In article , Colin
writes

"Prometheus" wrote in message
...
In article , Walt
Davidson writes
On Tue, 26 Oct 2004 20:19:30 GMT, "Aztech" wrote:

Of course that reasoning also renders Worldspace redundant.

Worldspace rendered itself redundant the day it started charging a
subscription for its services. How many of the population in
undeveloped third world countries are going to pay $$$ to listen to a
handful of foreign radio stations?

Probably enough skilled people living and working in the capital
cities often for foreign companies on foreign salaries. It's the
people outside this category who can not afford it, but since they
did not pay before what have Worldspace lost? You also need to
consider how many people in a third world country could afford to buy
a ~100 GBP radio.

Of course poor people will not buy 100 GBP radios, or even $100 radios.
And they certainly won't be able to justify a regular subscription.

Where the national average wage is equivalent to 2.5 GBP per day you
will find very few people will purchase a radio costing 100 GBP. You
might assume that with lower overheads the retail price might be lower
but the much smaller market could negate that effect.

I don't think anyone is expecting the 'huddled masses' to be amongst
the first purchasers of DRM radios.

The huddled masses lack the disposable income, and frequently have a low
expectation as a consequence.

But as with all new technology the price comes down rapidly. My DAB
tuner cost me GBP 350 3 years ago - I saw a DAB radio in the
supermarket tonight for GBP 49, and a DVB adapter for GBP 25. You'd be
lucky to get an analogue SW receiver for GBP 25.

I am not considering the price as new technology but once established,
DAB radios have prices from 50 to over 100 GBP. I am not sure that sails
will be large enough for anyone will build for the third world, and even
at 50 GBP it is still 20 days work. This is equivalent to a person in te
UK earning 12,000 GBP per year spending 1000 GBP on a radio; few could
spare that after the essentials of living.

From the examples I have heard DRM is a step change in reception for
international broadcasting and, eventually, LF & MF broadcasting. If
you want any form of viable broadcasting to remain in these bands DRM
is certainly a better option than the status quo which will continue to
dwindle.

Who broadcasts on short-wave, and why: Government information (and
propaganda) both to their own people and abroad. Very little is
commercial in nature, it is mostly for diplomatic representation.
--
Ian G8ILZ