"A Browne" wrote in message
news
Yes a small percentage of markets like Boston have stepped out of
their comfort zone to introduce formats, like the Irish Channel. Will
the Irish Channel, playing 24/7 Irish hits deliver ratings?

Who says it has to be a ratings hit? It doesn't. It's an ancillary
service that offers added value and choices. (Like a stations web page)

All those so-called ancillary feeds on the HD2 and HD3 channels (which are
poor quality at best) will eventually HAVE to garner ratings and pay their
own way. The royalty boards are requiring radio stations to pay much higher
royalties and per-song play fees for all their digital formats (regardless
of whether anyone is even listening!!)

All that stuff and more is available online anyway, and nobody has to buy an
expensive radio to listen to whatever they want. Out of all the folks I know
personally, in RL, not online, nobody has any interest whatsoever in digital
radio, and very little even in regular radio that you can get on a 1 dollar
garage sale pocket radio.