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On Mar 26, 6:10�pm, D Peter Maus wrote:
� wrote:
On Mar 26, 4:07?pm, D Peter Maus wrote:
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On Mar 26, 2:58?pm, D Peter Maus wrote:
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On Mar 26, 2:33?pm, D Peter Maus wrote:
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On Mar 26, 2:13?pm, D Peter Maus wrote:
? ? Open discussion...before the Congress, no less...about HD Radio's
opportunity for subscription radio. From the outset, this has been
discussed by Radio's higher echelons, and digital hardware
manufacturers, even before the formation of iBiquity. It has been
proffered by iBiquity brass, discussed among station General Manglers,
denied by many, but now it's out on the table for all to see.
? ? From AllAccess.com
Sirius/XM On HD Radio: See? It's Competition!
The FCC decision underlines that HD Radio on the AM/FM bands provide a
real alternative to satellite ...
SIRIUS SATELLITE RADIO and XM SATELLITE RADIO issued a joint statement
on the FCC's issuance of its final rules for HD RADIO, saying, "The FCC
decision underlines that HD RADIO on the AM/FM bands provides a real
alternative to satellite and that the current audio entertainment market
is broad, robust and competitive. The decision will raise competition to
a new level by stimulating the growth in HD RADIO stations (now 1,200),
enhancing its offerings to consumers and establishing a process for free
radio to offer a paid subscription service for the first time."
SIRIUS CEO MEL KARMAZIN has been raising HD RADIO and its capability for
subscription services as an example of the competition between
terrestrial and satellite radio, most recently at this week's Senate
antitrust panel.
? ? What does this have to do with shortwave? ?Consider the number of SW
broadcasters who've left the air for internet distribution, or satellite
distribution--many not on Sirius or XM. ?And with DRM's spotty support
among broadcasters, the HD Radio decision is casting a forward shadow on
international broadcasting's future.
? ? SW broadcasting is expensive, and profitless. Even the great
stations like WNYW, run by proven commercially successful broadcasters
like Bonneville couldn't make it work. However, with the spectre of
subscription radio now reaching the OTA marketplace, there may be
opportunity for SW broadcasters to finally recoup costs by charging a
subscription fee....for Satellite, Internet, AND radio access.
? ? Meaning, you're entitled to only as much information as you PAY FOR.
And, that you pay for the propaganda you receive in the bargain.
? ? Being a rampant capitalist and a strong proponent of the freemarket,
as well as being converative two steps to the right of Rush Limbaugh,
this even makes MY skin crawl.
? ? There were some great PSA's in the 70's, about supporting free (free
and in content, not free as in cost) radio. And the message was most
effectively articulated by Roger Miller in one of these spots when he
said, 'no one has ever successfully taken over a country without first
taking over all the radio stations.'
? ? Free information threatens to become a thing of the past.
Luckily, the FCC has left HD/IBOC up to the marketplace to decide:
"FCC Adopts IBOC Ruling"
http://beradio.com/currents/radio-currents-031907/#iboc
One notable quote:
"Because the ruling does not include mandates for stations to commence
IBOC operations, it's allowing the market to decide. Stations that
oppose the system still have the choice not to adopt the technology."
So far, consumers have been voting with closed wallets !
? ? And let's hope that continues.
? ? Currently, there are a lot of practical questions to IBOC that are
not being satisfactorily answered for everyone. As the shake-out
continues, and systems become more refined, and as the listeners, who
have largely become used to the idea of taking what they get and liking
it, while being openly ignorned, become resigned to digital radio as
their option, the questions and objections being currently raised will
fall by the wayside and be forgotten.
? ? Remember, it was FCC, itself, that mandated a digital modulation
scheme for broadcast.
? ? It's only a matter of time before digital is implemented by command.- Hide quoted text -
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But, the point is to let the marketplace decide, before anything is
mandated - if IBOC is mandated, with no one listening, the broadcast
bands are doomed.
? ?If digital is mandated, there will be a lot of ****ing and moaning,
but once mandated, manufacturers will move into high gear to provide
listening hardware, because there will be guaranteed money in it. and
listeners will make the migration.
? ?Letting the marketplace decide may, indeed, not produce iBiquity's,
or FCC's desired result. Because, as you say, there's no one listening.
? ?That's where the mandate will come from.
? ?Keep top of mind that FCC is committed to digital broadcasting. It
will do what it takes to get there.- Hide quoted text -
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There is no proof that listeners would spend money on expensive HD
Radios. This was tried in Canada, with DAB, but as we can see, it
failed due to lack of consumer interest:
"Digital radio in Canada"
"The Commission is very concerned about the stalled DRB transition.
Roughly 15 of the 76 authorized stations (including the digital-only
operation in Toronto) are not on the air. Some stations that once
operated have since ceased operations. Few recievers have been sold,
and there is no interest in expanding DRB service beyond the six
cities where it exists. Since DRB transmitters have only been built in
the largest cities, motorists travelling between Quebec and Windsor,
between Calgary and Edmonton, or between Vancouver and south-central
British Columbia lose DRB reception. As a result, automakers have
switched their support from terrestrial DRB to XM/Sirius satellite
radio."
http://americanbandscan.blogspot.com...adio-in-canada....
The same thing is happening in the US - even if manufacturers move
into high-gear, that is not going to force consumers to buy digital
radios. ?Consumers are already moving onto other technologies, and a
digital mandate would only doom the broadcast bands. The probelm with
HD Radio is not lack of distribution, but a lack of consumer up-take.
? ?Yes, I read that. And you make a good point.
? ?The significant difference is that DAB was allowed to exist as an
alternative to extant terrestrial broadcasting.
? ?If FCC mandates digital that will not be the case. Terrestrial
broadcasting will be digital. And alternatives will be satellite, or
internet.- Hide quoted text -
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With very few HD radios in hands of consumers, do you really think the
FCC is going to mandate digital radio - that is the point of this
article, to let the marketplace decide:
"FCC Adopts IBOC Ruling"
http://beradio.com/currents/radio-currents-031907/#iboc
I am confused, as to how you don't see this. Another big problem is
the delicate nature of the IBOC signal - even home table-top models,
with external antennas, have problems picking up HD signals - there is
no way portable and in-dash HD is ever going to work, as advertised.
� �It's not that I don't see it. It's that I see something behind it.
Letting the market decide, is a very nice way of doing beta testing in
the market places on the consumer dime. Precisely because of the
ephemeral nature of the IBOC signal as you describe. I'm not disagreeing
with you there.

� �But you're only seeing the IBOC decision as announced last week.
You're not considering the prior FCC mandate that all future modulation
schemes for broadcast be digital. They're not backing off of that. And
if the marketplace doesn't decide in their favor, there will be a
mandated transition to an all digital scheme.

� �As far as the hardware is concerned...yes, there is not much of it.
And no portables, as of yet. But there are indash systems. And they do
work. Lackluster sales are more a reflection of the lack of urgency on
the part of the public to adopt the new technology. Especially, since
there are still FREE alternatives.

� �If, however, there is a mandate to transition to digital, there will
be a HUGE incentive for manufacturers to develop and produce a wide
spectrum of radios, portable and otherwise, and spend MILLIONS on R&D to
make them work. Why? Because there will be a guaranteed market for the
products. And the public, faced with the coming deadline to convert will
spend the money.

� �They WILL do it.

� �And they WILL do it for the same reasons that they're spending money
on HDTV's...because, in a word, they have to. It's coming, they can't
stop it, and they don't get a choice not to play.

� �An FCC mandate on Digital AM/FM Radio will produce the same impetus.



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You still don't get it - they can manufacture all the HD Radios they
want, but consumers are not buying !


Actually, I DO get it. If mandate is made, there will be HD sets
sold in volume, because there will be no choice for listeners who wish
to remain with terrestrial radio. You're right. There ARE options. And
there will be more options as time progresses. But there will still be
interest in terrestrial radio.

The precedent is well established. The HDTV example is only the latest.