...A Fully Operational Death Star

What you're claiming about HD Radio's soni...

2010-11-17T21:45:14.197-05:00

What you're claiming about HD Radio's sonic fidelity isn't consistent with Riismandel's findings or consumer surveys, Poodles. Even he acknowledged when the receiver picked up a station's HD channel, it sounded better than the analog channel. You're also looking past the evidence which indicates sound quality isn't exactly a consumer priority, judging by the consumption of streaming media, mobile devices, etc.. However, point taken (again) on the relative weakness of HD Radio signals.

I agree the U.S. might have been better off mandating a wholesale switchover to DAB rather than endorse the IBOC standard (as with DTV), but HD Radio has its own merits -- many of which are just now being explored. It took nearly 20 years for FM to be widely accepted by consumers; satrad (Sirius XM) took nearly as long as FM with a considerable amount of public subsidy. My point being that should broadcasters utilize their HD channels to deliver increased levels of (dynamic) content, consumers will deem the technology a viable alternative to satrad, webcasts, and other premium audio media.

The only reason community radio stations are broad...

2010-11-05T17:37:29.109-04:00

The only reason community radio stations are broadcasting in HD is because they received CPB digital conversion funds. Case in point: WORT-FM, Madison, WI. They were an early adopter...and hate it, because the digital component of the signal doesn't provide the same quality/robustness of their analog. They're actually pissing off listeners who bought HD Radios, and now they're apologizing for it.

The FM-HD power hike was done, in large part, to try to stimulate the uptake of HD by broadcasters. At the time of the FM-HD power boost ruling, the number of stations asking for HD authorizations was in decline.

There is no conspiracy here, nor is there stupidity: consolidated radio conglomerates used their fiscal might to make HD the de facto digital radio technology for the U.S., and its technological and marketplace failings (i.e., listeners don't care, and there are superior audio delivery mediums to HD) are killing it. Give it ten years...in the meantime, don't invest in HD capability: your return on investment will be abysmal.

IMO, Keffe Bartel's "investigation"...

2010-09-16T10:58:25.233-04:00

IMO, Keffe Bartel's
"investigation" is a dog hunting for a bone.

Points taken on HD radio's reception problems, although I believe your characterizations to be a bit exaggerated, HDRF. For example, there are community radio stations broadcasting in HD. Two, there's an emerging market for commercial stations leasing their secondary and tertiary HD channels to LPFM, AM, and other community broadcasters.

I suspect broadcasters' adoption rates for AM HD radio are being affected by 1) the economy, and 2) costs involved with adding HD radio equipment. As many (small and medium) AM stations feature talk formats, they may not judge HD Radio as being worth the investment, just as many choose not to invest in AM stereo. I do not believe, however, those reasons prove there's no value -- for broadcasters or listeners -- in HD Radio.

There are also significant problems with FM-HD tha...

2010-09-05T15:56:24.731-04:00

There are also significant problems with FM-HD that listeners may not notice, except that their favorite community radio reception has been destroyed due to IBLOCK. Also, AM-HD is worse than stalled, as stations have been shutting it off, along with some FM-HD stations, too. Few stations have had the headroom for any FD-HD power increase, as last count after six months, has only amounted to 80+ stations, and of those only three have gone full -10db. My suspicions are that the Keffe Bartel investigation is going to completely take any wind out of HD Radio, as their investigation escalates. I didn't realize who this law firm was, but they have been visiting my blog since last May.

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2010-08-11T00:21:39.014-04:00

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