 years ago, the price keeps dropping...... wonder why. - gobble-gobble!

 

[MarcB]

Most likely a cost vs. benefit issue. I can't think of many small groups that adopted HD radio (outside of WCCC and WCCC-FM Hartford... They launched in 2005 but the HD is now off on both signals.)

Red Wolf Broadcasting. WMRQ 104.1 Waterbury, CT. Previous owner CC put the station in HD. Then Red Wolf Broadcasting add HD 2 and HD 3. HD 2 is Spanish Tropical La Bomba, which is simulcast on a 97.1 translator. And when the HD 3 was on the air it was simulcasting a CCM station from Worcester, Mass.

 

[reelyreal]

Most likely a cost vs. benefit issue. I can't think of many small groups that adopted HD radio (outside of WCCC and WCCC-FM Hartford... They launched in 2005 but the HD is now off on both signals.)

Red Wolf Broadcasting. WMRQ 104.1 Waterbury, CT. Previous owner CC put the station in HD. Then Red Wolf Broadcasting add HD 2 and HD 3. HD 2 is Spanish Tropical La Bomba, which is simulcast on a 97.1 translator. And when the HD 3 was on the air it was simulcasting a CCM station from Worcester, Mass.

I said "added." The HD setup was in place and paid for when Johnny bought the station. WURH ran HD2 as well. You'll notice he hasn't installed HD at WBMW, WWRX, or WTNN. It's a safe bet he won't install HD out at the new WJJF Montauk.

 

[4CX1000A]

Since WFNX is licensed at 1700 watts analog, their HD signal could be at most 68 watts (4%). That's not going to get them a whole lot of digital coverage, and would degrade their (already weak) signal at the edge.

WERS is already running HD from the same site. Their coverage would be a good indication of what WFNX might expect.

 

[4CX1000A]

It's about $100,000 to buy the transmitter alone. The license is $25,000 for the first stream, $5,000 for any further stream there after.

Aside from the transmitter, aren't those figures YEARLY recurring costs? And unless it has changed in the past couple of years, a license to cover a metro-survey area like Boston would cost a lot more than $25k.

Those numbers sound high to me. As a low-powered station, WFNX should be able to use low level combining, replacing their existing transmitter with one capable of linear amplification. Moreover, I don't recall the license costing WCRB more than $10,000 back in 2006; has Ibiquity truly jacked the price up so high?

 

[nd2023]

Clear Channel hasn't added HD to WEDX. Also, they shut off the HD transmitter on WWBB 101.5 in Providence, shortly before they purchased 101.7. Perhaps even Clear Channel realizes that it doesn't want to shoot itself in the foot and destroy part of WEDX's weak signal with the IBUZ from 101.5, nor displace 101.5's listeners closer to Boston by adding IBUZ to 101.7.

 

[SixtiesGuy]

Seriously, how many non-radio industry people even know what HD radio is, let alone own one? It is the 21st Century equivalent of AM stereo, although in fairness AM stereo was actually receivable more than five miles from the transmitter. Why invest in dead technology?

 

[frnkp2000]

Seriously, how many non-radio industry people even know what HD radio is, let alone own one? It is the 21st Century equivalent of AM stereo, although in fairness AM stereo was actually receivable more than five miles from the transmitter. Why invest in dead technology?

I do believe you read my mind!

 

[jlehmann]

Since WFNX is licensed at 1700 watts analog, their HD signal could be at most 68 watts (4%). That's not going to get them a whole lot of digital coverage, and would degrade their (already weak) signal at the edge.

WERS is already running HD from the same site. Their coverage would be a good indication of what WFNX might expect.

WERS (analog) is 4000 watts and non directional though. WEDX is 1700 watts directional protecting WWBB and WCIB, so the HD coverage, especially to the south would be much less.