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What Would It Take to Sell You and HD Radio

M

MattParker

All Media have "killer apps." The term was invented to describe an early spreadsheet program called Visicalc, which motivated business users to get their first computer. Uncle Miltie and Howdy Doody sold TVs. (As Uncle Miltie said, "My father sold his. My uncle sold his.") Amos n' Andy sold people their first radios a generation before that.

Software is what sells hardware. Programming or content is what sells a new communications technology.

What would it take to sell you and HD radio?

For me: Not KYW or WPHT on a sub-channel; the AM signal is just fine, thanks. Something I can't get now. Real Oldies. Nostalgia/Standards. Progressive talk. Howard Stern (I wouldn't pay a monthly fee plus buy a box but I would buy a box; not that he's likely to do sub-channel radio).

What would it take for you to buy one?
 
landtuna said:
I can honestly say I have all the content I want on my existing devices.
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I think that's how a lot of people feel. The niche formats not available on main channels appeal to such a small number of people, and they're satisfied with satellite or mp3s. Then again, I haven't actually bought a radio that wasn't part of something else (like a car) in more than ten years. I bet that's pretty common.

Back in the old days, radio companies made radios AND programming. They controlled software and hardware. Now, the hardware companies are mainly focused on other types of devices. The company pushing HD doesn't work with stations but rather owners. There's a real disconnect between software and hardware that doesn't seem very productive for either side. Then again, the music industry doesn't seem to love Apple, but puts up with them because it sells a lot of music. How much of Apple's success is the music, and how much of it is the device itself? Is hardware selling the hardware? I don't know. I bought my iPhone for phone and internet, not music.
 
Good Variety and Better Signals. It seems the variety in the Philly market stinks, just like the T-Band, most HD formats are some sort of Rhythmic. I usually tune in WRFF's HD-2, I am a rocker so I enjoy the wide variety of Rock and Alternative. MMR and MGK's HD-2's are too off the wall for my enjoyment. I could also listen to Country Classics and have written XTU numerous times and expresed my opinion but to no avail, they just say they will consider it, that New Country they spin on their HD-2 does not impress me. They should be more like DSD-HD-2's, Country Classic format. OGL's HD-2 is the same predictable Rhythmic oldies, where the heck is Toast and Marmalade by Tin Tin, 13?'s from Seatrain, One Toke over the line, when BUX was 70's you heard those tunes all the time, but OGL continues with the 70's predictable soul. Casey is the only bright spot on OGL's HD-2 just because there is variety. The B is not too bad with their 80's, I heard everything from Hair Metal, Crue and Great White to Rick Ashley, I guess Jerry knows how to do it on both HD's. The DC, Baltimore and NYC markets have better HD's, but that my be because their T-band is more Rhythmic than Phillys...just my 1 1/2 cents worth.
 
The HD formats in Philly do leave a lot to be desired. WRDW's dance HD-2 really sucks, way too repetitive and almost all top 40 remixes. I wish they actually put some effort into it like Mix 2 in Baltimore.

BTW, I bought a portable Insignia HD radio and listened to it last summer. It was neat, but I hated the constant drop-outs (even in Center City!). So, now I just listen to the radio on my smart phone. Over-the-air HD radio is dead to me, as are any of its devices. I suspect many others feel the same way.
 
MattParker said:
For me: Not KYW or WPHT on a sub-channel; the AM signal is just fine, thanks. Something I can't get now. Real Oldies. Nostalgia/Standards. Progressive talk. Howard Stern (I wouldn't pay a monthly fee plus buy a box but I would buy a box; not that he's likely to do sub-channel radio).

What would it take for you to buy one?
Click to expand...

What sold me back in 2006 was then WSNI's HD-2, the "Sunlight Lounge." Great mix of music, and while I could stream it at home, I wanted to be able to hear it OTA since running my PC 24/7 heated up my room like a sauna.

And before B101 fired up HD, I could get CBS-FM in HD with a attic antenna in Central Jersey...

What would sell me now? A kick ass oldies station on a HD-2, done Philly style. Hell, just put HyLitRadio on WOGL HD3 or 4 and be done with it.
 
I already get every market's HD stations on my WIFI squeezebox. I listened to a station's OTA HD signal on a an HD radio once...and it sounded awesome. The problem is many consumers like me no longer want to add more components to their cabinets or take up any more space unless they have too. And the receiver along with the large speakers are becoming a thing of the past to listen to music which is why places like Good Guy's and Wall to Wall sound is out of business. With a few exceptions to the squeezebox, flat screen, computer tower and monitor, and Blu Ray, they are the only components I hope I need to take up the space for entertaining media. Everything else is software or components that I can fit in my pocket or drawer. That's why it's hard for me to want an HD.
 
Here's the thing. Sounding good and the bandwith it requires also requires a good computer setup (with good speakers) and a solid, high speed internet connection that isn't slowed by streaming when you're doing other things. The technology isn't there in a lot of areas or a lot of homes. So why wouldn't HD be a better proposition considering that radio (broadcast) is a lot cheaper and more efficient from a coverage standpoint?

I love new technology and internet radio, but it's not there for everyone yet.
 
Much more coverage as it is now it goes in & out(( Not good at all)) and an Oldies station that plays 50's & 60's. you get that and I will hook back up my HD Radio. But for now I will still stream Radio station (Even HD ones) From all over the US on My Android phone!!(KLUV) I love that station!! Wnjo.com are locked on my smart phone.. Only thing I don't like about KLUV HD-2 is all the Advertising they have I thought HD-2 was free from Advertising.
 
tommygraser said:
Much more coverage as it is now it goes in & out(( Not good at all)) and an Oldies station that plays 50's & 60's. you get that and I will hook back up my HD Radio. But for now I will still stream Radio station (Even HD ones) From all over the US on My Android phone!!(KLUV) I love that station!! Wnjo.com are locked on my smart phone.. Only thing I don't like about KLUV HD-2 is all the Advertising they have I thought HD-2 was free from Advertising.
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Mostly it is. That's part of the problem.
 
Speaking for me personally, if CBS put WFAN on an HD feed of one of the Philly FMs, and it had all the sports play by play in tact (or, at least, it had the Mets games in tact), I would probably buy one of Best Buy's portables.

I'm not suggesting that's a good idea. (Though, they have done it in other markets where they have sports stations on FM, including in Washington, D.C.) The thread title asks what it would take for me.
 
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