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Why are they still beating that dead horse?

Y

yugoidar

Has anyone noticed the proliferation of commercials promoting HD Radio in recent days?

I have heard at least a half dozen in my casual listening over the past week or so. (All Access lists HD Radio as the number one advertiser for the week as well). It’s amazing to me how an industry that has the number of major issues that are discussed so frequently on these boards continues to beat this dead horse. A horse that was DOA!

From all that I hear, after a few years now, penetration is still very low, prices are high, signals are spotty and most consumers weren’t necessarily looking for “improved audio quality”.

Note to industry leaders: It’s quality programming…just like it’s always been, it’s what comes out of the speakers that counts!

If anything, HD radio can only dilute main channel listening (ratings) and is not likely to develop a significant revenue stream for years, if ever.

Talk about taking your eye off the ball! What are these people thinking?
 
Have you heard HD radio? Most people who "post" on these boards with negative comments never heard HD radio for extended periods of time. HD radio can be done and done right it's not counter/diluted programming the main channel at all and as for ratings any listener who writes down a HD multicast the main channel gets credited, as for deluted programiming BobFM his HD2 is Bob's B-Sides again complimenting the main channel, and Bob's HD3 is all local artists signed or unsigned to the Pittsburgh region. to me I like HD3, let's see satellite radio offer local programming like that. HD radios multicasting offers many options too; like Star 100.7 has Star jr. (music for kids) DVE's HD2 is Blues. WPGB's HD2 is Jazz, WDSY's HD2 is new country, Q92.9's HD2 is classic Q rock. (Album oriented rock at that) and Q's HD3 is Urban AC again playing what WAMO doesn't, WXDX HD2 is classic alternative, and have you heard QED in HD? Any audiophile would love QED in HD, and WDUQ's HD2 is music when the main channel is in NPR and when the main channel is music then HD2 is NPR and their HD3 is blues again complimenting not diluting. HD radio is what terrestrial radio needs in the 21st century people want more off the main stream programming and HD is that outlet, all owners of HD radio stations are not making money off of HD they are doing this to provide a "free service" to the public and expand their listening enjoyment without paying a monthly fee to satellite radio

we who work in radio have been given the go ahead by Ibiquity Digital (parent company of HD) to go ahead and sell advertising on their multicasts. so far in Pittsburgh none are doing this.

And Pittsburgh has the most HD3 channels in the USA with WDUQ and Q929 & BOBFM

Today, there are more than 1,600 radio stations broadcasting using HD Radio technology with over 750 offering HD2/HD3 multicast channels, providing consumers in 188 markets, 83 percent of the population, with new content and format choices, data services

HD Radio receivers for the home and car are now available from a variety of device manufacturers, including, Accurian, Alpine, Audio Design Associates, Audiovox, Cambridge Soundworks, DaySequerra, Denon, DICE Electronics, Directed Electronics, Dual, Eclipse, Insignia, Integra, JBL, Jensen Mobile, Jensen, JVC Mobile, Kenwood, Marantz, Metra, Niles, Onkyo, Peripheral Electronics (AAMP), Polk Audio, Radiosophy, Rotel, Sangean, Sanyo, Sony, Visteon and Yamaha, with more under development.

Home theater and table-top receivers will feature units by Accurian, Audio Design Associates, Cambridge SoundWorks, Coby, Denon, Dice Electronics, Insignia, Integra, JBL, Jensen, iLuv, LG, Marantz, Niles , Onkyo, Polk Audio, Radiosophy, Rotel, Sangean, Sony, Visteon, and Yamaha. iTunes Tagging equipped receivers from JBL, Polk and Sony
Next generation HD receivers will feature portable HD Radio receivers, MSN Direct and conditional access.

The adoption of HD Radio technology by the automotive industry is accelerating. Currently an HD Radio receiver is a factory-installed option on all new BMWs and MINIs. HD Radio receivers are currently a dealer-installed option on all Fords, Lincolns and Mercurys; and, in 2009, the technology will be factory-installed on those vehicles. Volvo has also announced that HD Radio technology will be a factory-installed standard across its product line. Hyundai, Jaguar and Mercedes have also announced that HD Radio receivers will be available in select vehicles

Polk Audio's I-Sonic Entertainment System 2, the first HD Radio receiver with iTunes Tagging capabilities, is now available in Apple Stores nationwide, the Apple Online Store, the Polk Audio Web site and at select Best Buy locations in June. Also incorporating the iTunes Tagging technology, devices from other key industry consumer electronics players


so don't even get me started about beating a dead horse, seems HD radio is doing fine right out of the starting gate


and why does this thread even belong here? it belongs in HD Radio section of radio-info

Paul Carroll
Chief Engineer
Q92.9 FM & HD1,HD2 & HD3
BobFM & HD1,HD2 & HD3
[email protected]
 
Whew! Paul that's quite a rant! Seems like I did get you started...sorry!

You might want to take a look at the Infinite Dial Study released by Arbitron yesterday. It's written about in today's "Taylor On Radio-Info" newsletter. 6% of the study's respondents were "very interested" in the concept while 41% were not at all interested. Awareness is pretty much flatlined at 22-26% over the past few years.

So, you're telling me that the main channel gets ratings credit even though listeners aren't actually listening to it -- but instead, are actually listening to totally different programming. I wonder how advertisers will like that -- paying for listeners they're not actually reaching.

And you also mentioned it's a "free service". Broadcasters have come up with this idea to dull the impact of the satellite services. And, you're right stations aren't making money off of HD radio. But you and I both know that they would if they could. The fact is there aren't enough people listening, not enough audience, to sell.

The radio industry has tried to create a market where there is none. Let's meet again and talk about it in five years. I suggest that HD radio will end up on the technological scrap heap along with Quad and AM Stereo. Both of those were also the next big thing!
 
Arbitron has no way of addressing ratings for HD multicasts (today) so the main channel gets the checkmark (I'll run this by Ibiguity, I have a few friends there and post their response) and as with all new technology look at the compact disc or the DVD, look how long it took to standardize and as for CD its almost dead now the old vinyl album is making a comeback and LP sales surpassed CD sales a few months ago, and music downloads (iTunes and others) are more than ever . Even with blue ray and HD-DVD to many fingers in the pie. CD was stagnated and there was nothing new to be done with it. Analog radio can grow..and learn

HD Radio has to work if terrestrial radio is going to survive in the 21st century is HD destined to end up like AM stereo? No, politics killed AM stereo to many people (companies) wanting their product to be the standard and it did stall and die. I been a AM radio engineer (WWVA) for almost 1/2 of my career, my 1st FCC license was 2/28/79 (junior in HS) and when I working for WWVA they still had the old stereo equipment at the transmitter site so I connected it up to the air chain and was impressed at the quality, still it was (2 channels of mud) but, like in the movie Spinal Tap it goes to 11 doesn't it, that’s 1 more
But I disconnected the AM C-Quam equipment and tossed it in the trash

in order for us broadcast engineers to get approval to broadcast in HD, besides the licensing fees we have pay to iBiquity we need to file a 605 with the FCC, "STA" Special Temporary Authority. and once this STA goes away the FCC will standardize HD, HD is here to stay

HD is still experimental with the NPR engineers doing a test and suggesting to the FCC that FM HD stations given permission in increase their TPO (transmitter power output) 10dB (if your 1kw now you can go to 10kw) The FCC has given considerations for this authorization and this will solve all HD reception problems

to me HD radio is like a small tree surrounded by the old analog oak tree grabbing up all the light and suffocating the small tree, trim down the old and let the new thrive if the FCC would ever phase out analog FM radio HD could have 6 CD quality channels on each frequency with music and voice or data services and special programming addressed for the handicapped or special interest groups

and yes, we can and will have pay-HD radio for unfiltered content, like comedy or RAP

as for the old AM/FM Dxer's which I am one, its time to move on and get over it

HD is a free service no commercials, every radio station right now can advertise on the multicast channels, and don't....who knows what tomorrow will bring. I believe the multicasts will be in sponsored blocks of advertising (no stop sets)

And as for pricing HD on the consumer end is falling, but we need the portable HD radios. I got an email from iBiquity and LG is working on a cellphone that has an HD radio receiver, it's all good
And HD needs to be implemented in the smaller markets like Wheeling. but cost for the station is a major factor. This is also being addressed

When Steel City Media decided to go HD in 2004 and we went on the air with it, Clear Channel corporate decided to "step up" its release to Pittsburgh CC stations their HD upgrades. so Steel City Media moved Pittsburgh 1 year closer than expected to going HD, you’re welcome

AM HD is a whole other problem. And I'm sure I'm boring 90% of anybody who has read this far, sorry
 
Paul, there's more discussion on this topic on the Buffalo/Rochester board. You might find a visit there interesting and invigorating.
 
Does anyone have recent sales figures for local sales of HD Receivers? That is where the battle will be won or lost. I don't have one and personally don't know anybody who has one. My siblings and I contemplated buying one for Dad last Christmas, but quickly dismissed the idea in favor of more exciting options. My gut feeling is that these things are not exactly flying off the shelves. I am OK with the idea of HD as a secondary option, except on AM where it seems to render the main analog signal unlistenable.
 
The only way it will gain any traction is if they can get it included in every new car, and they are about 3 years late at this point.

So far they have depended on people buying new car radios, spending at least $119 plus installation to do so. Satellite has grown on the plug-n-play model.

Relatively speaking, few consumers even know what HD is (this is one of those instances where you can't judge by the people on this board, we're not the typical consumer).
 
In response to Paul's post about Arbitron crediting listeners of an HD side channel, it is not true that the credit is being assigned to the main station. The listening is included in each market's overall PUR (Persons Using Radio), and, if an HD-2 or HD-3 channel ever generates enough listeners to make the market's minimum reporting standard, that channel will be reported separately. Thanks for chance to set the record straight.
 
Thanks Frank,

Arbitron confirmed that exactly. and I was going to update

parttimer,

The problem with the auto-makers is they want HD implemented in all markets not just the middle to large markets, and of course for the smaller markets to implement HD they want more consumers to have the radios. There is the catch22, so Ford is the first USA maker to try it first and the others will follow, I believe HD is still 2 years away for being "prime time" now 4 years ago I believed HD was "prime time" by 2006

Yes HD is still associated with satellite radio, that’s why all the ad campaigns lately which started this thread. People need to be more informed and I being an engineer am trying to make it sound its best. if someone buys a HD radio and listens to CC's HD I would return my radio for a refund, but if I heard SCM or Infinty/CBS I would be satisfied
 
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