XM Satellite Radio's stock tanks 60% this year !

[davideduardo]

Wait a minute - what was I thinking !!!

As direct competitors, we don't want Satellite Radio to fail, we want HD Radio to fail !

"For Digital Radio to Compete With Satellite, It Needs to Think Outside the Jukebox"

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/03/31/AR2006033100349.html

Thanks David, you made me feel better !

David wrote: "I did not get anything wrong. You just understand the markets less than you understasnd radio, which is pretty incredible."

Gosh David, you are a Univision executive and talk-down, to others like that ? I am just a lowly senior software engineer with a high-level Intelligence Community security clearance (don't panic that I told you that, because NSA sells NSA logo hats and tee and sweat shirts to its employees/contractors).

A lot of folks in radio feel satellite and terrestrial radio are complimentary. In fact, for the first three years of XM, I programmed the 5 Spanish channels that we provide XM in exchange for ad space... so much did we think they complimented each other. 6% of the population does not use radio... never has. 7 to 8% uses it very lightly. Both groups may be significantly composed of listeners who find nothing on terrestreal they like... so satellite picks up that slack.

The fact that I work for a particular company does not mean I have to suffer fools gladly. That is not my job. My job is to attract listeners in the local service areas of each station. Your opinions, many of which are fact-challenged (like your woeful understanding of finance) represent situations that are just not reasonable. We don't look for out of makret listeners. We don't look for skywave listeners. We are concerned about the ongoing viability of AM, and the competitiveness of FM. HD is one of our tools. Very simple.

I really don't care about what you really do... you are objecting to things that will guarantee me and my coleagues a future in an industry we love... but one which has to change or die.

 

[SayNoToIBOC]

HD Radio is, as Mark Ramsey eloquently put it, "is outfoxed, even before it gets out of the gate". But you are right, with XM's stock down 60% and Sirius's stock in a downward spirl, both companies are alive-and-well ! We can only hope satellite radio survives, because it has so far, kept HD radios out of automobiles (just what HD radio is lacking, intelligent marketing) - smart move to pay automobile manufactures $100 to install each satellite radio and give users a free subscription (3 months, 1 year ?). Well, you certainly haven't convinced anyone about HD Radio on rec.radio.shortwave, and I doubt anyone here. When we upgrade our computer, I will definately consider a new Wi-Fi radio - who wouldn't rather listen to radio from around the world, than just in a local market, with less coverage than analog radio. Check out some of the new posts on rec.radio.shortwave - even on FM, HD/IBOC is causing the, "digital hiss", to adjacent channels. And, I was interested in what you do, because you seem to spend 24 hours/day posting on this message board - gosh, if I did that at work, I'de be out of there...

David wrote: "like your woeful understanding of finance" - oh David, you did it again !

 

[davideduardo]

HD Radio is, as Mark Ramsey eloquently put it, "is outfoxed, even before it gets out of the gate". But you are right, with XM's stock down 60% and Sirius's stock in a downward spirl, both companies are alive-and-well ! We can only hope satellite radio survives, because it has so far, kept HD radios out of automobiles (just what HD radio is lacking, intelligent marketing) - smart move to pay automobile manufactures $100 to install each satellite radio and give users a free subscription (3 months, 1 year ?). Well, you certainly haven't convinced anyone about HD Radio on rec.radio.shortwave, and I doubt anyone here. When we upgrade our computer, I will definately consider a new Wi-Fi radio - who wouldn't rather listen to radio from around the world, than just in a local market, with less coverage than analog radio. Check out some of the new posts on rec.radio.shortwave - even on FM, HD/IBOC is causing the, "digital hiss", to adjacent channels. And, I was interested in what you do, because you seem to spend 24 hours/day posting on this message board - gosh, if I did that at work, I'de be out of there...

David wrote: "like your woeful understanding of finance" - oh David, you did it again !

HD and Satellite can coexist in cars and any other type of radio. There are, in fact, a half dozen car models in the Crutchfield mailer I got yesterday that have HD and are "satellite ready."

The HD Alliance advertising, per the R&R news pages, is starting advertising in the next few weeks. As I said, over and over, the steps were 1) stations, 2) new HD2 content and 3) marketing.

Most people want local radio, not stations from around the world. You are thinking like a DXer again... most listeners want to hear their local stations, which is why nearly all listening is to them.

The SW forun had some very mixed-up facts about radio as a business, particularly about the use of AM and the use of sywave and distant signals. Obviously, HD kills DX on AM, and will kill it on SW, too, since the Brazilians are going to use it on domestic SW, per an announcement from Rede Globo.

Since nobody in local markets listens to whatever is on the adjacent channel to their locals, hiss is irrelevant. I had a chat with several of our engineers yesterday over lunch, and they were the first ones to say, "who cares about the adjacent channels... nobody listens to the stations on them anyway."

And I continue to smirk about your contentions regarding equity financing and debt and such. You came to this gunfight without a weapon.

 

[SUPERCASTER]

Only a very small percentage of broadcast time is actually LOCAL, LIVE. Most programming is recorded, coming from CD's, computers, or an occasional cart mechine if any are left. Most programming is recorded material, comes from an outside source like a network, is an occasional local talk show, or sports event. Real "live, local" amounts to a very small percentage of total airtime. Even local talk shows only have a few minutes per hour of actual "live, local" airtime. Most of the time is spent on commercials and other recorded or network material.

 

[Chuck]

HD and Satellite can coexist in cars and any other type of radio. There are, in fact, a half dozen car models in the Crutchfield mailer I got yesterday that have HD and are "satellite ready."

You must have better mail service than I do. I got a Crutchfield catalog about 3 weeks ago. There was one HD radio in it (The JVC). That was it. That's not much ink in the fifty or so pages filed with iPod modulators, Satellite radios, a litany of power amplifiers, speakers, etc. In fact I had to look very carefully to find that one radio. It was hidden in the lower left hand corner of a right side page. Maybe a sixth of a page, maximum. There were no HD banners or headlines. Just one car radio.

If there are six or so in a newer catalog, then that's good news for the cause. If it is going to succeed, HD needs a lot more push towards consumers. People in and near radio can argue all they want, and I must say, I'm getting a little tired of it myself. Technology pros and cons aside, until the general public is convinced HD is a product they want, then this whole thing is a lot like getting dressed up with no place to go.

 

[autopaint-1]

Check the link. There's more than a single HD radio available.
http://www.hdradio.com/available_products.php

 

[SayNoToIBOC]

autopaint-1 wrote: "Check the link. There's more than a single HD radio available."

Hey, I can EASILY counter that with:

http://www.hear2.com/2005/10/why_would_anyon.html
http://www.hear2.com/2006/05/people_dont_buy.html
http://www.hear2.com/2006/01/only_4_of_the_u.html

If you don't mind, since these are such great links, I will probably repost them, once in a while.

YEA !

 

[autopaint-1]

Mark Ramsey obviously has a financial interest to promote internet radio. He is not an impartial observer. In other words his comments bear no weight in this argument. You want to discuss Wi-Fi? Take it elsewhere. It doesn't belong on an HD radio board. That is what a good moderator would say. Oh, and the only reason someone would need to post links is if he or she didn't have first hand information.

 

[SayNoToIBOC]

Mark Ramsey is an INDEPENDENT consultant - go ahead, back up you claim. Wi-Fi belongs here, because it is a direct threat to HD Radio, and for good reason. How do you know what a good moderator would say - back up your claim. Do you know everything, that Mark Ramsey knows - I bet not ! THAT is the point of posting links - they are a direct threat to HD Radio, and for some reason, also you.

 

[autopaint-1]

But it ISN'T HD radio. Are you kidding me? TV is a threat to other forms of entertainment as well. The video IPOD is competition but we aren't discussing that. What we keep hearing from you is that HD radio will fail even though it's barely begun. I hope you haven't sunk your life savings into Wi-Fi or other competing technologies because you sure sound like someone who has a lot to lose if HD takes off. Hey, a bus is direct competition for an automobile as well. How come when I go to the Car Talk board they never talk about Trains or busses or planes? By the way, you talk about David and how much he posts here. Don't you have a life? You never take a break. I'm on vacation. What's your excuse?

 

[SayNoToIBOC]

autopaint-1 wrote: "But it ISN'T HD radio. Are you kidding me? TV is a threat to other forms of entertainment as well. The video IPOD is competition but we aren't discussing that. What we keep hearing from you is that HD radio will fail even though it's barely begun. I hope you haven't sunk your life savings into Wi-Fi or other competing technologies because you sure sound like someone who has a lot to lose if HD takes off. Hey, a bus is direct competition for an automobile as well. How come when I go to the Car Talk board they never talk about Trains or busses or planes? By the way, you talk about David and how much he posts here. Don't you have a life? You never take a break. I'm on vacation. What's your excuse?"

This is GREAT - now I am getting you REALLY upset ! I don't have a life - David has 8000 posts, on this site, and probably that many on rec.radio.shortwave. No, I only have an analog AM/FM PLL radio, at $25. Buses are direct competition to automobiles - THAT IS LAUGHABLE !!! Back that claim up ! I don't have a life - YOU are on vacation, and still posting !

 

[autopaint-1]

Hey pal, ever hear of cities such as NY (Far and away the largest in America) where buses run 24 hours a day, 7 days a week in direct competition with automobiles and taxis? Don't talk about things you obviously know nothing about.

 

[SayNoToIBOC]

This is so pathetic - boy, you guys are really running out of steam !

 

[IBOCRocks]

This is so pathetic - boy, you guys are really running out of steam !

When you can't win on merits, call the other guy "pathetic".

That alone is pretty pathetic, really.

 

[SayNoToIBOC]

Who did I call pathetic - I see no names. As a matter of fact, by saying, "this is pathetic", it is detaching this quote from any particilar person. Boring !

 

[IBOCRocks]

Who did I call pathetic - I see no names. As a matter of fact, by saying, "this is pathetic", it is detaching this quote from any particilar person. Boring !

...and adding it to an entire group of people. Sweet!

Fortunately, on my side of the fence I have no need for such tactics. But it does sound like fun!

 

[autopaint-1]

Boring huh? Go find someone else to bother. I'm glad you don't like IBOC. But it does disturb me that you apparenlty are interested in radio. We are surrounded by enough losers. Why don't you just go away. (You may take that personally if you wish)