"Natterings of a naysayer"

"The vast majority of the stations employing HD technology exist in
the class of the largest broadcasters that are heavily invested in the
brand with a direct ownership stake in the inventor and capital
investment in the equipment. The majority of mid to small stations are
forever frozen out of participation due to the capital cost and
ongoing licensing fees that represent additional expense in a time
when it is difficult to pay the FICA tax or light bill, others taking
a wait and see attitude. Absences of HD in these geographic regions
present a discontinuity of coverage and setback for receiver sales. I
contend the large groups are committed but only to a degree as most
(if not all) have not yet stuck their neck out far enough to invest in
back-up or redundant HD transmission systems. Some of the equipment is
now into its second if not already third generation, all in a very
short period of existence."

"The 10db power increase that's being talked about for FM may help the
digital but will have a negative impact on the analog, which is
currently paying ALL the bills. As an example, even a well-integrated
92 and/or 67 kHz relatively narrow-band subcarriers can wreak
multipath havoc with an FM signal in some markets. The sheer capital
cost of the power increase (if approved) will be staggering
considering most of the current hardware and ancillary equipment will
have to be replaced."

"Where robust in reach, radio is an ailing medium that is undergoing
yet another adjustment to bring expenses inline with revised revenue;
so another big outlay in capital is not likely. Many station staff
level people look on HD as something that was added to their task list
with no operational funding and dwindling resources. Sales people are
concerned that additional channels may compete for revenue they have
running on other stations even in their own cluster."

Watt Hairston, Chief Engineer, WSM

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