In article ,
SMS wrote:

Add an HD signal generator and an exciter that combines HD Radio and
analog FM and then concentrate on the more difficult task of actual
content, but as you stated hooking up with webcasters would be good
model. John says it would cost "six figures" to add HD, and I wonder
where that number came from. Is there some big up-front payment you have
to make to iBiquity, because the equipment certainly doesn't cost
anything close to $100K?

There certainly is a fee to be paid to iBiquity, and it is based on the
number of HD channels the station uses, plus a portion of the station's
gross revenue.

Adding IBOC to a station (and every station is different) amounts to a
helluva lot more than "adding an HD signal generator". If that were all
it was, I wouldn't even care about it. At lower powers, stations
typically buy new transmitters. At higher power levels, IBOC
transmitters are obtained, and combined at high level with the analog
transmitters. In this process, 90% of the IBOC power is burned off as
heat; 10% of the analog power is burned off. The bottom line is that
thousands of watts are thrown away as heat, 24/7. Really green, eh?

Sometimes, there isn't enough room and additional transmitter space must
be rented to house the additional IBOC transmitter, the rack of gear,
the combiner and the reject load. Sometimes, there is not enough power
available in the building and the entire building's electrical system
must me revamped.

And...with HD, there comes considerable upgrades to the
program-producing facilities, new digital STLs, and for HD-X, additional
program control facilities. Yes, the current players put a PC jukebox in
a closet and forget about it, but remember I work for a family that
takes serving its listeners seriously.

That is just scratching the surface.

You have the potential to add listeners with different formats on HD (or
not lose listeners when you change format by moving the old format to
HD). I.e. I'd love an oldies station, but the Bay Area market can't
support a regular FM oldies station the way other markets can, so if you
want that content you have to subscribe to satellite radio at rather
ridiculous prices.

What good does it do to move the listeners to HD-X channels? No
commercials = no revenue! All you have done is cannibalize your bread
and butter source.

Time for the broadcasters to realize that HD is here, and that fighting
it is rather hopeless. Closing your eyes and pretending it doesn't
exist, and hoping for a better digital radio standard to emerge is not
productive.

I have told the owners of my three stations that converting their three
stations will come to about a half-million dollars (not counting
iBiquity's cut), but including site modifications and equipment, STL
replacements, and studio upgrades. Tell me...how do I sell that kind of
capital investment with no clear ROI path in this economy? The last time
we talked, they saw no downside to spending that money on program
improvements instead.

Now when will the SAP actually have some content on my TV?

Another "solution" without a problem, do you think?

--
John Higdon
+1 408 ANdrews 6-4400
AT&T-Free At Last