On 3/6/11 10:42 , SMS wrote:
On 3/6/2011 7:55 AM, D. Peter Maus wrote:
On 3/6/11 09:00 , SMS wrote:

The fact is that digital radio is all about content and a lack of
monthly fees.


The content on digital subchannels is no different than the
content on
the baseband. A different shuffling of the records, but the same
records
as are heard elsewhere.

The HD2 (and HD3, 4 if they exist) content is very different than
the analog/HD1 content.

Not so. Not by a long shot. If you look, as I stated above, the
content on the digital subchannels is just a repackaging of the same
crap that's on the baseband. What makes it so 'different' is the
classic rock stations have R&B subchannels. While the R&B stations
have 80's and classic rock subchannels.

Not very different at all.






And as for monthly fees....conditional access has been under test for
more than a year, now. And that IS the goal of digital radio. It's
been
the holy grail of broadcast since KDKA. Digital doesn't make it
possible. But digital does make it practical.

Yes, it's possible that stations could offer commercial-free paid
conditional access if the public would go along with it. I think
it's unlikely to happen considering the alternative paid services.

It's currently under development.


Public interest is still waning for HD radio, and more stations are
turning off the IBOC transmitters across the country every month.
Audio
quality is poor and coverage is spotty.

Some AM is being turned off, but it's extremely rare for an FM IBOC
station to stop digital transmission. More and more FM stations are
adding HD,


Not for the last 18 months, they haven't. And a good number of
FM's have turned off their IBOC transmitters. This in direct
conflict with the contracts with iBiquity. And they're have been
threatened lawsuits. But so far, the only thing that's come of it
have been a lot of threats. And more IBOC transmitters leaving the air.


but since most major stations have already converted the
rate of increase of conversions is less than when it was brand new.

It's zero, going backward.


And no, it's not a philosophical difference that has most in
opposition
to HD Radio, it's the interference, the lesser audio quality for the
addition of programming that's no different than what's on the
baseband
that's got so many people opposed.

LOL, no matter how many times you claim "lesser audio quality" it
won't make it true.

It's not my claim. Test after test, by broadcasters, by
consultants, have been controverted by real double blind listening
tests involving listeners.

The audio quality simply doesn't measure up. Less processing,
yes. But more digital artifacts. More than a low bit MP3.

Deny all you want. Known and documented by iBiquity themselves.